Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been in some of the most iconic movies ever made. Since Conan, he has not only been one of the biggest stars on the planet, but one of the biggest people as well.
Perhaps one day there can be a return to form for the Austrian Oak. But until then, fans can binge on these great Arnold movies.
The Last Action Hero (1993) - 6.4
In the early nineties, just about any young boy would have loved to be part of a big time Arnold movie. Danny Madigan got his wish a golden ticket when he got transported into a Jack Slater in The Last Action Hero. Arnold stars as Slater, who naturally doesn’t believe the kid’s tale that Slater’s just a character. Until his enemy, Benedict escapes into the real world and tries to kill Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Expendables 2 (2012) - 6.6
While Arnold had a memorable cameo in the first Expendables adventure, Arnold goes all in as a fully fledged cast member for the second movie. He came aboard as Trench Ma, Barney’s frenemy who the team rescued in the opening moments of the film.
He and Bruce Willis’ CIA Agent Church team up as well to help free trapped miners and the team’s pursuit of Vilain.
Escape Plan (2013) - 6.7
For years, Arnold and Stallone have had a long standing friendly rivalry about their musicales and their movies. In 2013, the pair finally starred in a movies together. Escape Plan features Sylvester Stallone playing Ray Breslin who designs unbreakable prisons. Schwarzenegger plays one of the inmates he befriends, Emil Rottmayer, as Breslin is tasked with a “simple” job: to break out of the prison.
Conan The Barbarian (1982) - 6.9
Arnold’s first big movie that helped transform him into a megastar was Conan The Barbarian. He plays the roaming barbarian seeking revenge from the Snake Cult and Thulsa Doom, who murdered his parents. The movie was perfect for showcasing the former bodybuilder’s awesome physique and boasts some of the coolest battle music of the eighties.
True Lies (1994) - 7.2
Arnold’s best action comedy by far is the James Cameron adventure, True Lies. He plays Harry Tasker, a seemingly boring family man by day and a sleek super spy saving the world by night. After learning that his wife just wants a little more fun in their marriage, Harry and his spy pals hatch a scheme to give Helen the spark she’s been missing. Real terrorists then kidnap Harry and Helen before Harry can reveal himself.
Pumping Iron (1977) - 7.4
A young Arnold and his bodybuilding career are profiled in the bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron.
The movie focuses on the early careers both Arnold and fellow muscle bound actor, Lou Ferrigno and several other body builders on the way to the Mr. Olympia contest. A contest Arnold had won at this point five years in a row.
Total Recall (1990) - 7.5
Is Arnold Schwarzenegger Douglas Quaid or Cole Ha? Is he dreaming or ing? That’s the main crux of Total Recall. Quaid is having dreams of Mars and a beautiful woman there. Meanwhile his wife Lori is trying to help him. The dreams lead him to take a virtual cactus on. In his head, he heads to the Red Planet where he s a rebellion. Nothing is at seems in this movie, where Cole learns even he might not be who he thinks he is.
Predator (1987) - 7.8
The hunt is on between Arnold and a group of elite soldiers in the jungle when they realize they’re being hunted by an alien monster. Featuring Arnold at his savage best and starting a new and unique science fiction franchise, Predator had a whole heap of eighties greatness. Cheesy one liners, giant explosions, green bloods, monsters, and mayhem. Predator remains one of the big cult classics of the era.
The Terminator (1984) - 8.0
When the first Terminator movie had come out, Arnold was almost there as a household name. Then “I’ll be back happened.” The first movie so simplistic in its execution and so mesmerizing in its mythology and action.
Arnold is a cyborg sent back in time to murder a waitress because she will one day give birth to the savior of mankind.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) - 8.5
Nearly thirty years after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finest hours .
