‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ Early Buzz: It’s ‘The Force Awakens’ Of The ‘Terminator’ Franchise
The first reactions fromTerminator: Dark Fatehave rolled in on social media after the first wave of critics recently got a sneak peek at the movie. They weren’t the only ones either. An event at Alamo Drafthouse locations that was marketed as aTerminator 2: Judgment Dayfan event with a sneak peek of footage fromTerminator: Dark Fateturned into a full fledged screening of the sequel nearly two weeks before it hits theaters. So what are people saying? Get theTerminator: Dark Fateearly buzz below.
Here’s what fans at the Alamo Drafthouse saw before they were treated to the entirety ofTerminator: Dark Fate:
So if you weren’t at any of the 15 participating Alamo Drafthouse locations around the United States, you’ll just have to wait another 12 days to see the movie. But in the meantime, you may see what people thought with our round-up of reactions from social media. Let’s start with your own editor-in-chief, Peter Sciretta, who seems to have mostly enjoyed the movie:
#TerminatorDarkFateis better than you think it’s going to be. Its trying hard to be the Force Awakens of Terminator movies, and mostly succeeds. But it’s lacking Cameron’s innovation, evolution and directing. Arnold is fantastic, the best of his post T2 Terminator appearances.
— /Film (@slashfilm)August 11, 2025
Below, you can find out the rest of the reactions from critics who have already seen the movie:
Terminator: Dark Fate is basically Terminator: The Force Awakens. A satisfying, exciting reboot that’s essentially the best parts of T1 & T2 in a blender. Davis, Reyes & Hamilton are excellent, the action wows & while it’s familiar, it’s easily the best T3 yet. Terminator is backpic.twitter.com/W1emrXIq5C
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier)June 19, 2025
#TerminatorDarkFateis easily the best Terminator movie since T2. Has some fantastic action and loved how the film features 3 female protagonists that all kick-ass. So awesome seeing Linda Hamilton back as Sarah Connor.pic.twitter.com/15Yb6cC18W
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty)August 11, 2025
I’ve been a fan of Mackenzie Davis since seeing her in ‘Halt and Catch Fire’. But she takes it to another level in#TerminatorDarkFatewhere she kicks all kinds of ass. If you like her work in Dark Fate, go back and watch#HaltandCatchFire.pic.twitter.com/P5gnqoXjFL
I don’t mean to damn it with faint praise but TERMINATOR: DARK FATE is easily the best TERMINATOR since JUDGMENT DAY. The movie makes great use of existing mythology to push the franchise in an intriguing new direction. Linda Hamilton is so great too.
— Todd Gilchrist (@mtgilchrist)August 15, 2025
#TerminatorDarkFateis the best of the TERMINATOR sequels after T2. Easily among the year’s most entertaining action films, it’s thrilling, intense & non-stop, but also a sweet story about making things right. Arnold is great & Linda rules, but Mackenzie Davis THROWS DOWNpic.twitter.com/8TQ4Gpkkdr
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis)July 18, 2025
Honestly, without Linda Hamilton, not sure it works. But now watching her and Arnold together on screen again, it’s kind of crazy they ever tried to make these movies without literally the main character.
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan)August 10, 2025
Is#TerminatorDarkFatethe best since T2? Yup. Linda Hamilton’s return makes a BIG difference, Mackenzie Davis kicks all the ass, & Natalia Reyes is an excellent anchor. Gabriel Luna’s Rev-9 is a winner too. Physicality, VFX, fights – all spot on! Glad they gave this another go.pic.twitter.com/4Q1FNN49Hw
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff)August 13, 2025
Oh the film, you ask? It’s solid. Super well articulated action. Linda Hamilton is aces. Easily the best sequel since T2.#DarkFatetakes The Force Awakens' “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality to Cameron’s films and turns out it ain’t broke.
— Haleigh Foutch (@HaleighFoutch)June 26, 2025
#TerminatorDarkFatesucceeds as both a suitable closing chapter for the original two James Cameron films and a possible gateway to exciting new chapters ahead. While the threshold may be low thanks to the last three would-be franchise resets, Dark Fate is the best one since T2.pic.twitter.com/bI9eOuEUEB
— Jim Vejvoda (@JimVejvoda)June 09, 2025
#TerminatorDarkFateis a blast. Came for the return of Linda Hamilton (amazing) & reprisal of Schwarzenegger (badass) but was surprised and happy to come out caring most about Natalia Reyes' Dani & Mackenzie Davis' Grace. It gave me a lot of hope for where Terminator will go nextpic.twitter.com/vfWPFwMnzS
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz)July 29, 2025
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE is easily the best in the franchise since TERMINATOR 2. An outstanding cast and some imaginative and exciting ideas carry it over its rough spots. Great to see Linda Hamilton back in action and Arnold delivering a fresh new take on his character.
— Don Kaye (donkaye.bsky.social) (@donkaye)June 02, 2025
It sounds likeTerminator: Dark Fateis really hoping to revamp the franchise by injecting some of what madeThe TerminatorandTerminator 2: Judgment Daythe classics we still revere to this day. However, it seems to do that only in a way that treads the same territory as those movies, just likeStar Wars: The Force Awakens, instead of doing anything innovative. Though many say the movie is the best sinceT2, that’s not exactly a high bar to reach, and that’s probably why many of the reactions say it’s better than they thought it would be and not flat out great.
What’s interesting is the reactions that sayLinda Hamiltonis the key to making this one work. Many have always said Terminator needsArnold Schwarzenegger, and while it sounds like he serves his purpose well in this sequel, this doesn’t sound like it’s his movie at all. That’s probably for the best. And we’re very happy to hear thatMackenzie Davisis as badass as she appeared to be in the trailers.
Will audiences be as happy with what directorTim Millerhas in store for them? Could this finally be the start of a new Terminator trilogy that has promise? We’ll find out whenTerminator: Dark Fateopens in theaters onNovember 1, 2019. Watch the most recent trailer releasedright here.
