Originally, theTerminatorfranchise was all about defying fate.
There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
However, the one machine that humanity can never escape is the movie industry.
Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jai Courtney in ‘Terminator Genisys’.Melinda Sue Gordon
Just keep reading to discover EW’s ranked list ofTerminatormovies, from worst to best.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Terminator Genisyswas, in many ways, doomed from the beginning.
Originally, the franchise was meant to continue with multiple movies following up on the future plot ofTerminator Salvation.
Christian Bale in ‘Terminator Salvation’.Warner Bros.
Ultimately, how well you enjoy this movie depends on how much you enjoy the cast.
It’s rewarding to see Schwarzenegger properly return to the franchise and do new things with his iconic character.
It’s fun to seeJ.K.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton in ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’.Kerry Brown/Paramount
Simmonschewing scenery as a grizzled detective, andEmilia Clarkebreathes new life into the franchise as a young Sarah Connor.
This mix of “something old, something new” yields some interesting results.
Where does all of this leaveDark Fate?
Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’.Everett Collection
But if you absolutely have to watch a sequel toT2,Dark Fateisn’t the worst option.
At its core,Terminator 3is a very competent, often entertaining film.
But why is a generally good movie so divisive?
Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘The Terminator’ (1984).Everett Collection
First, the performances are something of a mixed bag.
Schwarzenegger is pitch-perfect, andClaire Danesshines as Kate Brewster, the future wife of John Connor.
The movie reveals that all John and Sarah Connor did inT2was delay the apocalypse instead of stopping it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991).A. Rapoport/Tri-Star
After all, this movie did more than launch an unstoppable sci-fi franchise into the world.
However, it’s important to remember the firstTerminatormovie as more than a sci-fi/action flick.
First, it serves as a master class on how to make the most from using very little.
And the answer is quite simple: James Cameron’sTerminator 2is basically a perfect sequel.
It is, in fact, one of the rare sequels that is even better than the original movie.
Part of the magic is that we see how much familiar characters have reinvented themselves.
She also, however, handles quiet pathos as well as she does loud action.
The final result is a movie that truly fires on all cylinders.
In terms of action,Terminator 2delivers unforgettable sequence after sequence that Hollywood has yet to top.
And, like the first movie, this sequel asks us to consider the destructive path humanity is on.
“We’re not gonna make it, are we?”
“People, I mean.”
