Here is every type of Terminator that has appeared in the movies and in the TV spinoff series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Originally created by James Cameron in his titular 1984 science fiction film, the T-800 Terminator (portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role that made him a superstar) is one of the greatest villains in movie history, although the cyborg killing machine quickly turned good in the sequel, the 1991 blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
After Cameron left the franchise in the mid-1990s, the rights to sequels passed to several different producers and each attempt at a new Terminator movie essentially launched an arms race to create better and cooler robots (with mixed results). The original cyborg Terminator was succeeded by a liquid metal version, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick), but nearly every Terminator sequel thereafter basically morphed those two prototypes together into some kind of variation of a T-800/T-1000 combo, complete with ever-more-lethal upgrades reflecting the technology of the era the movies were made in. The exception is 2009’s Terminator: Salvation, which was set during the future war against Skynet and mostly featured more primitive versions of the Terminator, culminating in the creation of the classic T-800, while also centering on a new hero, Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), the first human/cyborg hybrid Terminator.
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Director Tim Miller‘s Terminator: Dark Fate, produced by Jim Cameron in his return to the franchise he pioneered, features the latest deadly Terminator model, the Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna). While there has also been a slew of other Terminator models in the various video games and other media over the years, here is every model of Terminator seen in the six films and on television.
The T-800
Appearances: The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Terminator: Salvation (2009), Terminator: Genisys (2015), Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
The T-800 Terminator (Cyberdyne Systems Model 101) is the original killer robot of the franchise – and remains the best. First seen in The Terminator, the initial T-800 was sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) but was destroyed by Sarah and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn). In Terminator 2, the future John Connor reprogrammed a T-800 and sent it back in time to protect him as a boy (Edward Furlong). The T-800 model Terminator wouldn’t be seen again until the prototype was unleashed by Skynet in Terminator: Salvation‘s future timeline (played by Roland Kickinger, who was digitally altered with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s face). In Terminator: Genisys, an aged T-800, nicknamed Pops, was sent back in time to the 1970s to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) as a girl and remained her guardian into adulthood. Finally, in Terminator: Dark Fate, the older Sarah turns to Carl, another T-800 sent back in time to kill John Connor, to help her protect Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes).
The T-800 was a breakthrough creation for Skynet; its first cybernetic organism with self-awareness was comprised of living tissue over a hyper alloy endoskeleton so that the robot could pass for a human as an infiltrator. The T-800’s CPU is a neural net processor (a “learning computer”) with detailed files on human anatomy – making it a more effective killer. The feared T-800 is incredibly strong, highly resistant to damage, able to operate vehicles, proficient in all forms of weaponry, and it “absolutely will not stop” until it accomplishes its objective.
Appearances: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Genisys
The T-1000 is a complete departure from the previous Terminator models; an advanced prototype made of a mimetic poly-alloy, the liquid metal T-1000 can shapeshift and impersonate any human, making it the ultimate infiltrator. The T-1000 can also transform itself into blades, spikes, and hooks but not complex machinery. Because it’s comprised of liquid metal, the T-1000 is impervious to bullets and it reconstituted itself thanks to extreme heat after it was frozen by liquid nitrogen. The T-1000 was the primary antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day but a different T-1000 was also sent back to 1984 and fought Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) in Terminator: Genisys.
The T-X
Appearances: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
The highly-advanced T-X AKA the Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken) is the first model to combine the T-800 and T-1000, utilizing liquid metal over a metal endoskeleton. The T-X was stronger, faster, and more durable than its predecessors and it was also developed as an anti-Terminator combat unit; the T-X was capable of hacking into and reprogramming other machines as well as destroying other Terminators. Additionally, the T-X was the first Terminator with built-in onboard weaponry; its right arm could transform into a plasma cannon, a flame thrower, and a grenade launcher, to name a few of its offensive capabilities.
The T-X could also analyze DNA by sampling its target’s blood. As an infiltrator, the T-X was equipped with a suite of basic human emotions and an understanding of human psychological profiles; as such, the Terminatrix was the first Terminator model that could become angry or frustrated and emit human-like growling noises.
T-101 (T-850 Series)
Appearances: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The T-850 (referred to as T-101 in Terminator 3) was programmed by Kate Brewster (Claire Danes) in 2032 and sent back in time to protect her younger self and her future husband John Connor (Nick Stahl). In fact, this particular T-850 actually killed John in 2032 before Kate reprogrammed it and sent it back to the past. Physically identical to the T-800, the T-850 has some notable upgrades: one of its basic subroutines is an understanding of human psychology and it was also capable of overriding its initial programming and operating independently while still fulfilling its mission objectives: the T-850 used its hydrogen fuel cell to destroy the T-X along with itself, displaying its ability to override its protocol of not self-terminating.
