Terminator: How to watch the epic saga in release and chronological order
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Or if you want to watch the Terminator series. Whatever you like.
Terminator is an epic film series about a war between man and machine. The film was written by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd and is known for its time travel, killer robots and, of course, the star creation of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If you’re interested in the Terminator series but don’t know where to start, fear not, because Popverse has you covered! In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Terminator series and how to watch them in release order and chronological order.
How to watch Terminator in release order
It’s time to challenge Skynet. If you want to see the epic battle between man and machine, here’s how to do so in release order.
How to watch Terminator in chronological order
If you want to watch Terminator in chronological order, that’s a different story. The Terminator franchise involves time travel, which means some movies and TV shows may not take place in the same timeline. Don’t worry, this section of the guide breaks down the branching timelines into a simple order. If you know how time travel works in franchises like Back to the Future, it should be easy.
In most cases, you will find that the branching occurs after Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Main movie timeline
This timeline is home to the original film series. 2009’s Terminator Salvation marked the finale of this version of the saga, with later films going in a new direction.
- 1984: Terminator (1984 film)
- 1995: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 film)
- 2004: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003 film)
- 2016: Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series (6-part web series, 2009)
- 2018: Terminator: Salvation (2009 film)
Genisys Timeline
Terminator Genisys has its own place in the Terminator timeline. The film’s use of time travel erases the events of all film and television projects and creates a new timeline.
- 1984: Terminator: Genisys (2015 film) (time travel scenes)
- 2029: Terminator: Genisys (2015 film) (Future scenes)
Timeline of Dark Fate
In 2019, James Cameron returned to the Terminator franchise with Terminator: Dark Fate. The film ignored all but the first two films and gave the timeline a new direction.
- 1984: Terminator (1984 film)
- 1995: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 film)
- 2022: Terminator: Dark Fate (2019 movie)
The theme park timeline
T2-3D: Battles Across Time was a theme park experience that served as a mini-sequel to Judgment Day. For more information on this experience and its place in the canon, see the T2-3D section of this guide.
- 1984: Terminator (1984 film)
- 1995: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 film)
- After 1995: T2-3D: Battle Across Time (Theme Park Experience)
The Sarah Connor Chronicles Timeline
The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a live-action television series that served as a sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The series ignored the events of Rise of the Machines. Likewise, subsequent Terminator films ignored the events of the series.
- 1984: Terminator (1984 film)
- 1995: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 film)
- 2007: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1 and 2
- 2008: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2
- 2009: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2
Terminator Zero Timeline
This timeline is home to Terminator Zero, a new anime streaming on Netflix. The anime establishes a new timeline that branches off from the original film series.
- 1984: Terminator (1984 film)
- Early 90s: Terminator Zero (ongoing anime series, 2024 to present) (Scenes from the 90s)
- 1995: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 film)
- 2022: Terminator Zero (ongoing anime series, 2024-present) (Scenes from the 21st century)
What about Terminator Genisys: The YouTube Chronicles?
Terminator Genisys: The YouTube Chronicles is a series of short videos in which a Terminator is sent to the year 2015 to hunt down YouTube stars. The Terminator hopes to eliminate these YouTubers before they become major resistance figures after Judgement Day. The cast included various YouTube stars, including Toby Turner and Lilly Singh. The videos had some star-studded action thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the T-800.
We left Terminator: Genisys: The YouTube Chronicles out of our order because it’s less of a series and more of a viral marketing campaign. The short video series was meant to promote Terminator: Genisys and doesn’t really fit into the larger franchise story. Think of it as a fun advertising campaign.
If you are curious about the series and want to watch it, the episodes are currently available on YouTube.
Does Terminator: Dark Fate ignore Rise of the Machines?
Terminator: Dark Fate is the sixth film in the Terminator series, but in some ways could be considered the third. James Cameron wrote the story for the film, returning to the franchise for the first time since T2-3D: Battle Across Time. Cameron viewed Dark Fate as the third film in the series, picking up where Terminator 2: Judgment Day left off.
Therefore, Dark Fate ignores all films after Judgment Day, including Rise of the Machines. Thanks to the franchise’s extensive use of time travel, this could easily be explained as a branching timeline.
Is Universal Studios’ T2 3D experience canon?
In 1996, Universal Studios Orlando opened T2-3D: Battle Across Time, a theme park experience that combined filmed footage with a live show. The filmed segments were directed by James Cameron and featured new footage featuring “Judgment Day” actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick. The film cast reprised their roles for the video segment, while the actors in the theme park played the characters during the live segment.
After opening in Orlando, additional versions of the experience opened at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. To date, all versions of the experience have been closed and replaced. If you never had the chance to experience T2-3D, don’t worry, because it is not canon. James Cameron initially said that he considered the experience canon. However, when Cameron returned to the franchise for Terminator: Dark Fate, he ignored the events of T2-3D.
However, thanks to the franchise’s branching timeline, the experience can technically still be considered canon… it just takes place on a different branch of the timeline.
If you want to experience the full T2 3D experience, It is available on YouTube.
Where does Terminator Zero fit into the timeline?
Terminator Zero is an anime series streaming on Netflix. The series tells its own story in the franchise, independent of the films that preceded it. While elements from the Terminator films are present in the anime, Terminator Zero takes place in its own continuity. This, again, can be explained by the use of time travel, creating branching timelines.
Where can I watch Terminator?
You don’t need a time-shifting device to watch the Terminator series, but you will need some streaming services. The original Terminator movie is currently available on AMC+. Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator Zero are streaming on Netflix. Terminator Salvation is available to watch on Max. Terminator: Genisys is streaming on MGM+. The Sarah Chronicles is available on Hulu.
At the time of this writing, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Terminator: Dark Fate are not available on any streaming services. However, the films can be purchased or rented digitally from various video-on-demand platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, and more.
Please note that some of these films may end up on other streaming services after their streaming licenses expire.
Now you have everything you need to get into the Terminator franchise! Sit back, relax, and be careful with all Cyberdyne products.
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