The Terminator - Watch Order: Genisys Timeline

1984 - 20153 Films6h 11m4.2 Average

This watch order explores the Genisys soft reboot timeline, which reimagines the events of the first film while building on the established mythology. The timeline requires knowledge of the original films to understand its time-travel premise and character relationships.

Genisys functions as both sequel and reboot, using time travel to alter key events from the first film and create an entirely new future. This was intended to launch a new trilogy but remained standalone after the planned sequels were cancelled.

1
The Terminator poster

The Terminator

19841h 48m4.6
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen

In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?

ActionThrillerScience Fiction
2
Terminator 2: Judgment Day poster

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

19912h 17m4.9
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Earl Boen

Set ten years after the events of the original, James Cameron’s classic sci-fi action flick tells the story of a second attempt to get rid of rebellion leader John Connor, this time targeting the boy himself. However, the rebellion has sent a reprogrammed terminator to protect Connor.

ActionThrillerScience Fiction
3
Terminator Genisys poster

Terminator Genisys

20152h 6m3.2
Director: Alan Taylor
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith

The year is 2029. John Connor, leader of the resistance continues the war against the machines. At the Los Angeles offensive, John's fears of the unknown future begin to emerge when TECOM spies reveal a new plot by SkyNet that will attack him from both fronts; past and future, and will ultimately change warfare forever.

Science FictionActionThrillerAdventure