Best Watch Order for The Terminator | Get Ready for Terminator Zero

And check out the opening 6 minutes 

If you’re fan of the ever-classic dystopian Terminator franchise, it’s time to rub your hands in glee – Terminator Zero debuts on Netflix Worldwide from August 29 (Judgment day). Set in Japan, the story includes 8 episodes and new characters spanning two timelines, 1997 and 2022, all dropping in one giant indefatigable metal bundle.

Of course, the action will center around a soldier sent back in time to save humanity and warn about the dangers of AI. Featuring the voices of Timothy Olyphant and Rosario Dawson, while it’s part of the Terminator-sphere, it’s a standalone story not directly linked to the original characters.

Directed by animator Masashi Kudō, the anime is a joint production between Japanese animation studio, Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell, Haikyu!, Psycho-Pass) and Skydance (Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts).

In an interview with Netflix’s magazine, Tudum, creator/producer Mattson Tomlin (Project Power, Batman Part II) said, “…this is going to be violent, it’s going to be dark, it’s going to be action-driven, it’s going to be horrific and it’s going to be arresting. That’s just what it has to be.” Since they’ve gone the anime route, I’m sure we can count on all of that. Check out the opening 6 minutes below to get an idea.

In a world where the future is never set, it’s not surprising that there’s so much debate over the watch order – and several ways to look at it. It helps to understand that over the years, different directors/teams have been involved using the concept but taking the core story in different directions. Some of those movies just happen to ignore some that came before. I’ll show you what I mean.

If we were to follow a purely ‘chronological story’ path, it could look like this:

MOVIE	RELEASED	TIME PERIOD	ORIGINAL CAST INCLUDED?
Terminator Genisys	2015	From 2029 to 1984 (*fractured timeline)	Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Terminator	1984	From 2029 to 1984	Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton
Terminator 2: Judgment Day	1991	From 2029 to 1995	Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton
Terminator Zero	2024 (*animated series)	From 2022 to 1997	No
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines	2003	From 2032 to 2004	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (S1 & 2)	2008-2009 (*series)	1991 – set after T2	No
Terminator Genisys	2015	From 1984 to 2017 (see where this gets tricky?)	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Terminator Salvation: The Machinima Series	2009 (*animated series)	2016 – based on a video game & considered a prequel to T Salvation	No
Terminator Salvation	2009	2018	No
Terminator: Dark Fate	2019	From 2042 to 2020	No

You might argue over watching Terminator Genisys first. I agree. But from a chrono perspective, Sarah recalls her childhood and what happens before Reese arrives. As noted, they cause a fractured timeline and a different possibility. Also, you’ll see from our recommendations below, however the timelines work, some of these stories don’t exactly fit in together and literally ignore each other as mentioned above. Tricky, indeed.

First time watching the franchise?

If I were watching for the first time, I’d start with The Terminator & T2 and backtrack later (after I’d fallen in love with the concept). Also, as you can see above, Terminator Genisys also tucks neatly after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles because of the time period it covers.

What’s the best way to watch The Terminator?

Following just the movie story timelines with the direction for each subsequent film, the math offers up these 3 groupings:

Classic storyline

1. The Terminator
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
4. Terminator: Salvation

Alternate timeline

1. The Terminator
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Terminator Genisys

Dark Fate timeline

1. The Terminator
2. Terminator 2
3. Terminator: Dark Fate

Recommended Terminator Franchise Order: With TV Shows

1. The Terminator
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 1 & 2
4. Terminator Salvation: The Machina Series
5. Terminator Salvation 

Recommended Terminator Franchise Order: for Terminator Zero

1. The Terminator
2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
3. Terminator Zero

This means, if you’re here to get ready for T Zero and you’re starting today, you only need watch T1 and T2 before Thursday, August 29 when the new series drops. Then you can safely continue from there, following the different timelines. Happy viewing!

Getting excited? Check out this Terminator wiki and the recently released teaser of Episode 1’s opening 6 minutes:

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Having spotted many a Termiverse watch-order proposal, I’d love to hear yours. Slam it into the comments below. Be sure to use many exclamation points to prove you’re serious.

Need more? Check out our Terminator Zero First Impression, Terminator Zero Ending Explained and Terminator Zero full season review.

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