Terminator: Dark Fate, (Trailer)Does the Franchise Hold Up?

Who knew 35 years ago, when Arnold Schwarzenegger famously said “I’ll be back” it would mean 5 more Terminator films? That’s right, Terminator: Dark Fate is the sixth installment of the franchise that has been all over the map since it’s release. The original Terminator film debuted all the way back in 1984, then a sequel 7 years later, a 12 year hiatus, 6 years off, but now we’ve had two within the past 4 years. The question has to be, was there enough of a story to really dive right back in with a 6th film, or will the franchise be milked for all it’s worth now that Hollywood is running out of ideas?

The one thing Terminator: Dark Fate has going for it is it seems to be a true sequel rather than an expansion of an established universe. With returning cast members Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, Edward Furlong as John Connor, and Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner it seems they’re trying to appeal to an old fan base. We’ve seen similar moves with the Halloween franchise taking audiences all the way back to the days of Jamie Lynn Curtis reprising her lead role in a franchise and that paid off. Will it again for the Terminator franchise?

Even six films in, the franchise has been hit with a mixed bag for reviews. Not all the movies were as beloved as the first two, but they have spawned some video game spinoffs. There even was a short-lived television series Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles, that lasted just over a year barely making 30 episodes. With a short season 1 and a full order for season 2, the series, much like the sequels, never really found its footing.

Now we’re getting back to basics. Terminator: Dark Fate is bringing us back continuity wise to a sequel of Terminator II. Looking back on all the other films, audiences will no longer just allude to the fan-favorite characters via hearsay or long lost family members. No, they’re being treated with what they’ve really wanted all along and a continuation of the Sarah/John Connors storyline. Will it take us all the way back to 1992’s love of the franchise or be just another sequel that falls flat?

Terminator Dark Fate is scheduled for release on Nov 1st.