Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movies... and his worst! -

One of Hollywood's greatest action movie heroes, Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known for his roles as the Terminator, a futuristic cyborg assassin disguised as a human being.

Born in Thal, Austria, on July 30, 1947, Arnie began his career as a professional bodybuilder. He won the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition no less than seven times!

Since becoming a film star, Schwarzenegger has appeared in over 40 movies. And between roles he's even managed to enter politics, becoming Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. 

Click through the gallery for an appraisal of some of Schwarzenegger's best films, and some he'd probably rather have, er, terminated.

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'Pumping Iron' (1977) - BEST -

Arnie’s Hollywood star has rather overshadowed that of his professional bodybuilding career. Schwarzenegger garnered fame after winning the Mr. Universe title at 20, and later the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. The docudrama 'Pumping Iron' centers, in part, on the competition between Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, who went on to star in the television series 'The Incredible Hulk.'

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'Conan the Barbarian' (1982) - BEST - The film that earned Schwarzenegger worldwide recognition, 'Conan the Barbarian' showcases the actor's buff physique and burgeoning acting ability. A huge hit, the film was nonetheless negatively received for its violent content and lack of cohesive screenwriting.

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'The Terminator' (1984) - BEST -

Schwarzenegger's turn as the cyborg assassin sent back in time on a murderous killing spree remains the actor's signature role. Receiving widespread critical acclaim, 'The Terminator' was ultimately selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

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'Commando' (1985) - BEST -

Despite a healthy box office return, reviews of 'Commando' were mixed. Arnie portrays a retired US Special Forces colonel on a mission to avenge the deaths of members of his former unit by unknown mercenaries.

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'Raw Deal' (1986) - WORST - While it doubled its production budget at the box office, 'Raw Deal' had a negative reception. The actor portrays former FBI agent and now small-town sheriff Mark Kaminski who's out for revenge against the Mafia.

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'Predator' (1987) - BEST -

Noted for its visual effects, which were nominated for an Academy Award, this sci-fi horror film pits Schwarzenegger and his elite squad of combatants against a technologically advanced space alien monster, the film’s "predator." An effective action movie, it’s since gained cult status among fans of the genre.

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'The Running Man' (1987) - WORST - This sci-fi movie is about a TV show called 'The Running Man,' where convicted criminal "runners" must escape death at the hands of professional killers. It's set between 2017 and 2019 and accurately predicted an American society suffering economic collapse and the widening gap between rich and poor. While a moderate box office success, it opened to mix reviews from critics.

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'Twins' (1988) - BEST - This engaging comedy teamed the 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Schwarzenegger with 1.47 m (4 ft 10 in) Danny DeVito, with the actors playing unlikely twins—the result of a secret experiment to combine the DNA of six fathers to produce the perfect child.

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'Red Heat' (1988) - BEST - This was the first American film given permission to shoot in Moscow's Red Square. The Soviet setting lent this buddy cop action film a good deal of authenticity, and the film received a mixed to positive response from critics.

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'Total Recall' (1990) - BEST -

'Total Recall' remains one of Schwarzenegger's finest big screen outings. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the movie debuted at number one at the box office. One critic praised it as "one of the most complex and visually interesting science-fiction movies in a long time." 'Total Recall' later won a Special Achievement Academy Award for its visual effects.

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'Kindergarten Cop' (1990) -BEST - Audiences immediately warmed to Schwarzenegger's tough police detective working undercover as a kindergarten teacher to apprehend a drug dealer. Critics, too, were taken with this comedy-drama, noting how the film made slick entertainment out of the improbable.

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'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1991) - BEST - The sequel to the 1984 film 'The Terminator,' this second installment won a slew of accolades, including Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects.

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'Last Action Hero' (1993) - WORST - A critical and commercial failure, 'Last Action Hero' was variously described as a "confused, chaotic mess," and playing "more like a bright idea than like a movie that was thought through." However, since its release, the movie has found favor with a new audience and is now regarded as a cult film among fans and even some critics.

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'True Lies' (1994) - BEST - Directed by James Cameron, who helmed the first two 'Terminator' movies, this action comedy was a big hit with audiences and critics alike. The film follows US government agent Harry Tasker (Schwarzenegger), who struggles to balance his life as spy with his family duties. Jamie Curtis, who portrays Harry’s wife Helen, won the Golden Globe for Best Actress–Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her efforts.

