(Photo by 20th Century Fox/courtesy Everett Collection)

All Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Ranked

Much like his breakthrough role Conan the Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger transcended a childhood of neglect and poverty in 1950s Austria, pushing his body over over the top, to become one day the king of the Hyborian Age governor of California. Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding career, begun at age 14, was enough to take him abroad in competitions, and eventually into the viewfinder of Hollywood agents. On this list of Schwarzenegger’s best movies ranked by Tomatometer (alongside the worst), we’re including the 1976 Pumping Iron documentary that helped him land Conan the Barbarian – even though he’s not playing a character, Iron was vital in crafting Arnie’s on-screen image.

Also included, of course, are his star-making ’80s action films, ranging from sci-fi (The Terminator) to horror (Predator) to practically comedy (Commando). He started the ’90s with a bang with mega-violent mind-bender Total Recall, which was followed by the legendary Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The rest of the decade saw him mixing action with more overt comedies (Jingle All the Way, Junior, Kindergarten Cop) to varying success. Schwarzenegger’s side gig as governor kept him off-screen during most of the 2000s, but since then it’s drama (Aftermath, Maggie) that’s he mixed in with minor-comeback vehicles, like The Last Stand or Stallone team-up Escape Plan. And speaking of Stallone projects, we’ve included all three Expendables on this list; Schwarzenegger went uncredited in the first, but was upgraded to a side character in the next two. Considering the Expendables‘ proudly-worn mantle of throwback action, we felt it was right to have them. Otherwise, his cameos (like in The Rundown, in which he officially passed the action torch to Dwayne Johnson) and bit parts, however memorable (watch Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye!), were excluded.

With Kindergarten Cop celebrating its 30th anniversary, we’re ranking all Arnold Schwarzenegger movies by Tomatometer!

#38

The Villain (1979)
0%

#38

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Also released under the title Cactus Jack, this western spoof follows the evil schemes of the villainous Cactus Jack (Kirk... [More]

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paul Lynde

Directed By: Hal Needham

#37

Batman & Robin (1997)
11%

#37

Adjusted Score: 16.67%

Critics Consensus: Joel Schumacher's tongue-in-cheek attitude hits an unbearable limit in Batman & Robin resulting in a frantic and mindless movie that's too jokey to care much for.

Synopsis: Batman & Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from... [More]

Starring: George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

#36

End of Days (1999)
11%

#36

Adjusted Score: 15.219%

Critics Consensus: An overblown thriller with formulaic action scenes and poor acting.

Synopsis: Jericho Cane, a beaten down ex-cop, is the reluctant hero of End of Days, a chilling, horrific thriller set at... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Tunney, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollak

Directed By: Peter Hyams

#35

Red Sonja (1985)
15%

#35

Adjusted Score: 16.264%

Critics Consensus: Dull, poorly directed, and badly miscast, Red Sonja is an uninspired conclusion to Schwarzenegger's barbarian trilogy.

Synopsis: Red Sonja is unwavering in her quest to avenge the murder of her family and wrestle an all-powerful, sacred talisman... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielsen, Sandahl Bergman, Paul L. Smith

Directed By: Richard Fleischer

#34

Jingle All the Way (1996)
17%

#34

Adjusted Score: 19.164%

Critics Consensus: Arnold Schwarzenegger tries his best, but Jingle All the Way suffers from an uneven tone, shifting wildly from a would-be satire on materialism to an antic, slapstick yuk-fest.

Synopsis: The true meaning of Christmas -- desperate last-minute shopping -- is the subject of this holiday-themed comedy. Howard Langston (Arnold... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson

Directed By: Brian Levant

#33

Hercules in New York (1975)
17%

#33

Adjusted Score: 12.435%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Every movie star has to start somewhere, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, then little-known outside of body building circles, made his screen... [More]

Starring: Arnold Stang, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Deborah Loomis, James Karen

Directed By: Arthur Allan Seidelman

#32

Collateral Damage (2002)
19%

#32

Adjusted Score: 22.754%

Critics Consensus: Despite its timely subject matter, Collateral Damage is an unexceptional and formulaic action thriller.

