The Ultimate Terminator Franchise Guide: My Rewatch Journey

Welcome, movie lovers, to Bookimov: Books & Movies! Today, we’re diving into the heart-pounding, time-traveling world of the Terminator franchise—a sci-fi saga that’s been captivating audiences for over 40 years with its cyborg assassins, apocalyptic stakes, and relentless action. I recently rewatched all six main Terminator films, and I’m thrilled to share my journey, a comprehensive guide to the series, and different ways to experience it. Plus, I’ll touch on what’s next for the franchise. So, let’s gear up and hunt down the details of this iconic series!

Terminator Franchise Guide - My Rewatch Journey

I kicked off my rewatch with my all-time favorite, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). For me, it’s the most memorable and undeniably the best in the franchise. The groundbreaking action, emotional depth, and that chilling T-1000 liquid-metal Terminator make it pure cinematic gold. After basking in T2’s brilliance, I went back to the roots with the original The Terminator (1984), because you can’t skip the film that started it all. From there, I followed the release order: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator Salvation (2009), Terminator Genisys (2015), and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).

Of the four films made after the first two classics, Terminator Salvation (2009) stood out as my favorite, despite its rough 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5/10 on IMDb. Why? It’s the first time the franchise fully immerses us in the post-apocalyptic future war against Skynet, delivering a gritty, dystopian world only glimpsed in earlier films. While the other sequels focus on present-day battles with time-traveling Terminators, Salvation’s bold dive into the future hit all the right notes for me.

A Quick Guide to Every Terminator Movie

Let’s break down each film in release order with a brief overview:

• The Terminator (1984): Directed by James Cameron, this sci-fi gem introduces the relentless T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger), sent from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son, John, will lead humanity against Skynet, an AI that triggers a nuclear apocalypse. Kyle Reese, a human soldier, protects her in this gritty, tech-noir chase thriller. Iconic line: “I’ll be back.”

• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): Cameron’s masterpiece. Arnold returns as a reprogrammed T-800, protecting young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Sarah Connor, now a fierce warrior, fights to stop Judgment Day—Skynet’s rise. With groundbreaking effects and deep emotion, it’s a sci-fi action pinnacle.

• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003): Without Cameron at the helm, this sequel follows an adult John Connor and his future wife, Kate Brewster, targeted by the advanced T-X Terminator. Arnold’s T-850 protects them. It’s a fun action flick with a daring ending, but it lacks T2’s heart.

• Terminator Salvation (2009): Set in the 2018 future war, this film stars Christian Bale as John Connor and Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese, battling Skynet. A mysterious stranger, Marcus Wright, adds intrigue. Its darker, war-focused tone diverges from the time-travel formula, earning mixed reviews.

• Terminator Genisys (2015): A reboot with a tangled timeline. Kyle Reese travels to 1984, finding Sarah Connor already allied with an older T-800, “Pops” (Arnold). They fight a new AI and a T-5000. Ambitious but messy, it scored 26% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.3/10 on IMDb.

• Terminator: Dark Fate (2019): A direct sequel to T2, ignoring the other sequels. Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor teams up with Dani Ramos and a cyber-soldier, Grace, while Arnold’s T-800, “Carl,” helps battle the Rev-9 from a new AI, Legion. It earned 70% on Rotten Tomatoes but underperformed at the box office with a 6.2/10 on IMDb.

Alternative Viewing Orders

If release order doesn’t suit you, here are some alternative ways to experience the Terminator franchise:

James Cameron’s “Canon” (Original Vision): For fans of the original director’s vision, stick to films tied to Cameron. Dark Fate skips everything after T2:

• The Terminator (1984)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
• Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator Run: Arnold’s iconic T-800 is the franchise’s face, appearing in all but Salvation:

• The Terminator (1984) – As the original T-800
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – As a reprogrammed “good” T-800
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) – As a T-850 protecting John
• Terminator Genisys (2015) – As “Pops,” an older T-800
• Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) – As “Carl,” a T-800 living among humans

Original Timeline (Pre-Reboots): Follow the initial story arc before alternate timelines:

• The Terminator (1984)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
• Terminator Salvation (2009)

Each order offers a fresh perspective, whether you’re chasing Cameron’s vision, Arnold’s iconic roles, or the original narrative thread.

What’s Next for Terminator?

The Terminator franchise isn’t done yet. James Cameron has confirmed he’s working on a new project, likely Terminator 7, but it’s a radical shift. He plans to move away from familiar characters like Sarah Connor and the T-800, focusing on new stories and faces while exploring AI dangers and human resilience. Cameron’s tied up with Avatar sequels, so he may not direct, and no release date is set as the project remains in the writing stage. After Dark Fate’s box office disappointment, studios are cautious, but Cameron’s proven track record keeps fans hopeful. Whether it’s a future war epic or a fresh reboot, the Terminator legacy endures.

See also: My Top 7 Favorite Movie Gangsters: Mobsters with a Glimmer of Good

Final Thoughts

Rewatching the Terminator franchise reminded me why T2 is untouchable and why Salvation’s bold future-war setting won me over, critics be damned. Whether you’re a fan of Arnold’s iconic “I’ll be back,” Cameron’s visionary storytelling, or the sprawling timeline, there’s a path through this series for everyone. What’s your favorite Terminator film, and how do you prefer to watch the franchise? Share your thoughts below, and stay tuned to Bookimov: Books & Movies for more cinematic and literary adventures!

Thanks for joining me on this sci-fi hunt! Keep exploring with Bookimov for more movie and book deep dives.