As one of the premier action stars of the generation, Arnold Schwarzenegger changed the action film genre through his breakthrough work in several iconic films. This week, Schwarzenegger returns to the franchise that established him as an actor in Terminator: Genisys.
To celebrate our favorite Terminator, here are our top five Arnold Schwarzenegger films.
Kindergarten Cop
By Kindergarten Cop's 1990 release, Schwarzenegger was already well-known for his action work and had been established as an icon. Kindergarten Cop allowed Schwarzenegger to play off his public persona in a comedic way and gave him a chance to satire himself and his past films.
Schwarzenegger plays Detective John Kimble, a veteran cop who must go undercover as a Kindergarten teacher in order to catch a drug dealer. Putting an iconic action star like Schwarzenegger in such an unconventional role led to great comedy, and Kindergarten Cop stands out as Schwarzenegger's best comedic work.
The Running Man
The Running Man is a classic '80s action hit, and it's also one of Schwarzenegger's most entertaining films to date. The plot, which revolves around a dystopian future in which the world's criminals are forced to compete in a deadly gameshow, is utterly ridiculous, and that's one of the reasons the film works so well.
It's an incredibly goofy idea, and Schwarzenegger embraces it by having great comedic timing with his one-liners while still taking the plot seriously enough to make it work as a sci-fi action film. The Running Man relies on Schwarzenegger's charisma to be a purely entertaining film, and it definitely succeeds in its ambitions.
Predator
Though much of Schwarzenegger's filmography is of a more lighthearted or comic nature, Predator is a film that takes itself seriously -- and succeeds. Schwarzenegger stars as Dutch, the leader of a commando team who become trapped within the Central American jungle with an alien visitor who begins to kill them for sport.
Director John McTiernan (Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October) does a great job at setting up tension throughout the film and allows Schwarzenegger to give one of his better performances; one that lacks the cheesiness found in his other films. Predator is an expertly crafted thriller, and Schwarzenegger elevates the material from a standard story to great entertainment.
True Lies
True Lies is the epitome of a great summer action film, and the union of James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger proved to be a successful one. Set within the world of spies, Schwarzenegger stars as the renowned secret agent Harry Tasker, whose wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) gets caught up in an international nuclear arms deal.
Cameron, known for his ability to create great action and suspense, creates a brilliant plot that ties action and comedy together and gives the film a unique quality in comparison to Schwarzenegger's other films. Schwarzenegger himself has great chemistry with Curtis, and the two succeed in maintaining a thrilling and action-packed film with a strong comedic vibe.
The Terminator Franchise
Though Schwarzenegger's career is a lengthy and versatile one, his most iconic role is certainly his best. 1984's The Terminator was a revolutionary sci-fi action thriller, with Schwarzenegger starring as the titular character, a robot from the future sent to kill Sarah Conner. Director James Cameron tells a highly intelligent story about the future and technology, but gives enough action and thrills for the average audience member to become engaged.
The film's 1991 sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day expanded and improved the first film, telling a more action-oriented story with Schwarzenegger's Terminator returning as a hero to protect Sarah and her son John. These films became the staple of Schwarzenegger's career, and provided him with an iconic character that stands as one of cinema's greatest heroes and villains.
