All Terminator Movies in Order: Release Dates and Timelines

For a first watch, see the Terminator movies in release order. The six main theatrical features begin with The Terminator (1984) and end with Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). Later films branch into alternative continuities, so a single chronology cannot make every sequel part of the same uninterrupted history.

All Terminator movies in release order

  1. The Terminator (1984) — introduces Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese and the threat from a future controlled by machines.
  2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — continues Sarah and John Connor’s story and changes the relationship between humans and a returning machine.
  3. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) — follows an adult John Connor in a continuation that leads toward the future war.
  4. Terminator Salvation (2009) — moves into that war, rather than centring another visit to the familiar present-day setting.
  5. Terminator Genisys (2015) — revisits the original film’s setup before taking the history in a different direction.
  6. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) — follows the first two films while taking a separate path from the intervening sequels.

Which timeline should you follow?

The original starting point

The Terminator followed by Terminator 2 gives you the essential foundation. These films establish the characters and the idea that actions in the past can change the future. They are the clearest introduction before choosing a later branch.

The Rise of the Machines and Salvation branch

Watch the first two films, then Terminator 3 and Salvation. This path moves from the attempt to prevent catastrophe into a depiction of the machine war.

The Dark Fate branch

Watch the first two films, then Dark Fate. Do not try to insert every event of Terminator 3, Salvation or Genisys into that continuation; the branch is designed around a different set of consequences.

The Genisys variation

Genisys works best after you know the first two movies, because its changes depend on recognising the familiar setup. Watching it first would introduce revisions before the story they are revising.

Are the television shows included?

The Sarah Connor Chronicles and the animated Terminator Zero are television productions, not seventh and eighth theatrical features. Treat them as separate entries when deciding your viewing commitment. This list covers the six main released live-action films; it does not turn announced projects into completed movies.

Where to check a film

Use the linked catalogue pages for the earlier films and Paramount’s Dark Fate information for that production. For a comparison of the six-film collection, see JustWatch’s Terminator film guide. Confirm local viewing availability with the provider.

Explore more science-fiction films after choosing your preferred timeline.