Action Movies

Everyone’s talking about this upcoming film, but does the fourth movie in the Terminator franchise live up to the hype and Terminator movie reviews?

Before you check out the newest entry in the series, see what critics thought of the first three films.

The Terminator
The Terminator started off the franchise in 1984 with a bang. It’s still considered one of the best science fiction – and action – films ever made, and it shaped many films that followed it. The movie also marks the breakthrough of its director, James Cameron, who would, of course, go on to create additional “titanic” successes. Critics loved The Terminator’s special effects and fast-paced action. The film also firmly entrenched its star Arnold Schwarzenegger in his robot role in the public mind, an image that continued to follow him even when he assumed office in 2003 as California’s governor, a.k.a. “the Governator.”

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The success of The Terminator meant that the franchise gained a bigger budget for its second outing, making the 1991 release a true blockbuster. James Cameron again helmed the film and Arnold Schwarzenegger reprised his role as the, albeit somewhat gentler, Terminator. Though sequels often receive terrible reviews from critics despite the crowds flocking to the theaters, Terminator 2 was an exception to this rule; it was both popular with fans and appreciated by critics. Reviewers again loved the film’s stunts and special effects and also praised the depth of Terminator 2’s characters.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

With a new director (Jonathan Mostow) replacing James Cameron for the franchise’s third outing in 2003, Terminator 3 received less critical love than the first two films. Critics noted a less engaging and emotionally-connected story, holes in the plot, and a lack of the philosophical ruminations that marked T1 and T2. Still, as the strong box office performance of Terminator 3 reflected, the film had enough explosions and thrills to keep lovers of summer action blockbusters glued to their seats.