There are a lot of opinions about the topic about “what is the actual chronological order of the Terminator movies”.
Here are a few different takes and opinions. I would love to hear your opinions in the comments after the article.
Different Chronological Opinions
There are normal and conventional progressions to learn about the universe, going from the earliest movie release year to the latest year. That is my favorite way to watch them, but I understand that the universe and timelines changed throughout the series of the movies.
I will try to outline each possibility in order for you to agree with one or correct me in the comments. Here are a few different ways to watch all of The Terminator movies in chronological order.
Normal Movie Progression (Pre-“Terminator Genisys”):
T2: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
T3: “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003)
T4: “Terminator Salvation” (2009)
T5: “Terminator Genisys” (2015) – Alters the timeline and serves as a new starting point, erasing the previous films from continuity.
From “Judgment Day” (Post-T2):
T3: “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003)
T4: “Terminator Salvation” (2009)
T1: “The Terminator” (1984)
T2: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
T5: “Terminator Genisys” (2015) – An alternate T3 due to the changed timeline.
From Events Leading to Time Travel (Post-T4):
T4: “Terminator Salvation” (2009)
T1: “The Terminator” (1984)
T2: “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
T3: “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003)
T5: “Terminator Genisys” (2015) – Another alternate T3 due to the changed timeline.
Please note that the Terminator franchise has had a complex timeline due to time travel and multiple sequels, so the actual release year can be confusing to the timeline.
“Terminator Genisys” effectively creates a branching, alternate timeline in the Terminator universe, causing some confusion about the continuity of the series. It’s a good approach to view it as a parallel universe or an alternate reality where events diverge from the original timeline. This perspective can help reconcile the various Terminator movies and their respective timelines.
To Recap, Here Are Other Terminator Chronological Order Options
The Terminator Movies in Release Order
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
The Terminator Movies Dark Fate Timeline
The Terminator (1984)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator: Dark Fate
Chronological Terminator Lists
Ultimately, the Terminator franchise offers multiple viewing experiences, each with its own unique take on the battle between humans and machines. If you are going all-in to watch the series from beginning to end, there are many ways to do it.
What are your opinions about the best way to watch The Terminator movies?