Synopsis: In one fleeting moment, L.A. firefighter Gordy Brewer loses everything he ever cared about. Running late to meet his wife... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elias Koteas, Francesca Neri, Cliff Curtis

Directed By: Andrew Davis

#31

Sabotage (2014)
22%

#31

Adjusted Score: 26.021%

Critics Consensus: Sabotage boasts one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's finer post-political performances, but it's wasted in a movie driven by grueling violence that punishes seemingly without purpose.

Synopsis: In "Sabotage", Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite DEA task force that takes on the world's deadliest drug cartels. When the... [More]

Starring: Joe Maganiello, Dawn Olivieri, Sam Worthington, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Directed By: David Ayer

#30

Raw Deal (1986)
29%

#30

Adjusted Score: 29.482%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This action film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kaminksi, a former FBI agent called back to duty on a special assignment.... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold, Sam Wanamaker, Paul Shenar

Directed By: John Irvin

#29

Conan the Destroyer (1984)
25%

#29

Adjusted Score: 26.219%

Critics Consensus: Conan the Destroyer softens the edges that gave its predecessor gravitas, resulting in a campy sequel without the comparative thrills.

Synopsis: Based on a character created by Robert E. Howard, this fast-paced, occasionally humorous sequel to Conan the Barbarian features the... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Mako

Directed By: Richard Fleischer

#28

Terminator Genisys (2015)
27%

#28

Adjusted Score: 37.429%

Critics Consensus: Mired in its muddled mythology, Terminator: Genisys is a lurching retread that lacks the thematic depth, conceptual intelligence, or visual thrills that launched this once-mighty franchise.

Synopsis: James Cameron's sci-fi classic gets rebooted in this Paramount production designed as the first installment in a new trilogy. ~... [More]

Starring: Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Directed By: Alan Taylor

#27

The Expendables 3 (2014)
32%

#27

Adjusted Score: 38.576%

Critics Consensus: Like its predecessors, Expendables 3 offers a modicum of all-star thrills for old-school action thriller aficionados -- but given all the talent assembled, it should have been a lot more fun.

Synopsis: In THE EXPENDABLES 3, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team come face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson),... [More]

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Antonio Banderas, Jet Li

Directed By: Patrick Hughes

#26

Junior (1994)
36%

#26

Adjusted Score: 37.516%

Critics Consensus: Even with an abundance of talent behind and in front of the camera, Junior doesn't quite deliver enough laughs to nurse its zany high-concept idea.

Synopsis: Ultimate manly man Arnold Schwarzenegger learns what it's like to be an expectant mother in director Ivan Reitman's high-concept comedy.... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Emma Thompson, Frank Langella

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

#25

Last Action Hero (1993)
38%

#25

Adjusted Score: 41.37%

Critics Consensus: Last Action Hero has most of the right ingredients for a big-budget action spoof, but its scattershot tone and uneven structure only add up to a confused, chaotic mess.

Synopsis: Arnold Schwarzenegger appears as a pumped-up Shakespearian hero while an announcer bellows, "Something is rotten in Denmark -- and Hamlet... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, F. Murray Abraham, Art Carney

Directed By: John McTiernan

#24

Eraser (1996)
38%

#24

Adjusted Score: 40.366%

Critics Consensus: Eraser's shoot-'em-up action might show off some cutting edge weaponry, but its rote story is embarrassingly obsolete.

Synopsis: Top-notch action sequences and exciting stunt work highlight this fast-moving thriller. John Kruger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a top agent in... [More]

Starring: Steven Ford, Thomas Huff, Robert Miranda, Greg McKinney

Directed By:

#23

The 6th Day (2000)
40%

#23

Adjusted Score: 43.871%

Critics Consensus: This offering from Arnold Schwarzenegger contains an intriguing, disturbing premise, but the film's execution is too routine and formulaic to make good use of it.

Synopsis: In this science-fiction thriller set in the very near future, DNA cloning has been perfected and has become an accepted... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Rapaport, Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker

Directed By: Roger Spottiswoode

#22

Aftermath (2017)
42%

#22

Adjusted Score: 43.522%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: Two strangers' lives become inextricably bound together after a devastating plane crash. Inspired by actual events, AFTERMATH tells a story... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scoot McNairy, Maggie Grace, Judah Nelson

Directed By: Elliott Lester

#21

The Expendables (2010)
42%

#21

Adjusted Score: 48.18%

Critics Consensus: It makes good on the old-school action it promises, but given all the talent on display, The Expendables should hit harder.