T-1
Appearances: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The original Terminator prototype, the T-1 is a relatively primitive killing machine built at Cyber Research Systems. Moving on tank-like treads, the tank-like T-1 was CRS’ attempt to recreate the work of Miles Bennett Dyson (Joe Morton). A fully autonomous ground offensive system, the T-1 was built for battlefield combat. Despite the failure of the T-1 against the T-850 in Terminator 3, the T-1 series continued to be built by Skynet in the future and it also became the prototype for the H-K (Hunter-Killer) Tank.
Cameron Phillips (T-900)
Appearances: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008)
The T-900 AKA Cameron Phillips (Summer Glau) is an upgrade from the T-800 Terminator. Built for infiltration, the T-900 has living organic tissue (modeled after Resistance fighter Allison Young) over a hyper alloy endoskeleton, but Cameron was different because she exhibited programming for complex human social behavior, including crying, eating, and feeling. While lacking in size compared to the T-800, Cameron retained the Terminators’ brute strength, only she is considerably more flexible (thanks to Glau’s ballerina training) and she tactically uses her environment to her advantage more than other Terminators.
T-888
Appearances: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
The T-888 (or “T-Triple-Eight”) is a variant of the T-800 and it was the primary assassins sent by Skynet in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. While similar to the classic T-800, the T-888 endoskeletons were more armored and resistant to damage, especially to the back. The T-888s also possessed blades in its thighs it could use to decapitate a human. Additionally, the T-888s are stronger and faster; it’s able to run at incredible speeds and can race and catch a vehicle.
Marcus Wright (Series H)
Appearances: Terminator: Salvation
Marcus Wright is the hybrid human/Terminator from Terminator: Salvation. In 2003, Wright was a prisoner on death row who signed his body over to “Project Angel” run by Dr. Serena Kogen (Helena Bonham-Carter) of Cyberdyne Systems’ Genetic Research Division. Wright was transformed into a hybrid cyborg and activated in 2018 with no knowledge of what he was. Marcus’ brain and heart were encased in a metal endoskeleton and his outer skin was regrown over it. As a Series H hybrid Terminator, Marcus possesses enhanced strength and resistance to damage comparable to other Terminators.
T-600/T-700/Moto-Terminator
Appearances: Terminator: Salvation
Terminator: Salvation showcased less advanced predecessors to the T-800: the T-600s are early model infiltrator units that featured combat endoskeletons that were sometimes covered with synthetic latex. However, because their ‘rubber skins’ were so primitive, human Resistance fighters could easily spot T-600s. The T-700 is the bridge to the T-800 and is built for combat, possessing a more durable endoskeleton. The T-600s and T-700s could repair themselves but are incapable of independent thought and rely on Skynet for orders and programming.
Additionally, Terminator: Salvation showcased Moto-Terminators, including Harvesters, which are vehicular Terminators programmed to hunt down and capture humans.
John Connor (T-3000), T-5000
Appearances: Terminator: Genisys
In Terminator: Genisys‘ 2029 future, John Connor (Jason Clarke) is transformed by Skynet (in the form of a T-5000) into the T-3000. Infected by machine phase matter, Connor’s human genetic code is entirely rewritten until his body is comprised of billions of nanomachines. The T-3000 is many times stronger than the T-800, possesses faster reflexes, greater hand-to-hand combat abilities, can phase through attacks. The T-3000 retains all of John Connor’s human memories and can replicate human emotions and behavior. However, because the T-3000’s nanobots are held together by a magnetic field, this leaves this model of Terminator susceptible to high-level magnetic attacks; the T-800 named Pops destroyed the T-3000 with the magnetic field generated by the Time Displacement Equipment.
Rev-9
Appearances: Terminator: Dark Fate
Terminator: Dark Fate‘s brand new model of Terminator, the Rev-9 is a fusion of the T-800, T-1000, and T-X model Terminators: Rev-9 is equipped with an endoskeleton wrapped in a mimetic poly-alloy, but unlike the T-X, it can separate its two components, which can function and attack independently. Unlike the liquid metal T-1000, Rev-9’s morphing outer shell is carbon-based. Additionally, Rev-9 has advanced programming allowing it to replicate human behavior and emotions, which, combined with its suite of advantages, promise to make the latest cyborg a more effective killing machine than its predecessors. In addition, Terminator: Dark Fate will introduce a new type of tentacled Terminator to the saga.
- Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) release date: Nov 01, 2019
