Arnold Schwarzenegger's Failed 'Terminator' Reboot Gets a Second Chance on Free Streaming

Terminator is the one franchise Hollywood refuses to leave alone, having tried every trick to make it work. Created by James Cameron decades ago, it has expanded across different media at its peak. However, the most recent theatrical films both fell short of expectations; one was a critical flop and the other a commercial bomb. With the rights currently in the hands of David Ellison, it remains to be seen where he'll take it next, especially with the Warner Bros. merger in the works. In 2019, Ellison's Skydance worked with Cameron on a new reboot, Terminator: Dark Fate, which underperformed commercially and led to star Arnold Schwarzenegger seemingly admitting defeat. The star had previously criticized the writing of the franchise's 2015 reboot, which is currently streaming for free in the United States.

The 2015 movie was marketed as a major return for Schwarzenegger, who wasn't involved with the 2009 film Terminator Salvation. Directed by Alan Taylor, the 2015 reboot had a production so difficult that the crew of the doomed Fantastic Four movie being shot at the same time distributed sweatshirts that read, "At least we're not on Terminator." The experience of making the movie robbed Taylor of the will to continue working in the industry, while star Emilia Clarke said in an interview that the cancellation of the sequels was probably for the best.