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'Junior' (1994) - WORST - This attempt to replicate the success of pairing Schwarzenegger with DeVito backfired. The movie was widely panned, and only grossed slightly more than half its budget.

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'Eraser' (1996) - BEST -

A commercial success, 'Eraser' tells the story of US Marshal John Kruger (Schwarzenegger), who's assigned to protect a senior operative, played by Vanessa Williams, testifying about an illegal arms deal. Williams’ spirited performance earned a nod from several critics.

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'Jingle All the Way' (1996) - WORST - A "slapstick yuk-fest" is how one critic described this Christmas family comedy. But it clawed its money back, and receives regular broadcasts on television during the Christmas season.

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'End of Days' (1999) - WORST -

Critics gave this supernatural action horror film a mauling, with Schwarzenegger being nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor. But at the end of the day, the movie made money.

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'The 6th Day' (2000) - BEST -

'The 6th Day' explores the world of illegal cloning, a theme that intrigued the majority of critics, most of whom gave the film a positive review. It was a moderate box office success.

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'Collateral Damage' (2002) - WORST - Described as a typical Arnold Schwarzenegger film (in other words, a chance to flex his muscles), 'Collateral Damage' is set in Colombia, with Arnie fighting guerrilla commandos who murdered his family. Critics weren't impressed, and audiences stayed away.

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'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' (2003) - BEST -

The novel inclusion of a female cyborg, the deadly T-X, portrayed by an ice-cool Kristanna Loken, lent a new dimension to the third movie in the Terminator franchise. While not quite reaching the critical mass of its predecessors, 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' still garnered favorable reviews.

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'The Expendables 2' (2012) - WORST - The actor has an uncredited cameo role as Trench Mauser in the first Expendables movie. In this sequel, he gets a bigger slice of the action as a member of the mercenary group put together by Sylvester Stallone's character, Barney Ross. A predictable box office hit (the cast features some of Hollywood's greatest action heroes), the film's reviews were less explosive, with one critic describing it as a "huge, bulging disappointment." Too much testosterone, perhaps?

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'The Last Stand' (2013) - WORST - This was Schwarzenegger's first lead acting role since 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' in 2003 (he was in office as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011). It was not a very auspicious return to the big screen: 'The Last Stand' fared poorly at the box office, and critics were divided on his performance.

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'Escape Plan' (2013) - WORST - Teaming up with Sly Stallone for this prison action thriller, Schwarzenegger looks suitably grizzled and weather-worn as inmate Emil Rottmayer, who befriends Stallone's character Ray Breslin. But critics felt both actors fell short of their potential due to poor script writing. The film, however, was an international box-office success.

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'Sabotage' (2014) - WORST - Negative reviews and the worst opening weekend for a Schwarzenegger film in over 30 years sabotaged this police action movie from the start.

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'The Expendables 3' (2014) - WORST - The third movie in the ensemble action thriller series sees Arnie reprise his role as Trench Mauser... but not much else. Plenty of "all-star thrills, but given all the talent assembled, it should have been a lot more fun" ran the general consensus.

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'Maggie' (2015) - BEST - Celebrated for his action roles, 'Maggie' marked a dramatic departure for Schwarzenegger, who stars in this low-budget horror drama as the father of Maggie (Abigail Breslin), a teenage girl in the Midwest who becomes infected by a terrible disease. Critics praised Schwarzenegger for his ability as a dramatic actor, capable of delivering a very tragic and touching performance.

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'Terminator Genisys' (2015) - WORST - Schwarzenegger's fifth film as the Terminator was slammed by many critics, with one calling it a "messy sequel" that was a "convoluted retread" of past films. But fans around the world loved it, spending US$440.6 million at the box office to see the new T-800 Model 101 in action.

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'Aftermath' (2017) - WORST - Based on events and persons surrounding the 2002 Überlingen mid-air collision of a passenger airliner with a cargo jet, 'Aftermath' garnered mixed to average reviews, lost money, and was released on video on demand.

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'Terminator: Dark Fate' (2019) - WORST -

Arnie, it seems, is loath to terminate his signature character, as evidenced with the sixth installment of the Terminator franchise. But critics definitely did not feel the same love!

See also: Greatest sci-fi movie characters of all time, ranked

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