The Terminator has been one of the best and break-out movies of James Cameron to ever have hit the cinemas.
Although few of the movies in the series failed to create the much-expected stir in the theaters, the series surely became a cult following among people regardless of their preference of genres.
With the latest movie of the series entering the list, Terminator: Dark Fate, where the original cast of the movie is once again coming together after 1983, here’s a ranking of the movies from best to worst.
While one can definitely choose to watch the movies in their sequential order, here’s an effort to make life a little easier for the ones who might want to pick the best one of the lot. No spoiler alerts here! Read on and enjoy the series with the charm intact!
This is the second movie in the Terminator series and is considered one of the best.
This second movie was a sequel to the first one as the plot keeps revisiting the first movie from time to time. Yet, in this movie, the standard of action and sci-fi movies was raised significantly, which became a standard in itself.
This movie, although a sequel, is not just one of the best action movies but also one of the best sci-fi movies and the greatest creation in the history of contemporary cinema.
Surprisingly, the first movie of the series only manages to get a second spot in the ranking. This was the first movie of James Cameron in the series and resembles more a horror movie than a sci-fi flick.
This movie was bold, based on amazing ideas, and had the first-ever appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his very cold robotic disguise. This film could be almost called epic until epic was redefined by the sequel.
Next on the list is the latest entry into the Terminator franchise, a 2019 release. The charm of the movie lies in the fact that the original cast of the first Terminator movie came back together in this movie.
It feels like a genuinely good Terminator movie rather than just a cash-in sequel or a sci-fi thriller and is an absolute winner after the few failed attempts in the last couple of Terminator movies.
Next is the third movie of the series, this movie has some great action sequences, and perhaps the greatest USP of the movie is the scene of the truck chase.
Yet compared to the first two movies of the series, it fails to create much of an impact or complement the previously high standards of Terminator 1 and 2.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Terminator Genisys by Alan Taylor is one of the biggest failed attempts in recreating the aura of the Terminator movies. More than anything, it feels like a mixed blend of fan fiction and imagination theories that lacks intrigue.
Although there are some good ideas in the movie, the basic storyline is very weak and falls off pretty quickly. Without much scope for a future sequel, this move can provide very little payoff.
Terminator salvation (2009)
This was the fourth movie in the sequence and had a fascinating cast, with Christian Bale, Bryce Dallas Howard, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anton Yelchin. The movie is based on a thrilling storyline, however as the film progresses, it becomes more chaotic and action-centric rather than being plot-centric.
Reviews claim that this remake disappointed fans of the Terminator movies who were eagerly waiting for an intriguing movie experience and failed on almost all the fronts to create any impact.