The well known Terminator franchise has successfully produced a total of five movies over a 35 year period, with its newest installment, Terminator: Dark Fate, increasing the number to six. The chain of movies are most recognizable by their advanced use of special effects, causing audiences to leave the theater in complete awe. Though some movies in the series have skyrocketed into popularity among viewers, others do not quite reach the same level of success. However, the latest feature is said to act as a comeback for the franchise itself, as it incorporates major throwback moments. The inclusion of original cast members Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton definitely contributes of excitement with audiences, as they appeared in the debut of The Terminator, released in 1984. 

Bringing in close to $27 million in box offices sales across the world on opening day, November 1, 2019, the 6th installment of the Terminator is not exactly topping the charts. On the other hand, critics give it a 63% on the Rotten Tomatoes site, meaning a large number of its viewers thoroughly enjoy the action-packed thriller.

Over the course of the six movies, the introduction of new characters has kept viewers on their toes. These characters appear alongside the continuous idea that the rise of Skynet, the ambitious creator of the murderous terminator bots, has led to the attempted downfall in wiping out the entire human race. These actions extend back in time through the use of time travel. This time, Skynet is in the form of the artificial intelligence group, Legion. Many fans of the Terminator franchise are quick to point out the series’ flaw, which is that it tends to lack a cohesive story line, due to the complexity of it flipping back and forth between the present and the past.

However, the newest release has brought back all of the lost aspects once seen in the original and its sequel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, directed by the brilliant James Cameron. Since Dark Fate picks up where the second installment left off, skeptics are pleasantly surprised by the movies content. Director Tim Miller restored the beloved characters who disappeared after the 2nd movie and focused most of the scenes on traditional high action moments. He defends his work by remarking, “I don’t feel like it’s better than Terminator 2 or anything like that, … but it was never going to be better than Terminator 2.” His response suggests even with past hints, the movies could never fulfill the legacy produced by the first two. To gather more insight on Miller’s take, click here.

A number of questions arise at the end of the movie, for the producers fail to include a credit scene.  Even if this film does not meet the franchise standards in cinematic form, it is still safe to say that these movies serve as a connection between generations who share the same interest in science-fiction. The classic references, as well as a fresh twist on old characters, allows for a whole new group of individuals to experience the franchise that influenced sci-fi pictures in a new light.