The Terminator movies in order The Terminator Marathon
Page Last Modified:
28 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Terminator: Dark Fate - 2019
Total Runtime:
723 Minutes
Total Items:
6
Average User Score:
(6.7)The Terminator movies in order
Picture this: You're standing in front of your movie collection or browsing your streaming options, and you come across the classic Terminator franchise. You're itching for a hardcore killer robot marathon, but uncertainty creeps in. Which film starts the saga? And how does the reboot fit in? No worries, we've got your back. Whether you're meeting Skynet's nightmare for the first time or reciting T-800 quotes in your sleep, this viewing order is your ultimate guide. Grab some snacks, get your friends together, and dive into the dystopian chaos and Arnold's legendary "I'll be back."
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1
Terminator Genisys Movie 126 min. 2015The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.USER SCORE 6 -
2
The Terminator Movie 108 min. 1984In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?USER SCORE 8 -
3
Terminator 2: Judgment Day Movie 137 min. 1991Ten years after the events of the original, a reprogrammed T-800 is sent back in time to protect young John Connor from the shape-shifting T-1000. Together with his mother Sarah, he fights to stop Skynet from triggering a nuclear apocalypse.USER SCORE 8 -
4
Terminator: Dark Fate Movie 128 min. 2019Decades after Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, a lethal new Terminator is sent to eliminate the future leader of the resistance. In a fight to save mankind, battle-hardened Sarah Connor teams up with an unexpected ally and an enhanced super soldier to stop the deadliest Terminator yet.USER SCORE 6 -
5
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Movie 109 min. 2003It's been 10 years since John Connor saved Earth from Judgment Day, and he's now living under the radar, steering clear of using anything Skynet can trace. That is, until he encounters T-X, a robotic assassin ordered to finish what T-1000 started. Good thing Connor's former nemesis, the Terminator, is back to aid the now-adult Connor … just like he promised.USER SCORE 6 -
6
Terminator Salvation Movie 115 min. 2009All grown up in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor must lead the resistance of humans against the increasingly dominating militaristic robots. But when Marcus Wright appears, his existence confuses the mission as Connor tries to determine whether Wright has come from the future or the past -- and whether he's friend or foe.USER SCORE 6
Terminator Genisys (2015)
It's the fifth film in release order, but it starts the story chronologically. We're thrown into a future where resistance fighters are battling killer robots at the height of their war. Expect HK aerials, endoskeletons, and a time machine that flips everything upside down. Genisys presents a different timeline, revisiting familiar moments with a twist. Emilia Clarke is Sarah Connor, and Jai Courtney is Kyle Reese. This film is like your gateway to a crazy adventure through time, with all sorts of paradoxes and future versions of the past. It's chaotic, but you've got to understand it if you want to see the full scope of the Terminator saga.
The Terminator (1984)
Next, we rewind to the original: The Terminator. James Cameron's low-budget sci-fi masterpiece hit theaters in 1984, setting the stage for the whole genre. In this movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the iconic T-800, a relentless machine with sunglasses, a leather jacket, and a mission to terminate Sarah Connor. We arrive in gritty 1980s L.A., where the seeds of the Judgment Day apocalypse are sown. This film is raw, gritty, and packed with practical effects that still impress. It gets super tense, like a horror movie, and it brings in Cyberdyne Systems, time travel, and the idea that the future isn't set in stone. You've got to watch this one, even if it is just for the famous line.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Time to refill your popcorn and turn up the volume. Terminator 2: Judgment Day isn't just a seque, it's a piece of cinematic history. With a bigger budget, amazing effects, and Arnie's T-800 role reversed (now the good guy), T2 is a step up in every way. Edward Furlong plays a young John Connor, who, with his mom Sarah (played by Linda Hamilton at her most badass), tries to stop Skynet from being activated. Then, there's the shape-shifting liquid metal T-1000, played by Robert Patrick, one of the most terrifying villains ever. What about the freeway chase, the molten steel foundry battle, and the Cyberdyne HQ sequence? Iconic. This is the Terminator movie that everyone's seen, even if they're not really fans. It's the heart and soul of the Connors' legacy.
Dark Fate (2019)
Plot twist: Instead of moving to part 3, we take a detour to Terminator: Dark Fate. Why? It comes right after T2 and doesn't take into account any of the other parts. James Cameron is back as a producer, and Tim Miller is directing. Linda Hamilton is back as a veteran Sarah Connor, and Arnold is reprising his role as a surprisingly philosophical T-800. But the new faces really steal the show: Mackenzie Davis plays Grace, an augmented supersoldier, and Natalia Reyes is Dani Ramos, humanity's new hope. The enemy? Rev-9 is a hybrid killer robot created by Gabriel Luna. Legion AI replaces Skynet, but the threat is still deadly. Dark Fate is intense, emotional, and a fresh reset within the Terminator narrative.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Now, we delve into the "forgotten" future: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Set years after T2, Nick Stahl plays John Connor, a man on the run from his fate. The film introduces the T-X, also known as the Terminatrix, a liquid metal cyborg with built-in weapons. Schwarzenegger returns as an older T-850, still delivering dry one-liners and brute force. The real shocker? The film's take on the apocalypse: it's going to happen. Even though the Connors are trying their best, it looks like the end of the world is near. The tone is darker, the action is grander, and the ending sets the stage for what's next.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
We conclude with Terminator Salvation, the only film set entirely during the future war. This isn't a story about time travel; it's about the harsh reality of a world ruled by machines. Christian Bale plays John Connor, leading the resistance, while Sam Worthington shines as Marcus Wright, a man with a secret that changes everything. McG directed this film, which feels like a post-apocalyptic war movie with a sci-fi twist. Picture a world of hunter-killer missions, devastated cities, and explosions. It finally shows what the earlier films predicted: Skynet's world takeover. Salvation isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's a must in the Terminator timeline.
Time to Binge
Are you new to the time-travel chaos of the Terminator franchise or want to refresh your knowledge with a chronological watch order? This sequence offers the right story beats and a unique perspective on how the saga unfolds and rewrites itself. From Cyberdyne Systems to Legion AI, from liquid metal Terminators to shape-shifting robots, this is high-tech sci-fi action at its best. Put your phone on silent, turn down the lights, and let the sound of hydraulic endoskeletons fill your living room. As a certain cyborg once said, you'll be back for more.