Watch one of 'Arnold Schwarzenegger's best films' for free this weekend

Viewers can catch an action-packed 'masterpiece' on TV for free this weekend for a prime evening's entertainment.

Labelled a cult classic, the gripping 1987 original Predator features a military rescue squad in Latin American rainforests falling prey to an alien hunter.

Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is enlisted by the US Government to covertly retrieve politicians stranded in Guatemala, yet upon arrival, something seems amiss.

They stumble upon mutilated cadavers and soon realise a sinister entity with extraordinary might and a knack for vanishing into thin air is stalking them.

Audiences were originally blindsided, expecting a typical war film until the otherworldly predator began eliminating soldiers one after another.

Helmed by John McTiernan of Die Hard fame, this standout flick propelled Schwarzenegger to Hollywood superstardom , reports .

Predator is etched in movie lore, featuring Arnie's iconic say: "Get to the chopper."

Raking in close to $100 million at the global tills from its modest sub-$20 million investment, it has spawned sequels and reimaginings, keeping the series alive well into the future.

For sci-fi fans, the original hit makes a UK television comeback, screening without cost this Saturday (November 2) on Film4 at 9pm.

A critic reflecting on the enduring legacy of Predator for Flickering Myth paid homage to its cinematic significance, remarking on Rotten Tomatoes: "Pure action cinema at its most efficient and charmingly unpretentious, Predator remains a lean masterpiece over three decades on."

Echoing this sentiment, another reviewer enthused: "A year before the release of Die Hard, McTiernan captured loads of suspense, terror, and sheer testosterone. They simply don't make them like this anymore."

For fans eager to indulge in the franchise's evolution, the 2018 sequel The Predator, directed by Shane Black, is set to grace television screens on Sunday, November 3, at the prime time of 9pm.

Adding to his impressive portfolio, Black not only directed but also co-penned the script for The Predator, marking a nostalgic return since he first appeared on camera in the inaugural film as Richard Hawkins - the alien Predator's initial casualty.

Predator is on Film4 at 9pm on Saturday, November 2