Synopsis: An all-star cast of action-movie icons headline Sylvester Stallone's explosive action thriller about a group of hard-nosed mercenaries who are... [More]

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

#20

Twins (1988)
43%

#20

Adjusted Score: 45.659%

Critics Consensus: Though it offers a few modest pleasures for undemanding viewers, Twins leans too heavily on the wackiness of its premise to overcome its narrative shortcomings.

Synopsis: A tall and muscular but mild-mannered man and a short, corpulent loose cannon discover that they are actually twins, their... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston, Chloe Webb

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

#19

Killing Gunther (2017)
48%

#19

Adjusted Score: 48.055%

Critics Consensus: Despite a game cast led by an enjoyably over the top Arnold Schwarzenegger, Killing Gunther feels like a sketch overstretched to feature length.

Synopsis: A comedy set in the world of contract killers. A group of young, raw and undisciplined assassins hire a docu-crew... [More]

Starring: Amir Talai, Peter Kelamis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cobie Smulders

Directed By: Taran Killam

#18

Kindergarten Cop (1990)
51%

#18

Adjusted Score: 53.084%

Critics Consensus: Arnold Schwarzenegger substitutes his action brio with some refreshingly adept comedic timing, but Kindergarten Cop is too grim for children and too cloying for adults.

Synopsis: Arnold Schwarzenegger sheds his action image in Ivan Reitman's police comedy Kindergarten Cop, where he plays an undercover cop teaching... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt

Directed By: Ivan Reitman

#17

Escape Plan (2013)
51%

#17

Adjusted Score: 54.845%

Critics Consensus: As much fun as it is to see Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team up onscreen, Escape Plan fails to offer much more than a pale imitation of 1980s popcorn thrills.

Synopsis: One of the world's foremost authorities on structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an... [More]

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, Vincent D'Onofrio

Directed By: Mikael Håfström

#16

Maggie (2015)
60%

#16

Adjusted Score: 64.715%

Critics Consensus: Maggie lurches a bit clumsily at times, but is partially redeemed by strong performances and an unexpectedly thoughtful tone.

Synopsis: When a deadly zombie virus sweeps the nation, a father will stop at nothing to save his infected daughter in... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson, Douglas M. Griffin

Directed By: Henry Hobson

#15

The Last Stand (2013)
61%

#15

Adjusted Score: 67.224%

Critics Consensus: There's nothing particularly distinguished about it, but for Schwarzenegger fans The Last Stand provides perfectly undemanding entertainment.

Synopsis: After leaving his LAPD narcotics post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with remorse and regret, Sheriff Ray... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Harry Dean Stanton

Directed By: Kim Jee-woon

#14

Conan the Barbarian (1982)
64%

#14

Adjusted Score: 66.787%

Critics Consensus: Though Conan may take itself too seriously for some, this adventure film about a former slave seeking vengeance is full of quotable Schwarzenegger lines and gritty action.

Synopsis: John Milius's jingoistic direction and pulpy screenplay fit perfectly into this film version of the Robert E. Howard fantasy story... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman

Directed By: John Milius

#13

The Running Man (1987)
64%

#13

Adjusted Score: 66.939%

Critics Consensus: The Running Man is winking sci-fi satire with ridiculous clothes and workmanlike direction.

Synopsis: An unjustly accused prisoner in 2019 is given a slim chance at freedom if he enters a battle-to-the-death on a... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Richard Dawson

Directed By: Paul Michael Glaser

#12

Stay Hungry (1976)
67%

#12

Adjusted Score: 67.835%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: This comedy drama centers on a blue-blooded Southerner's attempt to buy a popular gym as part of a crucial real... [More]

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger, R.G. Armstrong

Directed By: Bob Rafelson

#11

Red Heat (1988)
67%

#11

Adjusted Score: 68.091%

Critics Consensus: Red Heat's overreliance on genre formula is bolstered by Walter Hill's rugged direction and a strong touch of humor.

