The Top 7 Arnold Schwarzenegger Films

      Here are the seven top Schwarzenegger films, ranked from least to most impressive.

      As the action star, bodybuilding legend, and former governor of California celebrates his 78th birthday today, we reflect on some of his most beloved movies.

      We could insert a humorous catchphrase here, but we’d prefer to keep it respectful. Here’s our ranking of the seven greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger films.

      But Before We Begin

      Credit: Carolco Pictures

      These lists are subjective, and we wouldn’t claim that our favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger movies align perfectly with yours.

      So if you believe we overlooked a title, please share your thoughts in the comments.

      At least we can all agree on Total Recall (above), right?

      Now, let’s continue with our rankings.

      Predator (1987)

      Credit: 20th Century Studios

      For fans who appreciate biceps and sweat with their extraterrestrials, this is the film for you. Vietnam veteran Dutch Schaefer (you know who) heads a military rescue team deep into a jungle on a seemingly impossible mission… which turns out to be the easy part. An alien hunter with cloaking abilities determines that Dutch and his team are the ideal targets he has traveled across the galaxy to find.

      The powerful cast features not only Carl Weathers (above) but also Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Bill Duke.

      And thus, the Predator franchise begins.

      Commando (1985)

      Credit: 20th Century Studios

      Clever in all the right ways and foolish in all the right ways, this film sees former commando John Matrix (played by Schwarzenegger, of course) trying to rescue his daughter (Alyssa Milano) from the ousted leader of the fictional Val Verde, a country that also appears in Die Hard 2 and other works by renowned writer-producer Steven E. DeSouza.

      Arnold delivers some iconic one-liners, with the best one occurring after he drops a villain off a cliff, and then flight attendant/pilot/rocket launcher operator Rae Dawn Chong asks him what he did. “I let him go,” Matrix responds.

      Total Recall (1990)

      Credit: Carolco Pictures

      In this film, the future governor of California portrays an seemingly average man, but director Paul Verhoeven adds an element of wild absurdity to his universe.

      It’s a mix of sci-fi and satire, presenting a unique take on the Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sharon Stone confrontation that no one thought to anticipate.

      It also generated an abundance of memes and catchphrases for both Earth and Mars.

      True Lies (1994)

      Credit: 20th Century Studios

      Future Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis is the perfect match for Arnold in this James Cameron hit about a couple hiding secrets from each other.

      He’s a spy, while she flirts with a phony (Bill Paxton).

      What starts off charming escalates into an intense climax as they try to, yes, rescue their daughter (Eliza Dushku).

      The Running Man (1987)

      Credit: TriStar Pictures

      Possibly the most underrated Arnold movie, this film scripted by Steven E. DeSouza—based on a story by Stephen King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman—feels increasingly ahead of its time with each viewing. It foresaw both reality television and a U.S. government that mixes governance with entertainment, embodied by the Trump-like character Damon Killian (played by Family Feud host Richard Dawson).

      A remake is in the works this year, featuring Glen Powell, but the new film has very big expectations to meet.

      Fun fact: Both Predator and The Running Man, released in 1987, pair Arnie with Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who later became the governor of Minnesota and whose celebrity candidacy arguably paved the way for Schwarzenegger’s governor run in California.

      The Terminator (1984)

      Credit: C/O

      Our hero shines brightest when he doesn’t try to blend in as an ordinary human: His remarkable performance as an invincible killer cyborg propelled him to stardom in The Terminator, marking his first collaboration with James Cameron.

      We could create an entirely separate gallery of behind-the-scenes stories from The Terminator…

      And so we did.

      Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

      Credit: C/O

      One of the finest sequels ever produced, Terminator 2 redefined Schwarzenegger’s image as a stoic killing machine by making him the hero this time, tasked with saving young John Connor (Eddie Furlong) from a more advanced foe, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick).

      Now, the T-800 Terminator teams up with John and his mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). It’s an exhilarating ride, but also a thoughtful film commenting on AI (presciently!) and filled with emotional depth.

      Schwarzenegger showcases his comedic side in T2, and by the film’s conclusion, he reveals his capacity for vulnerability