Movie · 2015 · Science Fiction, Action, Thriller · 2h 6m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 0.4/10 (481.8K ratings)
Reset the future
Overview
The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.
Ratings
Curator score: 0.4/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Letterboxd: 2.23/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 26%
Metacritic: 38
TMDB: 6.0/10
Director
Alan Taylor
Production
Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media
Cast
Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith, J.K. Simmons, Lee Byung-hun, Dayo Okeniyi, Courtney B. Vance, Michael Gladis, Sandrine Holt, Wayne Bastrup, Gregory Alan Williams, Otto Sanchez, Matty Ferraro, Griff Furst, Ian Etheridge, Nolan Gross, Seth Meriwether, Afemo Omilami
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium
Curator Review
Verdict
A noisy, overcomplicated legacy sequel that has flashes of fun but spends too much energy untangling and rewriting its own mythology. The action is competent and Arnold’s return gives it some charm, but the time-travel mechanics and recast dynamics make it feel more like a franchise stress test than a clean crowd-pleaser.
Best for
Viewers who enjoy convoluted sci-fi timelines and alternate-reality twists
Fans of the Terminator franchise curious about every chapter
Action-movie watchers who can tolerate messy plotting for a few big set pieces
Audiences who like legacy sequels that remix old icons
Skip if
You want a tight, self-contained story
You dislike time-travel paradoxes and continuity retcons
You expect the emotional weight of the first two Terminator films
You are frustrated by franchise reboots and nostalgia bait
Overview
Terminator Genisys is the kind of sequel that arrives with a built-in argument. It wants to reboot, sequel, and remix the franchise all at once, and the result is a film that keeps stepping on its own machinery. The action is polished enough, and the movie has a few playful ideas about legacy and repetition, but the plot is so busy correcting the past that it rarely finds a stable present.
Worth noting
There is still some appeal in the cast and in the sheer absurdity of watching this universe reconfigure itself in real time. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s presence helps anchor the chaos, and the film occasionally lands a decent burst of spectacle. But the emotional core is thin, and the time-travel logic becomes more distracting than suspenseful.
Bottom line
As a continuation of the series, it feels less like a bold reinvention than a reminder of how hard it is to outmaneuver a classic. If you like franchise archaeology and don’t mind a story that keeps folding in on itself, it can be watchable. If you want the clean, ruthless momentum that made the early films endure, this one is mostly a detour.
Top Letterboxd reviews
James (Schaffrillas) (1.5★) · 1109 likes
I always wanted Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, AND Skynet to be annoying! 😃
DirkH (1★) · 889 likes
No.
Stop treating this franchise like it's some indestructible robot from the future. It isn't. There is nothing left to tell. To be honest the story was finished after the absolutely brilliant first part.
I blame James Cameron.
He set the tone with the sequel, a very well made film that just about negated everything that was brilliant about its predecessor and turned an iconic Sci Fi villain into an accessory.
And that's how every iteration of this franchise has… more
matt lynch (2★) · 640 likes
"This is a meaningless gesture. To hold onto something when you know you must let it go."
It's time to let go of this series.
Gonzo (3★) · 317 likes
▶ 2015 Movie Rankings
Is it better than Mad Max: Fury Road?Nooo.
How does it stack up to the previous Terminator films?It can be argued that Genisys is the third best in the series, but that really isn't saying much.
I haven't seen any of the old Terminator movies. Do I need to watch them first?You could watch and understand Genisys even if you haven't seen any of the previous films in the franchise since this one… more