Ranking the Terminator Movies
After watching Terminator: Dark Fate, I decided to go back and rewatch the entire series so I can rank them. Talk about diminishing returns. The top part of the list is probably pretty predictable, so we'll start from the top and go down into the dregs of the series. Let's do this!
#1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Obviously T2 was going to be number one. How could it not be? It's a rare sequel that improves on the original in every way. The action scenes are top notch, we get excellent performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Robert Patrick, and a haunting scene with a nuclear blast. Whoever decided to make Arnold the good guy this time around was genius. This is such a thrilling and entertaining movie that not even Edward Furlong's annoying performance can ruin it.
10/10: Amazing
#2. The Terminator (1984)
This is where the predictability ends with this rankdown. Everyone knew the original movie would take second. James Cameron takes a simple premise and executes on it extremely well. The pacing is excellent and the movie just flies by. Arnold is incredible and Hamilton and Michael Biehn are great as well. I have a few nitpicks with the acting for some of the bit characters and there are some odd editing choices, but it's still an awesome film.
9/10: Great
#3. Terminator: Genisys (2019)
Here's where we get controversial and I'm sure most of you think I'm crazy for putting Genisys in 3rd, but rest assured there is a steep drop-off from second to third place. This movie has a ton of problems. The story doesn't make much sense if you really think about it, the CGI isn't great, making John Connor a Terminator is stupid, and Jai Courtney and Emilia Clake don't have much chemistry. All that said, I kinda like this movie. There are some really fun action sequences and all of the stuff in 1984 is pretty enjoyable. Arnold is great as always and J.K. Simmons has some fun moments. Bottom line: this is a fun, but extremely stupid movie.
6/10: Okay
#4. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
The newest entry in the series just misses out on the podium. The first half of this movie is excellent. The car chase is the best sequence in the series since T2, Arnold and Mackenzie Davis are fun, and the 3rd act final battle is solid. Unfortunately, the movie loses a lot of steam in the second half, Linda Hamilton doesn't work at all, the CGI isn't great, and there are too many references to the first two movies. Quit reminding me of better movies and focus on making this one good!
6/10: Okay
#5. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
As per usual, Arnold is great. Notice the only one without Arnold is dead last. Nick Stahl is a major improvement over Edward Furlong as John Connor. The action sequences are incredibly over-the-top and the ending of the movie is shockingly dark. I respect the hell out of this movie for ending with the nuclear apocalypse. However, this movie feels more like a Terminator parody than a sequel, the CGI has aged very poorly, the T-X is a lackluster villain, and the second act is pretty dull.
6/10: Okay
#6. Terminator: Salvation (2009)
Salvation is by far the worst movie in the series and the only one I truly dislike. I give the filmmakers credit for doing something different with this movie, the acting is solid, and the tow truck chase is fun, but this movie is simply bland. The story isn't interesting in the slightest, the writing doesn't make sense, Marcus is a dull protagonist, and, again, there are too many callbacks to the first two films.
3/10: Really Bad
So that's it! What do you think of my rankings? Did I nail it or am I dead wrong? Let me know!
#1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Obviously T2 was going to be number one. How could it not be? It's a rare sequel that improves on the original in every way. The action scenes are top notch, we get excellent performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Robert Patrick, and a haunting scene with a nuclear blast. Whoever decided to make Arnold the good guy this time around was genius. This is such a thrilling and entertaining movie that not even Edward Furlong's annoying performance can ruin it.
10/10: Amazing
#2. The Terminator (1984)
This is where the predictability ends with this rankdown. Everyone knew the original movie would take second. James Cameron takes a simple premise and executes on it extremely well. The pacing is excellent and the movie just flies by. Arnold is incredible and Hamilton and Michael Biehn are great as well. I have a few nitpicks with the acting for some of the bit characters and there are some odd editing choices, but it's still an awesome film.
9/10: Great
#3. Terminator: Genisys (2019)
Here's where we get controversial and I'm sure most of you think I'm crazy for putting Genisys in 3rd, but rest assured there is a steep drop-off from second to third place. This movie has a ton of problems. The story doesn't make much sense if you really think about it, the CGI isn't great, making John Connor a Terminator is stupid, and Jai Courtney and Emilia Clake don't have much chemistry. All that said, I kinda like this movie. There are some really fun action sequences and all of the stuff in 1984 is pretty enjoyable. Arnold is great as always and J.K. Simmons has some fun moments. Bottom line: this is a fun, but extremely stupid movie.
6/10: Okay
#4. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
The newest entry in the series just misses out on the podium. The first half of this movie is excellent. The car chase is the best sequence in the series since T2, Arnold and Mackenzie Davis are fun, and the 3rd act final battle is solid. Unfortunately, the movie loses a lot of steam in the second half, Linda Hamilton doesn't work at all, the CGI isn't great, and there are too many references to the first two movies. Quit reminding me of better movies and focus on making this one good!
6/10: Okay
#5. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
As per usual, Arnold is great. Notice the only one without Arnold is dead last. Nick Stahl is a major improvement over Edward Furlong as John Connor. The action sequences are incredibly over-the-top and the ending of the movie is shockingly dark. I respect the hell out of this movie for ending with the nuclear apocalypse. However, this movie feels more like a Terminator parody than a sequel, the CGI has aged very poorly, the T-X is a lackluster villain, and the second act is pretty dull.
6/10: Okay
#6. Terminator: Salvation (2009)
Salvation is by far the worst movie in the series and the only one I truly dislike. I give the filmmakers credit for doing something different with this movie, the acting is solid, and the tow truck chase is fun, but this movie is simply bland. The story isn't interesting in the slightest, the writing doesn't make sense, Marcus is a dull protagonist, and, again, there are too many callbacks to the first two films.
3/10: Really Bad
So that's it! What do you think of my rankings? Did I nail it or am I dead wrong? Let me know!
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