The Best Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies

Whether he's taming kindergartners or aliens, the Governator is the ultimate badass hero. Here's our list of the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.

best arnold schwarzenegger movies lead
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Image via Getty/Terry O'Neill/Hulton Archive

best arnold schwarzenegger movies lead

Arnold Schwarzenegger has enjoyed one of the most interesting lives of anyone in Hollywood—and that’s really saying something. Born in Austria, he started lifting weights early on in life and became so good at pumping iron that he became the youngest person to ever take the Mr. Universe bodybuilding title at just 20 years old. After winning a dozen more combined Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia bodybuilding titles, Arnold launched a prolific acting career. Now technically a senior citizen, Schwarzenegger still finds himself in movies from time to time, but he’s spent the last decade and a half focused on politics. He served two terms as the governor of California from 2003 to 2011—prompting people to call him “The Governator” in a nod to his starring role in the Terminator movies.     

No matter what he does later on in his life, people always seem to associate Schwarzenegger primarily with being that leading role in the Terminator series. That’s understandable, given that Arnold was dynamite as a fearsome cyborg. Before and after starring in that franchise, Schwarzenegger excelled in his niche as a badass action hero, from barbarian Conan to Predator's Dutch for testosterone-charged action movies. Whether it’s his chiseled physique, bellowing voice, or something else altogether, Schwarzenegger seems to be in his element in the genre. He’s fought everything from extraterrestrial life to terrorists, petty criminals, and androids, and excelled at doing so. No matter how unrealistic or violent the fight scene, Schwarzenegger getting the upper hand on any antagonist always just feels right.

While Schwarzenegger has played countless roles on the big screen, some stand out from the rest. We decided to rank the best Arnold Schwarzenegger movies to help you find the perfect flick to turn on when you’re craving a good action movie or if you’re just in the mood to hear him say, “Hasta la vista, baby” to someone who’s about to get vaporized. Keep reading if you want to live.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

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The Terminator

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Pumping Iron

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Total Recall

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Predator

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Kindergarten Cop

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True Lies

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Commando

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