8 Unloved Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies That Are Actually Pretty Good (2024)

Throughout his remarkable career, Arnold Schwarzenegger has starred in some underrated movies that deserve another look. Schwarzenegger is most famous for playing action movie characters, ranging from righteous heroes to robotic villains. In fact, Sylvester Stallone and Schwarzenegger are considered the best action stars of the 1980s. In addition, Schwarzenegger appeared in some comedies and an infamous Batman film in the 1990s.

Schwarzenegger has had an impressive career since his first role in Hercules in New York in 1970. In 2023, Netflix released a documentary series titled Arnold, which explored Schwarzenegger’s acting and political career, as well as his time as a bodybuilder. Though Schwarzenegger has starred in many hit films, he’s also had some flops throughout his career. However, just because these movies have been unloved for years doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a watch.

8 Eraser (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 43%

Directed by Charles Russell, Eraser stars Schwarzenegger as the titular John “Eraser” Kruger, a U.S. Marshall working in Witness Protection, erasing and rewriting the lives of witnesses. Eraser protects a senior operative and whistleblower, played by Vanessa Williams, who is testifying about an illegal arms deal. In proper action spy movie form, there is a mole, a shoot-out, explosions, and lots of death.

Despite some plot holes and choppy storytelling, Eraser has fun action scenes and engaging stunts. The characters use futuristic guns, and Schwarzenegger shows off, dual-wielding them and spraying bullets. Many find the special effects are also relatively realistic and help sell the movie. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, saying that if you “have a short attention span,” you can forget the plot holes just enough to enjoy the film. Eraser grossed $24.5 million on its opening weekend.

Eraser

R

Action

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Eraser is an action thriller directed by Chuck Russell and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as U.S. Marshal John Kruger. Released in 1996, the film follows Kruger as he protects Lee Cullen (Vanessa Williams), a witness in a high-profile case involving illegal arms trading. The plot delves into themes of corruption and trust as Kruger uses his skills to keep Cullen safe from a powerful conspiracy.

Director

Chuck Russell

Release Date

June 21, 1996

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger , James Caan , Vanessa Williams

Runtime

115 Minutes

7 Twins (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 42%

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Twins follows Schwarzenegger as Julius, a quiet and innocent, though physically foreboding man, who seeks his lost twin, Vincent (Danny DeVito). They’re a comedic odd couple, with the movie focusing on the differences between Schwarzenegger and DeVito in stature and personality. Though the gag of the unlikely duo being twins wears off shortly, much of the humor comes from their persona, as Vincent shows off his street smarts to his sensitive older brother.

Twins works because of the juxtaposition of seeing a hulking actor like Schwarzenegger in a comedic and sensitive role. This is especially funny when paired with Danny DeVito, who stands at just 4 foot 10 inches and is known for his comedy work. The film grossed $11 million on its first weekend, opening as the number one film in the U.S. Twins was rumored to have a sequel titled Triplets, starring the pair and Tracy Morgan as their brother. However, Triplets' development stopped after director Ivan Reitman passed away in 2022.

Twins

PG

Comedy

Crime

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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito star in the comedy Twins as Julius and Vincent Benedict, two identical brothers who set out on a road trip to find their biological mother. Directed by Ghostbusters co-creator Ivan Reitman, the 1988 film was a box office success and opened the door for more comedy roles for Schwarzenegger, including Kindergarten Cop, Junior, and Jingle All The Way.

Director

Ivan Reitman

Release Date

December 9, 1988

Cast

Danny DeVito , Chloe Webb , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Kelly Preston , Bonnie Bartlett

Runtime

107 minutes

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

6 The 6th Day (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 40%

The 6th Day is set in 2015 when animal cloning is routine, but the cloning of humans is still not allowed. Schwarzenegger plays Adam Gibson, a pilot cloned by a nefarious billionaire and thrust into a secret clone domination conspiracy. With a balance of science-fueled drama and the occasional dark humor, The 6th Day is reminiscent of an episode of Black Mirror, with someone’s life spiraling out of control after a run-in with errant technology.

