James Cameron’s original Terminator movies are some of the most innovative and creative sci-fi stories ever written, and the influence that they’ve had over pop culture is genuinely immeasurable. The first film acts as a slasher in which Sarah Connor is hunted through 1980s Los Angeles by a killer robot from the future whose sole mission is to prevent her rebellious son from being born. Each of the Terminator movies has taken the story into a different direction, and while none of the sequels ever lived up to the first two films, the franchise’s impact on
In the years since The Terminator’s release, countless other shows and movies have been inspired by James Cameron’s dark and violent vision of the future. Of course, very few other projects have nailed this particular style. Even the Terminator franchise itself never quite recaptured the magic of the first two films, apart from a couple of exceptions. That said, a lot of great sci-fi shows do resemble Terminator in some ways and are worth checking out.
10
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008 – 2009)
Starring Lena Headey & Thomas Dekker
It’s hard to imagine that those who enjoyed James Cameron’s original Terminator movies won’t also enjoy The Sarah Connor Chronicles, perhaps the most successful and acclaimed entry in the saga after the original films. The show follows the adventures of John and Sarah Connor after they realize that Judgment Day was never diverted but rather postponed to a later date. The Sarah Connor Chronicles forged its own identity while staying true to James Cameron’s cinematic vision, working as an alternate sequel to Terminator 2 and ignoring the events of Terminator 3.
9
12 Monkeys (2015 – 2018)
Starring Aaron Stanford & Amanda Schull
Based on the 1995 movie of the same name, 12 Monkeys is one of the best time-travel shows of the past decade. The series follows a scavenger from the near future who travels back in time to prevent a viral pandemic that will trigger the end of the world. However, he struggles to make anyone believe him, echoing Sarah Connor in Terminator 2.
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Related
When Terminator Zero Takes Place In The Terminator Timeline
Netflix’s Terminator Zero is set at a crucial point in the franchise’s complicated timeline — and makes great use of Terminator’s time travel trope.
It’s a story filled with intrigue and conspiracy as secrets are gradually revealed and relationships are constantly tested. The show carefully explores some genuinely chilling ideas about how the world could come to an end and works even if you’ve never watched the movie.
8
Timeless (2016 – 2018)
Starring Malcolm Barrett & Abigail Spencer
Another endlessly creative show about the possibilities of time travel, Timeless follows a team of scientists who enter a dangerous chase through time for a notorious criminal who’s affecting the timeline of American history. The show’s premise allows it to jump around various recognizable events in human history, offering commentary on how these conflicts and disasters helped forge the world that we know today. It has a very gritty and often frightening tone, just like the Terminator movies, that allows it to navigate time travel in a very engaging way.
7
Altered Carbon (2018 – 2020)
Starring Anthony Mackie & Joel Kinnaman
Altered Carbon is one of the darker and more absorbing sci-fi shows in recent memory, with its story touching on various topical themes that are becoming more and more relevant with every passing year. The show takes place in a world where biological engineering has seemingly “defeated” death, but the procedure has been monopolized by an enigmatic company looking to benefit from its effects. At its core, Altered Carbon is a neo-noir mystery in the vein of Blade Runner or The Terminator that makes the most of its sci-fi premise with a bold narrative and sleek visuals.
6
Terminator Zero (2024)
Starring Timothy Olyphant & Rosario Dawson
Although it’s very different from where this franchise began, Terminator Zero is the best Terminator project since the James Cameron movies. This anime expands the universe in fascinating directions without reusing the perspective of John and Sarah Connor. The story follows another scientist named Malcolm Lee who develops his own artificial intelligence in tandem with Skynet, but as the latter’s technology accidentally triggers Judgment Day, Lee finds himself unknowingly caught up in the world of The Terminator. It’s a fascinating show that proves change is often necessary to keep a franchise alive.
5
3 Body Problem (2024)
Starring Eiza Gonzalez & Marlo Kelly
3 Body Problem
9/10
- Release Date
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March 21, 2024
- Directors
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Minkie Spiro, Derek Tsang
3 Body Problem is based on Liu Cixin’s modern sci-fi novel of the same name, which details a group of scientists who seemingly make contact with an alien species and race against time to prepare humanity for their inevitable arrival. It’s a brilliant story that explores questions as fundamental as why we exist, what our purpose is, and whether we’re the only living things in the universe, without ever feeling like it’s retreading old ground. With a hugely talented ensemble and some gripping writing that constantly subverts expectations, 3 Body Problem is one of Netflix’s most exciting shows right now.
4
Dark Matter (2024)
Starring Joel Edgerton & Jennifer Connelly
Dark Matter
9/10
- Release Date
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May 7, 2024
- Network
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Apple TV+
Another literary adaptation, Dark Matter follows a scientist named Jason Dessen who’s abducted by an alternate version of himself and thrust into a dark reality where he never met his wife or had his children. As he fights to get back to his world, Jason uncovers a dark web of conspiracy that disproves everything he thought he knew about the multiverse. What’s so brilliant about this show (and the book it’s inspired by) is the way it weaves such a compelling mystery into a mind-bending story that touches on many important scientific ideas, just like Terminator.
3
Halo (2022)
Starring Pablo Schreiber & Kate Kennedy
Halo
6/10
- Release Date
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2022 – 2023
- Showrunner
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Kyle Killen
Halo is a rather controversial TV shows inspired by a video game, taking the beloved franchise and turning it into a self-contained story that makes a lot of changes to the source material. The show shows the origins of the video games’ dystopian future, following a group of surviving humans as they fight against invasions that threaten to wipe them out forever. Despite all the changes to the games, Halo is a fun, action-packed sci-fi series that fans of Terminator who have never played the Halo games might enjoy discovering.
2
Stranger Things (2016 – 2025)
Starring Millie Bobby Brown & Finn Wolfhard
Stranger Things
8/10
- Release Date
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2016 – 2024
- Showrunner
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Although Stranger Things is rarely as dark and gritty as the Terminator movies, it’s arguably the most successful and influential sci-fi show of the past decade. This Netflix original completely broke the mold for streaming content, providing some endlessly bingeable stories that paid homage to ‘80s sci-fi while pushing the genre forward in new and exciting ways. The show’s later seasons have leaned much more heavily into their sci-fi inspiration, with dystopian wastelands like the ones seen in The Terminator making their way into the show’s iconic Upside-Down. Interestingly, Linda Hamilton joined Stranger Things in season 5.
1
Dark (2017 – 2020)
Starring Louis Hofmann & Lisa Vicari
Dark
- Release Date
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2017 – 2019
- Network
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Netflix
It’s impossible to talk about modern sci-fi without mentioning Dark, the German thriller series that revitalized the genre a few years ago. The show is brimming with genius twists and intricately plotted storylines that ultimately converge in one of the most satisfying final seasons of television ever made.
If you thought The Terminator‘s Kyle Reese twist was too complicated of a paradox, Dark has a few more surprises in store.
The story follows a group of teenagers who discover a mysterious cave that allows them to travel back in time, which triggers an endless loop of betrayal and secrecy that must ultimately be broken to avoid the end of the world. If you thought The Terminator‘s Kyle Reese twist was too complicated of a paradox, Dark has a few more surprises in store.
Terminator
Summary
The Terminator franchise is a landmark in science fiction, featuring a battle between humanity and artificially intelligent machines led by Skynet. The story primarily revolves around the Terminator robots, particularly the T-800 model, and the resistance led by John Connor. The series explores themes of fate, artificial intelligence, and the moral implications of technological advancement.
