Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
The Terminator works as a action movie with a point of view—fans quote moments, but they also argue about what the film is actually saying about power, desire, or survival. The action and thriller blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.
Runtime 1h 48m · ★ 7.7
Mood
Streaming (US)
Era
Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 8.1 · Action · Thriller · Science Fiction · 2h 17m
Why you'll love it
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) is the natural next step after The Terminator: same action DNA, different perspective. The tense streak and thriller elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.
Watch on
Paramount Plus Essential
Amazon Video(Rent)
Apple TV Store(Rent)
Google Play Movies(Rent)
YouTube(Rent)
Fandango At Home(Rent)
Plex(Rent)Apple TV Store(Buy)
★ 6.8 · Action · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 58m
Why you'll love it
Fans of The Terminator who respond to its action will find The Book of Eli (2010) immediately familiar. Both films share a thriller sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.
Watch on
YouTube TVAmazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)Apple TV Store(Buy)
★ 6.4 · Science Fiction · Action · Adventure · 2h 8m
Why you'll love it
There's a reason The Terminator fans keep landing on Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) — the action is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.
Watch on
Amazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Plex(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)Apple TV Store(Buy)
★ 7.5 · Action · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 40m
Why you'll love it
Upgrade draws from the same action well as The Terminator, channeling thriller in ways that feel unmistakably related. The 2018 film makes a natural companion watch — similar in spirit but distinctly its own.
Watch on
Netflix
Netflix Standard with AdsAmazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)
★ 6.3 · Action · Thriller · Science Fiction · 1h 45m
Why you'll love it
Death Race (2008) captures the action appeal of The Terminator without simply imitating it. The thriller streak running through both films is what puts Death Race at the top of any "if you liked…" shortlist.
Watch on
Peacock Premium
Peacock Premium PlusAmazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)
★ 6.3 · Action · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1h 51m
Why you'll love it
The action appeal of The Terminator — that dark edge, the thriller — translates cleanly into Repo Men (2010). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.
Watch on
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Cinemax Apple TV ChannelAmazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)
★ 6.2 · Action · Drama · Science Fiction · 1h 58m
Why you'll love it
The filmmakers behind No Escape (1994) clearly understood what makes action work — the same quality that keeps The Terminator rewatchable. Expect the same tense rhythm, executed with a fresh angle.
Watch on
Amazon Prime Video
Philo
Night Flight Plus
Fandor Amazon Channel
Screambox Amazon Channel
FlixFling
Eternal Family
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
★ 7.2 · Drama · Science Fiction · Thriller · 1h 41m
Why you'll love it
I Am Legend (2007) is the kind of film The Terminator fans discover and immediately send to their group chat. The thriller overlap is real, but it's the tense emotional pull that seals the recommendation.
Watch on
Amazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)
Spectrum On Demand(Rent)Plex(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)
★ 7.9 · Science Fiction · Drama · Thriller · 1h 58m
Why you'll love it
Blade Runner shares The Terminator's gift for thriller — the 1982 film delivers science-fiction without overstaying its welcome. Consider it required viewing once you've finished rewatching your first pick.
Watch on
Amazon Video(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)Google Play Movies(Buy)YouTube(Buy)Fandango At Home(Buy)
★ 6.8 · Crime · Action · Science Fiction · 2h
Why you'll love it
Much of what makes The Terminator compelling — the action, the science-fiction — shows up in Chappie (2015) in a slightly different form. Both films understand that tense storytelling works best when it trusts the audience.
Watch on
YouTube TVAmazon Video(Rent)Apple TV Store(Rent)Google Play Movies(Rent)YouTube(Rent)Fandango At Home(Rent)Amazon Video(Buy)Apple TV Store(Buy)Browse every "movies like" page on the site—including ones still waiting to be indexed.