In 1984 the world was introduced to a nightmarish future in which machines try to wipe out humanity. Since then, The Terminator has grown into one of the most iconic sci-fi franchises ever. From the cold intensity of the original to the emotional punch of T2 and the tangled timelines of later installments, here's the complete list of Terminator films in order, plus a bonus series.
Bonus: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)
This short-lived but beloved series takes place after T2 and follows Sarah and John Connor as they try to stop Skynet from ever being created. Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) as Sarah and Summer Glau as the Terminator Cameron provide strong female leads, with more depth and character development than many of the later films. It was canceled after two seasons but has a loyal fanbase.
The Terminator (1984)
A ruthless cyborg travels from the future to the present to kill a young woman, because her unborn son will one day save humanity. With this low-budget classic, James Cameron set a rock-solid tone: dark, intense and inventive.
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
A revolution in visual effects and emotional impact. Arnold as the protective T-800, Linda Hamilton as a muscular super-mom and the T-1000 as a liquid-metal nightmare. Still one of the best action films ever made.
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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
John Connor lives off the grid until Skynet strikes again. This time he's hunted by a female cyborg: the T-X. More action, less depth, but with a surprisingly bleak ending that turns everything upside down.
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Terminator Salvation (2009)
The future has finally arrived: the war between man and machine rages in full force. Christian Bale plays John Connor, but the real heart of the film lies with Sam Worthington as the hybrid Marcus. No time travel, but plenty of post-apocalyptic tension.
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Terminator Genisys (2015)
A reboot full of timeline disruptions, alternate realities and Arnold as an aging but loyal T-800. Emilia Clarke as young Sarah Connor brings something new, but the plot is so confusing that audiences were left divided.
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Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
With James Cameron back as producer and Linda Hamilton back as Sarah Connor, this film acts as if everything after part 2 never happened. There's a new threat (the Rev-9), a new heroine (Grace) and surprisingly much heart, though box office success didn't follow.
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