Terminator Ranked
Year: 1984-Present
Entries: 6
The Terminator franchise is one of the longest running and most well known film series ever made. Its legacy has spanned nearly 30 years and it has seen its fair share of films from genre defining, to simply abysmal. Below I have compiled a list from worst to best of the Terminator film series, and I can almost guarantee that you'll disagree with it. Enjoy!
#6 Terminator Salvation (2009, Directed by McG)
#6 Terminator Salvation (2009, Directed by McG)
You know you've got a bad film on your hands when the studio only wants to hire a director whose previous credits include music videos and the 2000's Charlie's Angels films. Terminator Salvation barely qualifies as a Terminator film because it has none of the hallmarks of a Terminator film. Sure it has Joh Connor, and sure it has Terminators, but Salvation is a war film through and through and not a very good one at that. It tells the story of how John finds a young Kyle Reese and seeks to protect him knowing that one day he will grow up to be his own father. He also finds a cyborg, half human-half Terminator in the form of Marcus Wright who honestly doesn't add a whole lot to the story. It's a poorly directed mess that's instantly forgettable and almost all the performances feel as though they've been phoned in. The only thing worth remembering about this film is Christian Bale's infamous meltdown at a crew member which in itself wasn't even a good thing.
#5 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003, Directed by Jonathan Mostow)
#5 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003, Directed by Jonathan Mostow)
Terminator 3 had the near impossible task of following up on the damn near perfect Terminator 2 (any guesses as to what's #1 yet?) so its spot on this list is in no way stating that it's a bad film...but the rest of them were just better in my eyes. Sarah Connor stopped Judgement Day in T2 but that hasn't stopped Skynet from evolving and simply trying again. T3 shows us an older John Connor, now in his twenties, who must once again be rescued by a T-800 whilst this time being pursued by a new model T-X. We also meet Kate Brewster who is to be John's future wife who absolutely isn't a damsel in distress the whole film. This was T3's biggest problem, it just tried to stick to the T2 mould so much that it never tried anything exciting or new, and it also cranked up the cheesy humour which just made it come off a little silly. Overall, not bad, but not great.
#4 Terminator Genisys (2015, Directed by Alan Taylor)
#4 Terminator Genisys (2015, Directed by Alan Taylor)
This is where the death threats start coming in. Terminator Genisys is notorious for having 'killed the franchise' and how it's supposedly a terrible film with no redeeming qualities. But you know what, the acting was pretty good and it tried to do something interesting with the series so I'm going to give it some props. I would also much rather watch Genisys than Salvation, and probably would even be more willing to watch it than T3 because of the more interesting storyline.
Acting as a reboot of sorts, Kyle Reese is sent back in time to save Sarah Connor from an impending Terminator attack however when he arrives Sarah is a more than capable survivor who already has aid from a friendly Terminator. Together they must outrun and outgun multiple different Terminator models and stop an evolved Skynet, now named Genisys from launching its attack on the human race.
Whilst I can certainly understand some of the criticisms the film gets I feel like Genisys takes a step back to look at the series from a different perspective which I feel ultimately pays off. I also feel like most people who hate the film just dislike the fact that John Connor isn't the hero which makes no sense because he never was the hero in the first two films anyway!
#3 The Terminator (1984, Directed by James Cameron)
Acting as a reboot of sorts, Kyle Reese is sent back in time to save Sarah Connor from an impending Terminator attack however when he arrives Sarah is a more than capable survivor who already has aid from a friendly Terminator. Together they must outrun and outgun multiple different Terminator models and stop an evolved Skynet, now named Genisys from launching its attack on the human race.
Whilst I can certainly understand some of the criticisms the film gets I feel like Genisys takes a step back to look at the series from a different perspective which I feel ultimately pays off. I also feel like most people who hate the film just dislike the fact that John Connor isn't the hero which makes no sense because he never was the hero in the first two films anyway!
#3 The Terminator (1984, Directed by James Cameron)
The original Terminator film is significantly more sinister and horrifying than its action heavy sequels. It essentially amounts to an extended chase sequence between a slow moving yet unstoppable killing machine in Schwarzenegger's Terminator, versus the agile yet entirely underpowered duo of Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) & her protector Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn). With revolutionary special effects, a terrifying yet simple premise, and enough lore to leave decades worth of sequels in its wake, The Terminator is a truly legendary film.
#2 Terminator: Dark Fate (2019, Directed by Tim Miller)
#2 Terminator: Dark Fate (2019, Directed by Tim Miller)
Another entry that might get me lynched; Terminator: Dark Fate is easily the best Terminator film since T2 and in some ways even tops it. Much like T2 back in the early 90's, Dark Fate subverts expectations at almost every turn and provides not only the most explosive Terminator film to date, but also the one with the best performances all round. Shortly after the events of T2, Skynet succeeds in killing John Connor leaving Sarah stricken with grief. Decades later a new breed of Terminator appears and begins hunting down Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) and cyborg Grace (Mackenzie Davis) is sent by the resistance to protect her. Dani will be the future mother of the resistance much like Sarah was, and when Sarah Connor catches wind of this new Terminator she too joins the fight in order to avenge Johns death.
It throws a lot of curveballs, Mackenzie Davis is incredible in this film, and I hope to see the Terminator franchise return with more films that follow on from Dark Fate as I feel director Tim Miller cracked into a winning formula here...even if the John Connor loving fanbase bitch and moan about the fact that he's not in the film.
#1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, Directed by James Cameron)
It throws a lot of curveballs, Mackenzie Davis is incredible in this film, and I hope to see the Terminator franchise return with more films that follow on from Dark Fate as I feel director Tim Miller cracked into a winning formula here...even if the John Connor loving fanbase bitch and moan about the fact that he's not in the film.
#1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991, Directed by James Cameron)
At least we can all agree on this right? Terminator 2 is by far the best Terminator film for all the reasons you already know. It took unexpected risks in its narrative, it showcased some mind blowing special effects (that still look good today), it provided the most emotionally resonant Terminator storyline in the entire franchise, and despite having more action than its predecessor it never lost the tension that came from that relentless pursuit from a foe with the odds in their favour. John Connor is in his teens and he is being pursued by a new type of Terminator, the T-1000, but being Procter by a hacked T-800 sent back in time by the resistance. Together they rescue Sarah Connor from an asylum and stop Judgement Day. A true classic film that revolutionised the action genre and whose influence can still be felt in films today.