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Extended universe · List checked on September 26, 2026

Terminator: what order to watch the movies in?

Terminator has 6 titles to check off: 6 movies, plus 3 optional. For a first watch, follow release order: start with The Terminator (1984) and finish with Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). Here, release order and chronological order are the same. The movies alone add up to 11 hrs 56 of viewing.

The guide: how long it takes, where to start →
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  1. Original continuity (1984-1991)

  2. The Terminator

    The Terminator

    1984

  3. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

    Terminator 2: Judgment Day

    1991

  4. The sequels (2003-2015)

  5. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

    Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

    2003

    The first sequel to Terminator 2. The films after it each go their own way.

  6. Terminator Salvation

    Terminator Salvation

    2009

  7. Terminator Genisys

    Terminator Genisys

    2015

    Restarts the saga by rewriting the 1984 film.

  8. The alternate sequel (2019)

  9. Terminator: Dark Fate

    Terminator: Dark Fate

    2019

    A direct sequel to Terminator 2: parts 3 to 5 are set aside.

  10. The shows

    Not counted
  11. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles · Season 1

    Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles · Season 1

    Optional

    2008 · 0/9 ep.

    Another sequel to Terminator 2, aired between the films, with its own continuity.

    • Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles · Season 2

      Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles · Season 2

      Optional

      2008 · 0/22 ep.

      • Terminator Zero · Season 1

        Terminator Zero · Season 1

        Optional

        2024 · 0/8 ep.

        Animated series, a story independent from the films.

        See the full chronological order

        Original continuity (1984-1991)

        1. The Terminator (1984)
        2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

        The sequels (2003-2015)

        1. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
        2. Terminator Salvation (2009)
        3. Terminator Genisys (2015)

        The alternate sequel (2019)

        1. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

        The shows

        1. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, season 1 (2008) · Optional
        2. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, season 2 (2008) · Optional
        3. Terminator Zero, season 1 (2024) · Optional

        How this list is made

        Every title is linked to its TMDB entry, checked by hand, ID by ID. Shows are checked off season by season, in their place in both orders.

        Optional titles (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Terminator Zero) stay out of the progress count: checked, they count; they are never required to finish the saga.

        The saga has several continuities (Original continuity (1984-1991), The sequels (2003-2015), The alternate sequel (2019), The shows): each has its own section and numbering.

        Spotted a mistake or a missing title? Suggest a change from this page.

        Frequently asked questions

        What order should you watch Terminator in?

        For a first watch, follow release order: start with The Terminator (1984) and finish with Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). Here, release order and chronological order are the same.

        How long does it take to watch everything?

        11 hrs 56 for the 6 movies.

        What are the optional titles?

        3 side titles, including Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Terminator Zero: checked, they count; they are never required to finish Terminator.