17 Years Since 'Terminator Salvation' Released: A Look Back at Its Mixed Reception
Seventeen years ago today, a polarizing sequel from an iconic sci-fi movie series hit the big screens.
Not all fans and movie critics like it when Hollywood drags on certain blockbuster movie franchises. But the reality is that some franchises are so gigantic that they will always draw a lot of money, even if the general reviews aren't positive.
Take the case of Batman & Robin, the fourth installment of the original Caped Crusader live-action series. Though widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, it still made just over $238.259 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
Another legendary movie franchise that won at the box office despite mixed-to-negative reviews on its fourth and fifth installments? The Terminator franchise.
Following the success of three Terminator films, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the title character, Warner Bros. (which also released Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) obtained the rights to a fourth film. Unfortunately for fans of the first three films, there would be no Schwarzenegger in the new installment.
The star-studded cast included Christian Bale (John Connor), Sam Worthington (Marcus Wright), Bryce Dallas Howard (Kate Connor), Anton Yelchin (Kyle Reese) and Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Serena Kogan).
Terminator Salvationhit the big screens on May 21, 2009. It would go on to gross $371.353 million worldwide. The film has a 6.5 rating on IMDb but only a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Showed No Love For 'Terminator Salvation'
The Terminator movie franchise began with James Cameron's 1984 masterpiece. Seven years later, Cameron and Schwarzenegger teamed up for Terminator 2: Judgment Day. That movie set the gold standard of making a sequel, and the technology for the 1991 classic still holds up today.
Schwarzenegger returned for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, released 12 years after the second film. Reviews were mixed, and it was certainly nowhere near Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but it still raked in $433.371 million worldwide.
In April 2012, Schwarzenegger admitted that he wasn't fond of the only Terminator movie without his services.
"'Terminator'...the last one was awful," Schwarzenegger said, per NBC News. "It tried hard, not that they didn't try, the acting and everything. It missed the boat."
Schwarzenegger returned for the next two sequels, Terminator Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate. Both films, like the fourth installment, certainly didn't capture the following and universal praise of the first two.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 7:00 AM.