Synopsis: Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a taciturn law-enforcement officer from Russia. James Belushi co-stars as a wise-lipped Chicago cop. Though they go... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Belushi, Ed O'Ross, Peter Boyle

Directed By: Walter Hill

#10

The Expendables 2 (2012)
67%

#10

Adjusted Score: 71.475%

Critics Consensus: Taut, violent, and suitably self-deprecating, The Expendables 2 gives classic action fans everything they can reasonably expect from a star-studded shoot-'em-up -- for better and for worse.

Synopsis: The Expendables are back and this time it's personal... Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet... [More]

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren

Directed By: Simon West

#9

Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (2003)
69%

#9

Adjusted Score: 74.905%

Critics Consensus: Although T3 never reaches the heights of the second movie, it is a welcome addition to the Terminator franchise.

Synopsis: The second sequel to the 1984 sci-fi action classic, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is the first film without... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Kristanna Loken

Directed By: Jonathan Mostow

#8

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
70%

#8

Adjusted Score: 84.812%

Critics Consensus: Terminator: Dark Fate represents a significant upgrade over its immediate predecessors, even if it lacks the thrilling firepower of the franchise's best installments.

Synopsis: More than two decades have passed since Sarah Connor prevented Judgment Day, changed the future, and re-wrote the fate of... [More]

Starring: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes

Directed By:

#7

Commando (1985)
71%

#7

Adjusted Score: 72.961%

Critics Consensus: The ultimate '80s Schwarzenegger movie, replete with a threadbare plot, outsized action, and endless one-liners.

Synopsis: Colonel Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is retired and living peaceably with his 10-year-old daughter (Alyssa Milano) when she is kidnapped by... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alyssa Milano, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya

Directed By: Mark L. Lester

#6

True Lies (1994)
71%

#6

Adjusted Score: 73.964%

Critics Consensus: If it doesn't reach the heights of director James Cameron's and star Arnold Schwarzenegger's previous collaborations, True Lies still packs enough action and humor into its sometimes absurd plot to entertain.

Synopsis: Borrowing liberally from the French film La Totale, this is an action picture, domestic comedy, and political thriller rolled into... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton

Directed By: James Cameron, Tony Scott

#5

Predator (1987)
81%

#5

Adjusted Score: 84.501%

Critics Consensus: Predator: Part sci-fi, part horror, part action -- all muscle.

Synopsis: Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has a code of honor which he will not violate, even when his life depends on it.... [More]

Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key

Directed By: Shane Black

#4

Total Recall (1990)
82%

#4

Adjusted Score: 87.001%

Critics Consensus: Under Paul Verhoeven's frenetic direction, Total Recall is a fast-paced rush of violence, gore, and humor that never slacks.

Synopsis: In Paul Verhoeven's wild sci-fi action movie Total Recall, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a 21st-century construction worker who discovers that his... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox

Directed By: Paul Verhoeven

#3

Pumping Iron (1976)
91%

#3

Adjusted Score: 94.281%

Critics Consensus: In addition to offering an enlightening early look into the world of future star/politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron provides a witty and insightful overview of competitive bodybuilding.

Synopsis: Baby oil, bulging biceps and perfect pecs abound in this documentary that takes a fascinating look behind-the-scenes at the Mr.... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Matty Ferrigno, Franco Columbu

Directed By: George Butler, Robert Fiore

#2

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
93%

#2

Adjusted Score: 99.168%

Critics Consensus: T2 features thrilling action sequences and eye-popping visual effects, but what takes this sci-fi/ action landmark to the next level is the depth of the human (and cyborg) characters.

Synopsis: A sequel to the sci-fi action thriller that made him and star Arnold Schwarzenegger A-list Hollywood names, writer/director James Cameron... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick

Directed By: James Cameron

#1

The Terminator (1984)
100%

#1

Adjusted Score: 104.918%

Critics Consensus: With its impressive action sequences, taut economic direction, and relentlessly fast pace, it's clear why The Terminator continues to be an influence on sci-fi and action flicks.

Synopsis: A Cyborg has been sent from the future on a deadly mission, it has been programmed to kill a young... [More]

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield

Directed By: James Cameron