Much like his breakthrough role Conan the Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger transcended a childhood of neglect and poverty in 1950s Austria, pushing his body over over the top, to become one day the king of the Hyborian Age governor of California. Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding career, begun at age 14, was enough to take him abroad in competitions, and eventually into the viewfinder of Hollywood agents. On this list of Schwarzenegger’s best movies ranked by Tomatometer (alongside the worst), we’re including the 1976 Pumping Iron documentary that helped him land Conan the Barbarian – even though he’s not playing a character, Iron was vital in crafting Arnie’s on-screen image.

See the 10 Best Movies by Arnold Schwarzenegger

1. The Terminator (1984)

A human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.

> The Terminator

2. Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991)

A cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.

> Terminator 2 Judgment Day

3. Total Recall (1990)

When a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real – or is he?

> Total Recall

4. Predator (1987)

A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

> Predator

5. True Lies (1994)

A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used-car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.

> True Lies

6. Red Heat (1988)

A tough Russian policeman is forced to partner up with a cocky Chicago police detective when he is sent to Chicago to apprehend a Georgian drug lord who killed his partner and fled the country.

> Red Heat

7. Commando (1985)

A retired Special Forces colonel tries to save his daughter, who was abducted by his former subordinate.

> Commando

8. Conan The Barbarian (1982)

A powerful warrior seeks to avenge the genocide of his people and the murder of his parents at the hands of a snake cult.

> Conan The Barbarian

9. The Running Man (1987)

In a dystopian America, a falsely convicted policeman gets his shot at freedom when he must forcibly participate in a TV game show where convicts, runners, must battle killers for their freedom.

> The Running Man

10. Kindergarten Cop (1990)

A tough cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to locate a dangerous criminal's ex-wife, who may hold the key to putting him behind bars.

> Kindergarten Cop

Arnold Schwarzenegger's filmography is a testament to his unique and lasting impact on cinema. The films on this list showcase the very best of his work, from the groundbreaking sci-fi of The Terminator and Total Recall to the explosive action of Commando and Predator. His on-screen presence, marked by his immense physical power and iconic one-liners, created a new kind of action hero. But his range extended beyond muscles and mayhem; films like Twins and Kindergarten Cop proved his surprising comedic talent. Ultimately, these movies don't just represent Schwarzenegger's career—they define an era of filmmaking. His roles continue to captivate audiences, solidifying his status as a true Hollywood legend and proving that when it comes to action icons, Arnold will always be back.