Terminator watch order
Every film and series across the franchise's branching timelines, in release order.
11 entries·~48 hrs total runtime·1984–2024
The sequels after Terminator 2 branch into separate timelines: 3 and Salvation, Genisys, and Dark Fate.
Original Films
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1
The Terminator
Movie107 min · 1984
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2
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Movie137 min · 1991
The branching point for several later, incompatible timelines.
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3
T2-3D: Battle Across Time
Special12 min · 1996
A theme-park attraction continuing the T2 cast.
Original Sequel Timeline
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4
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Movie109 min · 2003
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5
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
TV Series31 episodes · 2008–2009
An alternate continuation after T2 that disregards Terminator 3.
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6
Terminator Salvation
Movie115 min · 2009
Continues the timeline from Terminator 3.
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7
Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series
TV Series6 episodes · 2009
Genisys Timeline
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8
Terminator Genisys: The YouTube Chronicles
TV Series3 episodes · 2015
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9
Terminator Genisys
Movie126 min · 2015
Creates another altered timeline.
Dark Fate Timeline
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10
Terminator: Dark Fate
Movie128 min · 2019
Continues directly from Terminator 2, disregarding 3, Salvation and Genisys.
Animated Timeline
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11
Terminator Zero Season 1
TV Series8 episodes · 2024
Set in Japan, 1997, on another branch of the timeline.
How many Terminator movies are there?
6 theatrical films, plus a 31-episode live-action series, an 8-episode animated series, and a couple of short web series.
Do I need to watch Terminator 3 before Terminator: Dark Fate?
No — Dark Fate continues from Terminator 2 on a separate timeline and disregards Terminator 3.
What order should a first-timer watch Terminator in?
The Terminator, then Terminator 2, then pick one branching sequel timeline to follow.
Is Terminator finished or still ongoing?
Still active, following Terminator Zero, though no new theatrical film had been released as of this writing.
See also: Predator watch order, Back to the Future watch order.
Check streaming availability on JustWatch.
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