It can’t be underlined enough how important the Terminator movies are to sci-fi cinema, even if some entries are better than others. The original James Cameron movie famously came from a dream the flu-ridden director had. Cameron was trapped in Venice after being fired from his “debut” Piranha 2, and dreamt of a metallic torso dragging itself from an explosion.
This single image led to the creation of the entire Terminator movie saga. On reflection, the first outing owes more to slasher films like Halloween, as it also features a masked killer stalking a female protagonist; it’s just that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cyborg uses a “.45 Longslide with laser sighting” instead of a knife.
The series has evolved in strange ways since Cameron exited the director’s chair. Every sequel since has tried to launch a new trilogy, with all of them failing to secure a direct follow-up. Time will tell where the franchise will go as Cameron develops a Terminator 7, but as we all know, the future is not set.
The Terminator (1984)
Cameron funneled all the low-budget ingenuity he gained working for producer Roger Corman and made The Terminator feel five times bigger than it was. The film is a relentless, heart-stopping chase where Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor learns she’s been stalked by a cyborg sent from a future war.
On paper, the idea sounded faintly ridiculous, but good lord does it work in practice. The Terminator still functions as an intense fusion of cyberpunk action and horror, which is all grounded by a great cast. It made Arnie’s name as an action star, and is still one of Cameron’s greatest achievements.
To modern eyes, the 1984 movie’s effects might look janky or dated, but even they add to its tactile feeling. Another underrated element is Brad Fiedel’s score, which is made to feel like the titular machine’s beating pulse as it stalks Sarah, and which gives the film its propulsive energy.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Terminator was more of a sleeper hit than a blockbuster, but thanks to VHS and TV airings (and Schwarzenegger becoming one of the biggest stars in the world) demand for a sequel grew louder. The result was possibly Cameron’s best action movie. Judgment Day is loaded with superb setpieces, groundbreaking effects and cool one-liners.
That does Cameron a slight disservice, because beneath it all, Terminator 2 tells an emotional story. It sees Arnold’s cyborg learn to become human, while Sarah Connor must regain her humanity and reconnect with her son. There’s a gripping subtext running throughout Judgment Day, and its warnings about the unstoppable rise of AI feel pretty darn resonant in 2026.
The sequel retains the horror edge of the original, with Robert Patrick’s liquid Terminator, the T-1000, being a nightmarish creation. Terminator 2 is everything a sequel should be; it expands on the first entry while broadening the scope and adding to the mythology. It’s little wonder Cameron decided he couldn’t top it and declined to return as director again.
Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines (2003)
Despite Judgment Day being a gigantic success, it took a dozen years for Terminator 3 to arrive. Cameron had exited the series, with the reins handed over to Jonathan Mostow. The result is a serviceable actioner with a couple of impressive setpieces, but hobbled by hopelessly lame humor.
It feels like a toothless remake of Judgment Day, right down to the violence and language being toned way down. Claire Danes makes an impression as new heroine, Katherine Brewster, though the new villain, the T-X, is nowhere near as terrifying as her predecessor. The third does Terminator redeem itself with an incredible ending, but the film is nothing special.
In retrospect, it feels like Arnie used Rise of the Machines as a promotional campaign for his political ambitions, as it coincided with his running for Governor of California. That would account for its sanding off the harsher edges and being more audience-friendly, but might also explain the lack of real heart behind it.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
The only Terminator lacking both Arnold and Cameron, Salvation feels close to being a much better movie. It takes place in the Future War as Christian Bale’s John Connor struggles to take charge of the resistance, while uncovering Skynet’s grim plans for the human race. Salvation looks great and benefits from its cast, but it’s a sullen mess overall.
The storyline makes almost no sense when looked at under a microscope, Bale is bizarrely miscast, and the tone feels off. To director McG’s mild credit, Terminator Salvation doesn’t play it safe and tries to take the property in new directions. It just can’t overcome a general lack of cohesion or, most importantly, excitement.
Terminator: Genisys (2015)
Genisys sold itself as the savior of the franchise; it brought back Arnie and featured a time-hopping premise that introduced multiple new threats. Sadly, this resulted in easily the worst sequel yet. Terminator: Genisys is a confusing and confounding instalment, with another unfocused story and an ensemble where each actor feels more miscast than the last.
Jai Courtney and Emilia Clarke have no business being Kyle Reese or Sarah, and Genisys can barely even muster decent action to compensate for its many shortcomings. It teases the occasional intriguing concept, but even ardent defenders of the franchise struggle to fight in Genisys’ corner.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Dark Fate saw Cameron return as producer, and he helped shape the story. It felt like this sixth film could finally right the ship and become the third movie everybody wanted. It brought back Linda Hamilton and Schwarzenegger, and promised (once again) to launch a new trilogy.
Terminator: Dark Fate can take the crown of being the best sequel since Judgment Day, but that’s damning with the faintest of praise. There’s very little about it that feels innovative or different, while Natalia Reyes’ new protagonist, Dani, just doesn’t feel that compelling. That’s a problem, since the proposed sequels would have focused on the character.
Tim Miller (Deadpool) stages some visceral action beats, and Hamilton brings a crusty ruggedness to the older Sarah, but Terminator: Dark Fate felt stale. It also bombed, which has put the series on ice for the time being. Maybe it’s best to leave it be, but given how iconic the series is, it will undoubtedly rise again.