The movie has some strange editing choices, but those shouldn’t detract from the action-science plot and cast of the film. Though much of the stunts and humor are as expected for a movie of this level, The 6th Day’s intrigue lies in its messaging and predictions about the future. Cloning isn’t yet commonplace, but the film accurately predicts some minor details about modern living. The film ultimately failed at the time of its release, raising only $96 million worldwide on a budget of $82 million, but now deserves a revisiting almost a decade after it is set.

5 Escape Plan (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 50%

Schwarzenegger and Stallone co-star in Escape Plan, in which they attempt to escape a state-of-the-art prison facility and get revenge on Stallone’s betrayer. Despite their long rivalry at the box office, the two famous action stars have great chemistry, making the movie fun and engaging for audiences. The movie is a rewarding watch for fans of both actors, but shouldn't be expected to stand out much in plot or cinematography.

Escape Plan is a simple but well-executed action movie that satisfies the genre nicely. After the initial reveal of Stallone’s situation, it becomes a relatively easy-to-follow story of heroes versus villains. It’s an entertaining film that exemplifies the camp of the 1980s films the men were famous for. Fans of the genre should watch Escape Plan for its classic action and iconic joint performance from its two iconic stars.

Escape Plan

pg-13

Thriller

Action

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An action thriller film that stars movie action heroes, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Escape Plan follows Lawyer Ray Breslin, a security tester who enters a supermax prison to study its defenses. To accomplish the breakout, he'll enlist the help of an inmate named Emil, a self-proclaimed hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.

Release Date

October 10, 2013

Cast

Sylvester Stallone , Arnold Schwarzenegger

Runtime

116minutes

Studio(s)

Lionsgate

Writers

Jason Keller

4 Jingle All The Way (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 21%

Another of Schwarzenegger’s comedies is his Christmas film, Jingle All The Way. Schwarzenegger stars opposite comedian Sinbad as two rival fathers trying to purchase Turbo-Man action figures for their sons for the holidays. One of the many plot points in the film features Schwarzenegger’s character donning a life-sized working Turbo-Man costume, fighting villains, and flying through the city and into a family’s apartment during Christmas dinner in a truly comedic moment.

Jingle All The Way is filled with funny moments and Christmas-themed campiness. One of the most iconic scenes is when Schwarzenegger single-handedly takes on an army of criminal mall Santas and elves, resulting in an instantly recognizable comedic fight scene. The movie is known for satirizing commercialism at Christmas. For Schwarzenegger fans, Jingle All The Way at least deserves a seasonal rewatch.

Jingle All the Way

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Holiday

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Jingle All The Way is a Christmas-themed comedy film by director Brian Levant, released in 1996. After a business-focused father fails to procure a wildly popular toy for his son before Christmas, he must head on a city-wide hunt to find one. His hunt is complicated further when he's forced to go head-to-head with a postal worker on the same quest, leading to a series of ever-escalating events during the holiday season.

Director

Brian Levant

Release Date

November 22, 1996

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger , Sinbad , Phil Hartman , Rita Wilson , Robert Conrad , Jake Lloyd , Jim Belushi

Runtime

89 Minutes

Studio(s)

1492 Pictures

Distributor(s)

20th Century Fox

Writers

Randy Kornfield

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3 The Running Man (1987)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%

Loosely based on a Stephen King novel, Schwarzenegger starred in The Running Man, a film set in a dystopian future America where criminals are hunted on television and rewarded for survival. In his quest to survive, Schwarzenegger faces interesting and iconic villains, many of whom are played by professional wrestlers and athletes. The Running Man is an excellent movie for fans of cyberpunk dystopian films. It embodies the absurdity of 1980s science-fiction movies, with a great aesthetic to match.

