Predator

It may not seem much of a compliment, but this is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's most efficient movies, a stripped-down thriller that cheerfully sacrifices characterisation on the altar of exhilarating action and special effects. Schwarzenegger stars as the leader of an elite special forces team whose jungle mission is thrown into chaos when they are tracked by a lethal alien game hunter. As with Aliens, much of the fun comes from watching a bunch of macho soldiers crack under pressure. Director John McTiernan ensures the tension is kept at snapping point and he's helped no end by the sci-fi gimmick of a "cloaking" device that keeps the predator hidden from view. This smash hit propelled McTiernan onto the Hollywood A-list, a position he consolidated with 1988's Die Hard.