You know them and you love them. The Terminator movies have been going since 1984, and it seems like the fans just can’t get enough. The franchise has had its ups and downs with some mixed reviews and ratings, and we’re wondering why. We have put together a list of The Terminator movies from best to worst, and here they are.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Claiming the top spot on this list is none other than Judgment Day. This is probably one of the ultimate best classic 90s sci-fi action films. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back as the T-800 from the future to save John Conner from the liquid metal T-1000 whose sole purpose is to destroy him. Directed by James Cameron, and put together with incredible CGI for the time, this sequel is a masterpiece and even surpasses the original.
The Terminator (1984)
The one that started it all. It’s been said that Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to play this role, and we agree with that statement. The terrifying T-800 from the future was sent to terminate Sarah Connor. Fortunately, Kyle Reese, a soldier from the future was also sent back in time to stop him. James Cameron’s brilliantly directed action and chase scenes kept the audience completely captured to the satisfying end.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
It’s safe to say that this film was a turning point for the terminator franchise. The descent came in the form of too much tongue-in-cheek humor and mediocre writing. Succeeding James Cameron as director is not an easy feat, and although Jonathan Mostow did well with adding his own flair to the franchise, it just didn’t cut it. One good thing about the film is the ending. It does a good job of bringing the trilogy nicely to a close.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Fast forward to a post-apocalyptic future where machines rule the world and humans resist. Salvation is the only film in the franchise that doesn’t include Arnold Schwarzenegger or time travel… or a decent storyline for that matter. The star-studded cast was let down by poor writing and poor directing. The idea of taking the franchise in a different direction was a bold step that just didn’t prove to be a good move.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
It seems that nothing could have prevented this film from earning the mediocre award. In this installment of the franchise, an alternate timeline is created and Kyle Reese is sent back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor. There were a few memorable moments during the movie, but thanks to the poor marketing campaign, the entire plot twist was spoiled. The past-his-prime Arnold Schwarzenegger and the lack of acting from the supporting roles, combined with terrible writing to create the mess that is Terminator Genisys hasn’t done the Terminator franchise any justice. There are too many time travel inconsistencies and a lack of action, which has left fans highly disappointed.
October 2019 will see Terminator 6: Dark Fate hitting the big screen in a big way. The story is set to follow on from Judgment day and has some familiar faces from the first two movies. Will Dark Fate be the revival of the franchise that brings fans running back to see Arnold in action? Or will it crash and burn to finally end the series?