Though The Running Man has many positive reviews, it remains one of Schwarzenegger’s less famous works. It will be reentering the cultural zeitgeist soon, as Glen Powell is set to star in Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man, though no release date is attached. Keeping only the violence and the characters’ names, Schwarzenegger’s Running Man was criticized for not being true to the original story. The remake promises to be a more faithful adaptation of King’s book. If anything, the film was successful enough to warrant a remake and is worth another watch before Powell’s movie.

The Running Man

R

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Action

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Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, The Running Man is a sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Ben Richards, a former cop who's forced to compete in a deadly game show where criminals fight for their lives. The 1987 movie is based on a Stephen King novel under his pen name Richard Bachman.

Director

Paul Michael Glaser

Release Date

November 13, 1987

Cast

Maria Conchita Alonso , Yaphet Kotto , Jesse Ventura , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Richard Dawson

Runtime

101 minutes

Writers

Steven E. de Souza

2 The Villain (1979)

Metacritic Rating: 22%

One of Schwarzenegger’s lesser-known early films is The Villain, a Western movie parody. Schwarzenegger plays Handsome Stranger alongside Kirk Douglas, who plays the titular villain, an outlaw named Cactus Jack. The film is notably Looney Tunes-esque, as hapless Douglas constantly tries and fails to kill the naive Schwarzenegger and his female companion, Ann-Margret, much like Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. The movie uses its recognizable actors to blend familiar film tropes and comic aspects for a memorable effect.

The Villain shouldn’t be taken seriously as an earnest Western film, as some tried to interpret it. Instead, it was meant to be a campy take on the genre, parodying the classic tropes and characters. While the humor occasionally borders on infantile or too slapstick, the premise and actors make the film fun. Overall, with a blast of late 1970s nostalgia, The Villain is an easy and funny PG-rated watch suitable for the family.

1 Last Action Hero (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 42%

Last Action Hero is a fantasy action comedy with a meta yet still funny premise. Another of Schwarzenegger’s genre parody films, Last Action Hero is a satire of action movies for which Schwarzenegger was already known. In Last Action Hero, Schwarzenegger acts as himself, playing the character of Jack Slater, a police detective in an in-movie action film franchise. When young Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien) magically transports into the series, he and Slater must team up to stop the franchise’s assassin, who has now entered the real world.

While the premise may sound complicated, the film is not a hard watch, filled with familiar tropes and gaffs typical of the action genre. However, Last Action Hero premiered to negative reviews. Schwarzenegger reflected on this box office flop in his Netflix documentary, saying, “When Last Action Hero came out I had reached my peak after Terminator 2… I cannot tell you how upset that I was [about Last Action Hero’s negative reviews]. It hurts you. It hurts your feelings.” It competed in the box office with other popular 1997 releases (namely Jurassic Park and Sleepless In Seattle).

The movie is also packed with cameos, including Tina Turner, Sharon Stone, and Ian McKellen, among many others. There is good comic timing throughout the film and lots of action sequences, as promised. Last Action Hero is a good reflection of the genre and Schwarzenegger’s celebrity status at the time. It’s worth watching to see Arnold Schwarzenegger in another comedic role and spoof the films that made him so successful.

Source: Roger Ebert

Last Action Hero

PG-13

Adventure

Action

Comedy

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Last Action Hero follows young Danny Madigan, who magically enters the world of his favorite action film through a special ticket. Inside the movie, he teams up with action hero Jack Slater, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to battle cinematic villains. Directed by John McTiernan, the film blends reality and fiction, offering a whimsical take on action film tropes.

Director

John McTiernan

Release Date

June 18, 1993

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger , F. Murray Abraham , Art Carney , Charles Dance , Frank McRae , Tom Noonan , Robert Prosky , Anthony Quinn

Runtime

130 Minutes

Writers

Zak Penn , Adam Leff , Shane Black

Main Genre

Adventure