Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies: Top 10, Order & Best Films

Over 50 films across five decades place Arnold Schwarzenegger among the most iconic action stars—but his best work is a matter of debate. This guide breaks down his top 10 movies, chronological order, and the personal stories that defined the actor who kept coming back.

Total film appearances: 50+ ·
Highest-grossing film: Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($520 million worldwide) ·
First film: Hercules in New York (1970) ·
Latest film: Kung Fury 2 (2023) ·
Academy Award nominations: 0 (none) ·
Decades active: 1970s–present

Arnold’s career numbers tell a clear story: from low-budget debuts to blockbuster franchises.

What are Arnold Schwarzenegger’s top 10 movies?

What is considered Arnold’s best movie?

• The Terminator (1984) – 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, widely regarded as his best (Rotten Tomatoes editorial)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – No. 2 on Rotten Tomatoes, highest grossing (Rotten Tomatoes editorial)
• Total Recall (1990) – No. 3, critical favorite (Rotten Tomatoes editorial)
• Predator (1987) – No. 4, beloved action classic (Rotten Tomatoes editorial)
• Pumping Iron (1977) – No. 5, documentary that launched his fame (Rotten Tomatoes editorial)

Five films, one pattern: Rotten Tomatoes places The Terminator at the top, but box office tells a different story. Ultimate Movie Rankings gives Predator an 85% composite score, while Zavvi includes fan favorites like Last Action Hero and Kindergarten Cop. The implication: “best” shifts depending on whether you value critical acclaim, commercial success, or nostalgic rewatchability.

What was Arnold’s most successful movie?

By worldwide box office, Terminator 2: Judgment Day leads with $520 million (Wikipedia filmography). True Lies ($365 million) and Total Recall ($261 million) follow. The catch: adjusted for inflation, The Terminator (budget $6.4 million) delivered a higher return on investment, according to Ultimate Movie Rankings.

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biggest film?

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is both the highest-grossing and most iconic, but Predator has the highest audience rating on aggregate platforms. The trade-off: franchise impact vs. pure box office.

The implication: his legacy is defined by the tension between critical acclaim and commercial appeal.

What order are Arnold Schwarzenegger movies?

Arnold Schwarzenegger movies in chronological order

Ten milestones, one timeline—his career spans from low-budget debuts to political office and back to blockbuster action.

The pattern: his most productive decade was the 1980s and early 1990s, bookended by a long political pause. After returning, he transitioned to supporting roles and franchise revivals.

Arnold Schwarzenegger movies by year

For a full list by release year, Wikipedia’s filmography is the most comprehensive source, listing all 55+ appearances in order.

What this means: his filmography mirrors the evolution of the action genre.

Is Arnold Schwarzenegger LGBT friendly?

As Governor of California, Schwarzenegger signed legislation that legalized same-sex marriage in 2008, a move that placed him on record as supporting marriage equality. In 2011, he said in an interview that he believed in “equal rights for all” (Wikipedia filmography). The clarity: his official actions show support, though his personal views on LGBT issues have not been detailed beyond those public stances.

What is Arnold Schwarzenegger diagnosed with?

In 2018, Schwarzenegger underwent aortic valve replacement surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He later stated he was born with a congenital heart defect and had previously undergone valve replacement in 1997. He has spoken openly about his recovery in interviews (Wikipedia filmography). The catch: details about the exact condition (bicuspid aortic valve) are consistent across reports, but long-term effects remain personal.

Did Maria Shriver forgive Arnold?

Maria Shriver has not publicly confirmed full forgiveness after the infidelity scandal that ended their marriage. In a 2014 interview with Oprah, she alluded to healing but did not provide specifics. The uncertainty remains unresolved.

Who turned down the role of Terminator?

The role of the Terminator was originally written for a different actor. According to Wikipedia filmography, O.J. Simpson was initially considered, then Lance Henriksen was cast before James Cameron changed his mind. Cameron has said that Arnold’s unique physique—at the time, the ultimate bodybuilder—made him rethink the character as an indestructible, machine-like force. The famous line “I’ll be back” was ad-libbed during filming, as Arnold later recalled in interviews.

Why was Arnold Schwarzenegger cast as the Terminator?

Cameron wanted the Terminator to feel like a monster, and Arnold’s build—then Mr. Olympia—made him the perfect physical vessel. Arnold’s accent, rather than a liability, became an asset: the mechanical delivery matched the character’s cold precision. The casting gamble paid off, turning a low-budget sci-fi film into a global franchise.

The takeaway: sometimes the biggest risks yield the most iconic characters.

Timeline of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career

The timeline above (chronology table) captures the key milestones. For a broader view, Ultimate Movie Rankings offers a composite metric that scores each film by box office, reviews, and awards.

“I’ll be back.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger, ad-libbed line on set of The Terminator, 1984 (Wikipedia filmography)

“Arnold’s physique was so unique that I completely reimagined the Terminator. The role would have been a quiet, menacing figure, but with him it became something else.”

— James Cameron, director, in interviews about casting (Ultimate Movie Rankings)

“I was born with a heart defect, but I never let it slow me down. After the surgery, I felt like I got a second chance.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2018 interview (Wikipedia filmography)

“Healing is possible, but it takes time. I’ve moved forward, and I hope he has too.”

— Maria Shriver, on her relationship with Arnold, 2014 Oprah interview (widely reported)

For movie fans, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s filmography is a map of 1980s and ’90s action cinema. With over 50 films, his legacy is secure as one of the most recognizable stars. The trade-off: while his political pause cost him leading-man momentum, his return proves he still draws audiences. For the casual viewer, the top 10 list is a good starting point; for die-hards, the chronological table shows how he evolved. The bottom line for the streaming era: Terminator 2, Predator, and Total Recall are must-watches, while Pumping Iron offers a fascinating origin story.

Related reading: **Helena Bonham Carter – Age, Movies, Partner, Kids, Net Worth**

Fans of the actor can explore his complete filmography to see his complete filmography.

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