Arnold Schwarzenegger Named the Worst "Terminator" Film. It Only Scored 33% on Rotten Tomatoes

This time it's hard to disagree with "Iron Arnie's" opinion...

If you somehow forgot just how essential Arnold Schwarzenegger is to "Terminator," the actor himself is ready to remind you: "Making a Terminator movie without me is like doing a show without a host."

That's how he commented on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" about the fact that he considers "Terminator Salvation" the worst entry in the iconic franchise.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger smiling with the Terminator robot standing nearby in brown light
Stills from "Terminator 2" and "Terminator Salvation"
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And no, it's not even about the plot (though that's part of it too) — it's that himself is barely in the movie. They replaced him with a digital face slapped onto another actor's body. No wonder it turned out... well, you get it.

Shot in 2009, "Salvation" is an attempt to build a cyberpunk action flick without the main pillar of the entire franchise. And what happened? Jumbled storytelling and Christian Bale acting with the expression of someone trying to remember where he left his script.

Critics — from Spain's EscribiendoCine to America's The Spool — were unanimous: the film lacks soul, characters are flat, and the plot is loud but meaningless. Rotten Tomatoes gave it just 33% fresh, while IMDb scored it 6.5 (though still higher than "Dark Fate," which managed only 6.2).
Silver Terminator robot against sky background and movie poster featuring Christian Bale standing with a weapon
Still and poster from "Terminator Salvation"
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While Arnold ironically chalks it all up to his absence, I decided to go further and create my own ranking. You might disagree — and that's perfectly fine.

TOP 5 Terminator Franchise Movies (according to someone who's rewatched them way too many times):

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

The gold standard. A film that forever set the bar for sci-fi cinema. Plot, action, emotion, soundtrack, liquid T-1000 — everything works perfectly. Schwarzenegger isn't just a killer here, but a character with soul. Best film in the franchise? Absolutely.

The Terminator (1984)

Dark, tense, shot almost like horror. Without this entry, there wouldn't be anything else. The atmosphere of doom, Kyle Reese, Sarah Connor — and Arnold in his most terrifying form. Pure classic.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Not as bad as people love to bash it. The ending is one of the most brutal and honest in the series. Sure, it doesn't match the first two, but the suspense is there.

Terminator Genisys (2015)

Strange, illogical, sometimes downright silly. But at least it tried to change things up. And Arnold's cool again, even at his age.

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

The soul seems to be there, but everything feels tired. The emotional layer works, but the new cast doesn't quite deliver. Though Linda Hamilton returns — and that's a plus.

What about "Salvation"?

Oops. Didn't make it. Not even into the top five. Sure, the visuals are decent, the idea potentially strong, but the film is stillborn. No Arnold, no charisma, no spark. And Schwarzenegger gets this perfectly.

So if anyone ever pitches you a reboot without Arnie again, just say: "I'll be back — but only with Arnold." Earlier, we at zoomboola.com told you about a Quentin Tarantino film with a 7.0 IMDb rating that he considers his worst.