The Terminator franchise, launched by James Cameron in 1984, explores a dystopian future where intelligent machines wage war against humanity. The relentless pursuit of key human figures by time-traveling cyborg assassins known as Terminators is central to the narrative. John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance, is the core target of the malicious machines.
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Terminator
- Movie(s)
- The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Terminator Salvation (2009), Terminator Genisys (2015), Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
- Created by
- James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
- First Film
- The Terminator
- Latest Film
- Terminator: Dark Fate
- First TV Show
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- Latest TV Show
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- TV Shows
- Terminator Zero (2024)
- First Episode Air Date
- January 13, 2008
- Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes
- TV Show(s)
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008)
- Character(s)
- The Terminator, Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, John Connor, T-1000, Kate Brewster, Marcus Wright, Grace (Terminator), Dani Ramos
- Video Game(s)
- The Terminator (1990), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), RoboCop versus The Terminator (1993), Terminator 3: War of the Machines (2003), Terminator Salvation (2009), Terminator: Resistance (2019)
Summary
The Terminator franchise is a landmark in science fiction, featuring a battle between humanity and artificially intelligent machines led by Skynet. The story primarily revolves around the Terminator robots, particularly the T-800 model, and the resistance led by John Connor. The series explores themes of fate, artificial intelligence, and the moral implications of technological advancement.
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All 5 Sequels To Terminator 2 Explained (& How They Fit In The Timeline)
Terminator movies deal with time travel, with the characters moving through time, but with so many entries in the franchise, the timeline gets messy.
Terminator’s Time Travel: Every Rule & Retcon Explained
The Terminator franchise has established a lot of time travel rules across all movies and shows, although some of them have been retconned.
Matt Smith’s Terminator Genisys Character Explained & What It Was Setting Up
Matt Smith's Terminator Genisys character was one of the most confusing aspects of the movie and set up things for a sequel that never happened.
These 2 Terminator Shows Are Just As Good As The James Cameron Movies (& Better Than Their Sequels)
The Terminator movies have long failed to be as good as the two made by James Cameron, but the franchise boasts two TV shows that meet that standard.
Why The Date Of Judgment Day Keeps Changing In Terminator
The Terminator series changed the date of Judgment Day more than once, but the franchise did justify altering the all-important event's timing.
I Know What Terminator 7 Should Be After 4 Awful Sequels (And This TV Show With 86% On RT Proves I’m Right)
Terminator Zero proved that Terminator 7 can save the struggling franchise, but not with minor changes like recasting Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800.
You'd Think Terminator 7's Biggest Challenge Would Be Replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger, But It's Something Else Entirely
Replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 might seem like the major roadblock standing in the way of Terminator 7, but there is a bigger issue.
Every Terminator Movie & TV Show, Ranked
A staggering 40 years since it launched, the Terminator franchise shows no signs of slowing down, but not all Terminator movies and shows are hits.
Terminator’s Replacement For Arnold Schwarzenegger Was So Good, He Should Return In The Next Movie
The Terminator franchise has struggled to replace Arnie as the face of the film series, but another project quietly teased who could step in.
You Probably Haven't Seen The Best Terminator Sequel (And It's So Much Better Than The Last 4 Movies)
Almost of the follow-ups to Terminator 2: Judgment Day are disappointing, except for one largely forgotten addition to the blockbuster sci-fi series.
Terminator's War Against Humanity Is More Messed Up Than You Realize. Just Ask Skynet
The war between humans and Terminators is one that has raged since the franchise first began, but the nature of the conflict isn't what fans think.
Where Did Terminator Get Its Iconic Look From? Skynet's Answer Will Traumatize You
The Terminator has an absolutely iconic appearance, but the story of how it got that look is profoundly disturbing, & fans might not be ready for it.
Terminator 7 Replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger Is So Difficult, Only One Franchise Has Successfully Done It
Schwarzenegger has appeared in every Terminator movie to date, and the failure of most other franchises he has departed could be a reason for that.
10 Best Movies If You Love The Terminator Franchise
From RoboCop to Minority Report to Universal Soldier, there are plenty of great sci-fi action movies that fans of the Terminator franchise will love.
If Terminator 7 Casts This Actor As Arnold Schwarzenegger's Replacement, I Hope It Copies An Iconic 34-Year-Old Twist
If Terminator 7 casts this perfect Schwarzenegger replacement, I would love to see it repeat the franchise's best and most iconic twist.
What Happens When Terminators Meet Zero Gravity? The Answer Is Pure Nightmare Fuel
Terminators have always been terrifying, but they have never been as scary as they are in zero gravity! Why T-800s in space are pure nightmare fuel.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Forgotten Terminator Character Was More Important Than Any Of The Terminators He Played
Arnold Schwarzenegger has played a killer cyborg in every single Terminator movie, but his forgotten human role was his most important character.
What Happened To Sarah Connor After Terminator 2: Every Timeline & Alternate Future Explained
Sarah Connor's fate changes depending on the Terminator timeline she is in, but some details remains consistent across various versions of her story.
After Seeing Terminator's T-600, I'll it It: Skynet Could Kill Us All In an Instant
The Terminator's T-600 has a pretty bad rap as an outdated, obsolete, and ineffective model, but I'm here to tell you that that is far from the truth.
The Terminator TV Shows Were Brave Enough To Do The One Thing The Movies Have Always Avoided
The Terminator franchise is bolstered by two fantastic TV shows, and they both took a big creative risk that the movies have all avoided.