Rewatching Terminator’s Latest Movie After 6 Years, I Had A Very Different Reaction

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Similar to most of the Terminator sequels, Terminator: Dark Fate wasn’t a big hit with audiences. After a series of underwhelming films released between Terminator 3 in 2003 and Terminator Genisys in 2015, Dark Fate was intended to revitalize the franchise. With James Cameron involved in the story and Linda Hamilton returning as Sarah Connor, many fans hoped it would be a standout film in the series.

The latest Terminator film, Dark Fate, didn’t quite live up to expectations. Both fans and critics had a mixed response, often pointing out that the story felt too similar to previous installments, the early death of the character John Connor, and a lack of depth in the characters. Even those involved in making the film seem divided about its success. Director Tim Miller shared his frustration with creative disagreements with James Cameron, Linda Hamilton admitted she wasn’t completely satisfied with the final product, Cameron described it as a film for longtime fans, and Arnold Schwarzenegger himself voiced criticism of the story.

Even after revisiting Terminator: Dark Fate years later, it remains a difficult film to fully embrace. Looking back, though, it’s becoming apparent that a genuinely excellent Terminator movie is hidden within it, and might have been more achievable than originally thought.

The “Core” Of Terminator: Dark Fate Is Actually Really Good

Watching Terminator: Dark Fate with fresh eyes reveals a surprisingly solid film. Linda Hamilton’s portrayal of an older, hardened, and even more cynical Sarah Connor is brilliant and effectively connects the classic Terminator movies to a potential future for the series.

Gabriel Luna’s portrayal of the Rev-9 creates a fantastic villain. The character’s unique design – a combination of solid and liquid metal – allows Terminator: Dark Fate to revisit classic moments from the original films, but with visual effects that surpass anything seen in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While the Rev-9’s ability to split apart is a cool new feature, its most unsettling quality is how convincingly it can mimic a human. This makes this particular Terminator especially creepy and effective.

It might be controversial to say, but Natalia Reyes’ character, Dani, could be a more compelling central figure than John Connor was in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While T2 is a fantastic film, John Connor’s constant complaining can be annoying. He’s saved by his connection with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, but without that, he comes across as a rather irritating kid. Dani, on the other hand, takes charge and actively works to become someone who doesn’t need protecting, which cleverly hints at her future role as a leader of the resistance.

Looking back at Terminator: Dark Fate, one of the last big movies released before the pandemic, it’s clear the visual effects and action scenes still hold up. Hiring Tim Miller was a smart move, as the fight choreography is powerfully impactful. The slightly over-the-top, robotic violence perfectly captures the spirit of the Terminator films, and even now, it feels visceral and makes you react to every hit.

So, Why Isn’t Terminator: Dark Fate Great?

People have said Terminator: Dark Fate is the best Terminator movie since Judgment Day, but that isn’t saying much. Considering its potential, the film should have been truly outstanding – a real return to form after all these years.

The film’s biggest mistake was killing off John Connor so early. While it was understandable to move the story past the previous films – another John Connor movie wasn’t necessary after Rise of the Machines and Salvation, and Sarah Connor’s return wouldn’t make sense if he lived – killing him right at the beginning created a negative impression and immediately angered fans by disregarding established storylines.

Honestly, I think Terminator: Dark Fate could have done something really clever with John Connor. They could have brought Sarah Connor back, but kept what happened to John a bit mysterious. Then, near the end, she could’ve revealed his fate – that something bad did happen to him, and that’s why the Terminators are now after Dani. It would have been so much more powerful to see Sarah dealing with the loss of her son during the movie, instead of just starting the film with him already gone. It would’ve filled in some of the story’s gaps and made things feel a lot smoother, I think.

Looking back at Terminator: Dark Fate, I think a big problem was the focus on Carl. Around the middle of the movie, it felt like the story needed something extra to stand out from other Terminator films, and they turned to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, the reformed T-800. After that, all the attention just stayed on him, and the other characters, including Dani, felt like they were just there to support his story. We could have spent that time really building Dani up as the new lead, the new Terminator hero, but instead the spotlight stayed on Carl.

The movie Terminator: Dark Fate starts to feel like a self-aware parody as soon as Carl is introduced. Before Carl appears, the film playfully uses familiar elements from past Terminator movies – the fight between Grace and the Rev-9, for instance, intentionally echoes the iconic battle between Arnold and the T-1000 in Judgment Day. However, Carl’s bizarre dialogue – including complaints about a lack of a “physical relationship” and jokes about polka dots – quickly undermines the film’s serious tone and any tension it had built up.

As a huge Terminator fan, I honestly think Dark Fate could have been a truly amazing third film in the series if they’d skipped bringing Schwarzenegger back. If they’d found a different, unexpected character to fill that role, and especially if they’d handled John Connor’s story better, it really could have reached the level of the first two movies.

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2025-11-19 21:21