Avatar 2 and Prey are two of the most highly-anticipated releases this summer, and with the hype both movies have received, there's no need to speculate that the sci-fi genre is still one of the most popular in cinema.
One film that has been a fan favorite for years is The Terminator. The franchise has a large following and has received its fair share of sequels and reimagining of the story. Since there is plenty of movies in the series, Ranker has provided a good consensus on what Terminator films are the most popular with the fans.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes. Some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
There is always that one film in a franchise that receives the most hate. And out of all the Terminator films, the one that seems to get the most hate is Terminator Genisys.
Terminator Genisys didn't sit well with many fans. A lot of the hate it received was due to the story itself, with some noting that if it had been a stand-alone film all on its own, it would have worked a lot better. It also received similar remarks as Terminator Salvation, such as it lacking the franchise's grit and spirit. Even with the number of unhappy comments it received, many still have a soft spot for the movie, saying the CGI was great and that the actors did a great job.
Terminator Salvation (2009)
In 2009 fans were introduced to the next sequel of the franchise, Terminator Salvation. As expected, some of the franchises' followers were not thrilled with what they saw. While some say it was merely misinterpreted and should be looked at from a different perspective, some fans are not as sympathetic.
The film was criticized for the excessive use of CGI, including the use of Arnold's appearance without actually having Arnold playing his usual role. Others stated that the story lacked passion and was just a war film. Even though Arnold was not physically present, not every fan was upset that he wasn't in it and that it worked as part of the series by doing something different with the content.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
With not only Arnold returning to the set and Linda Hamilton returning as Sarah Connor, fans were intrigued by the 2019 film Terminator: Dark Fate and hoping for something great and that the movie had made a comeback and went back to the way it was before. And while that was the case to some degree, some fans left the theater less than impressed.
It's no surprise that many fans want the films to be left alone. Whether they decide to or not hasn't been decided yet. But others have mentioned Arnold's age and questioned how much longer he could play the role, some even saying they don't want to see an old terminator. Despite these remarks, many fans still consider this a good sequel and addition to the franchise.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
As a direct sequel to the 2nd film, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines follows the same premise of Skynet sending a highly advanced killing machine to the past to take out John Connor. It's also the film that some fans believe started the downward spiral of the series
There is not a lot of hate towards it, not like later sequels would receive, but it still received criticism. Some mentioned the time that it took for them to want to do a sequel, along with how certain characters were acted out and how the ending just didn't hit the mark. It's not the worst film, the action scenes and the movie following the comic storyline of having a female terminator attracted a lot of fans to see it, with plenty still saying they were pleased with the outcome.
The Terminator (1984)
As the franchise's first movie, The Terminator was a great success upon its release. It was also one of the films that gave Arnold Schwarzenegger the reputation of being a great actor to cast in action movies. But there is a reason why many fans have picked the 2nd film over the first.
At the time of its initial release, the 2nd film had new digital effects, and at the time, that was a big deal. But the first is what started it all. Without The Terminator, it wouldn't be where it is today, and the acting and action scenes still impressed crowds the first time they saw it, and the story itself continues to draw in new fans despite coming in at second place to its sequel.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
There is no denying that the first movie received a lot of praise from both viewers and critics. But the second one got a lot more attention and is considered one of the greatest Sci-Fi movies in the minds of many fans of the series and genre.
The first movie was a big hit, but Terminator 2: Judgment Day topped the first film. A sequel rarely receives more attention and praise than the first. But due to its action-packed scenes, great acting, and terminator on terminator violence, fans are quick to say that the 2nd is the best of all the films.