The first reactions to “Terminator: Dark Fate” are here and the sequel is being heralded as the best installment of the ‘Terminator’ franchise since “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Music to my ears, but, since these are Twitter reactions, I will not get too overly excited about these “reviews.”
Linda Hamilton returns as Sarah Connor, while Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his role as the Terminator. Added into the mix are Mackenzie Davis, Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes, and Diego Boneta. “Deadpool” director Tim Miller takes over James Cameron’s mantle, even though Cameron is credited as producer. but no doubt had a major say in the creative process.
“Terminator: Dark Fate” is actually being compared to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” in that it is Cameron and Miller hitting the reset button and going back-to-the-basics. In fact, it picks up the ‘Terminator’ storyline where ‘Judgment Day’ left off. In other words,Cameron and Miller are pretending that “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” “Terminator Salvation,” and “Terminator: Genisys” never existed. I’m all for that.
Steven Weintraub✔@colliderfrosty
#TerminatorDarkFate is easily the best Terminator movie since T2. Has some fantastic action and loved how the film features 3 female protagonists that all kick-ass. So awesome seeing Linda Hamilton back as Sarah Connor
Steven Weintraub✔@colliderfrosty
I've been a fan of Mackenzie Davis since seeing her in 'Halt and Catch Fire'. But she takes it to another level in #TerminatorDarkFate where she kicks all kinds of ass. If you like her work in Dark Fate, go back and watch #HaltandCatchFire.
PSA for my queer ladies: you are not prepared for how much Mackenzie Davis is going to fuck up your life in #TerminatorDarkFate. I would die for Grace and you would too, you just don’t know it yet.
Oh the film, you ask? It’s solid. Super well articulated action. Linda Hamilton is aces. Easily the best sequel since T2. #DarkFate takes The Force Awakens’ “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality to Cameron’s films and turns out it ain’t broke.
Is #TerminatorDarkFate the best since T2? Yup. Linda Hamilton’s return makes a BIG difference, Mackenzie Davis kicks all the ass, & Natalia Reyes is an excellent anchor. Gabriel Luna’s Rev-9 is a winner too. Physicality, VFX, fights - all spot on! Glad they gave this another go.
TERMINATOR’s thought of as Arnold’s franchise. DARK FATE makes it clear he wasn’t the key ingredient that made it work. It was Linda Hamilton. She’s incredible in this, and the movie’s very solid. (I recently defended all the TERMINATOR sequels, so make of this what you will.)
I was skeptical of TERMINATOR: DARK FATE. Thought the trailers were not great. But I would up enjoying it quite a bit, and the difference maker (vs the other post T2 sequels) is Linda Hamilton. It’s always been HER story and Hamilton adds the needed weight here.
Germain Lussier✔@GermainLussier
Terminator: Dark Fate is basically Terminator: The Force Awakens. A satisfying, exciting reboot that’s essentially the best parts of T1 & T2 in a blender. Davis, Reyes & Hamilton are excellent, the action wows & while it’s familiar, it’s easily the best T3 yet. Terminator is back
Evil Eric Eisenberg✔@eeisenberg
Excited to report Terminator: Dark Fate is the best sequel in the franchise since T2. It's a "return to basics" movie — reminiscent of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in that way — but the new heroes are fantastic, it's great to see the legends kicking ass, and the action is great.
#TerminatorDarkFate is the best of the TERMINATOR sequels after T2. Easily among the year’s most entertaining action films, it’s thrilling, intense & non-stop, but also a sweet story about making things right. Arnold is great & Linda rules, but Mackenzie Davis THROWS DOWN
#TerminatorDarkFate is better than you think it’s going to be. Its trying hard to be the Force Awakens of Terminator movies, and mostly succeeds. But it’s lacking Cameron’s innovation, evolution and directing. Arnold is fantastic, the best of his post T2 Terminator appearances.
Actual reviews from film critics will arrive in the coming weeks. I will be watching it next Thursday. “Terminator: Dark Fate” will be in theaters on November 1st.
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.