Despite a string of critical and box office failures, James Cameron's the Terminator series has tried to reinvent itself with each sequel, resulting in confusing timelines and empty plots that have left fans of the original two films completely unsatisfied.
Most franchises would fade away after so many box office bombs and critical crucifixions, but like its eponymous android, the Terminator franchise simply will not die. In fact, it has continued to attract major stars and mammoth studio budgets, with each sequel attempting to recreate the magic of The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Even though 2019's Terminator: Dark Fate cost its studios over $120M at the box office, rumblings have already begun about how the franchise can be reborn (again). Whether that's a good idea or not remains to be seen, but it's a near-guarantee that moviegoers will return to the Terminator universe in the coming years.
Terminator Has Two Good Movies - Why Make More?
The original two movies stand among the greatest science fiction films in history, with next-level action, tight scripts and an unmistakable tech-noir vibe earning critical acclaim. The original sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels of all time, as it expanded upon the original story while capturing the elements that made the first film great. Therein lies the basis for the many sequels and retcons of the Terminator franchise--the larger universe had so much untapped potential that it seemed like a no-brainer to further explore the rise of Skynet, the war against the machines and the Terminators/humans on either side of the conflict.
Compelling central characters also drove the original films. The backstories of Sarah and John Connor, Kyle Reese, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger's robotic T-800 are well-established in the first two films, but they stand as brief snapshots in the lives of these characters, with the story of each film taking place over the course of no more than a few days. The universe even set up a unique opportunity – the origin stories for some of the characters occurred in the future, so the franchise was able to literally move forward while exploring their history. Add in the fact that Terminator 2: Judgment Day broke multiple box office records upon its release, and a return to the Terminator universe was all but inevitable.
For Better Or Worse, Terminator Is A Major IP
Nostalgia, star power, influence and past prestige all played a role in making the Terminator franchise a powerhouse sci-fi IP. Terminator 2: Judgment Day broke new ground in CGI with Robert Patrick's T-1000, made Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name, and was one of the earliest examples of the "summer tentpole" movie release schedule for major studios. While it seems relatively commonplace now, it was also one of the first franchises to spawn a mega theme park ride, with Universal Studios' T2-3D: Battle Across Time operating as a mini-sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. That level of influence in American pop culture is too tantalizing not to cash in on further, as evidenced by the many sequels.
The Terminator franchise has also never seemed more relevant. Advances in modern technology, whether it's IBM's Watson, generative AI like ChatGPT, or Amazon's Alexa, have gradually pushed our species closer to the reality that the Terminator universe explores – one where technology rules over humanity. The realistic fear of being spied on and manipulated by machines is something that rings true for many at this moment in time, but the Terminator franchise simply hasn't been able to tap into that sentiment with a quality movie.
Terminator Is Better With James Cameron Than Without
After Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines offered some hope that the franchise could continue successfully, Terminator: Salvation and Terminator: Genisys were utter critical failures, with Genisys garnering a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 26%. However, Terminator: Dark Fate put the franchise back in the hands of James Cameron, largely ignoring the events of the previous three sequels, and the reviews proved that it was the right decision. Many argue that it was James Cameron's singular and original vision for the Terminator universe that was successful, and that the various sequels resulted in a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario.
If the Terminator franchise is to continue, James Cameron will need to be involved in some way. While it seems unlikely he'd return to the director's chair given how full his schedule is for the next few years, a writer or producer role would ensure that the vision stays on track. Cameron has already revealed his Terminator relaunch plan, and if such a thing were to come to , it would likely bring a necessary departure from the well-worn staples of the franchise--from the over-the-top action to its aging stars. With so much of the Terminator timeline unexplored and a reality that makes the franchise more relevant than ever, the series will almost "be back" – hopefully with James Cameron driving it forward.
