Home/Bodybuilding

Arnold Schwarzenegger truly continues to live the best of all words – a champion bodybuilder, movie producer, actor, author, film director, businessman, and the 38th Governor of California. He has shown his flawless physique in the bodybuilding world and secured seven Mr. Olympia titles. Then, the Austrian Oak decided to enter the entertainment world and see whether he was as good at acting as he was at bodybuilding. As expected, he did not disappoint and gave blockbuster movies back-to-back. 

However, his first acting stint was not anything famous. He started as Hercules in the 1970 adventure comedy Hercules in New York. Eventually, after several small roles, he finally started showing his best skills from the 80s. Finally, the star bodybuilder teamed up with a genius director, James Cameron, and got the main role in Conan the Barbarian in 1982. From then on, he never looked back. Arnie gave us several blockbuster movies in different genres, and since the holiday season is knocking at the door, let’s see some of the best movies of Arnie that we can enjoy this season. 

Conan the Barbarian

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

No one can forget this cult classic where John Milius’ violent gritty story with Magic and swordplay brought Robert E. Howard’s novel hero to life. This is one of the most-watched films from the summer of 82.

This movie is not a standalone and also has a sequel named Conan the Destroyer (1984), and another Howard adaptation with Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen, Red Sonja (1985).

Read More: “Evil Villain Wasn’t Going to Help”: Worried About His Career, Arnold Schwarzenegger Didn’t Like James Cameron’s Casting for the Terminator, Revealed in Total Recall

Arnie had disclosed in his documentary that he was almost cut off from the main role because producer Dino De Laurentiis did not think that he could act in such a difficult role. To prove him wrong, Schwarzenegger had done all his stunts. It took samurai sword training, horseback riding lessons, and real injuries to do justice to the role. However, the movie was a blockbuster as we all know. 

The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator franchise witnessed six movies but Arnold’s 1984 one remains a cult classic. This movie has its fandom and launched the longest-running franchise in Schwarzenegger’s career. The sci-fi action neo-noir slasher film not only put the Austrian Oak on the map of Hollywood but also James Cameron called the attention of the audience.

The director’s genius storyline and Schwarzenegger’s unique acting put this movie into the limelight. Arnold’s portrayal of a deadly cyborg from the future, hunting Sarah Connor became a cult classic in no time. From the famous line, “I’ll be back” to the amazing special effects, the film set a standard for sci-fi movies that would be made later on. There is also a story where Arnold said that he changed the line to make it sound more robotic, and this caused a little disagreement with James Cameron but eventually everything went well, and the movie did amazing at the box office. So this is a must-watch during the holiday season if you love action.

Kindergarten Cop (1990)

This comedy/crime movie will make you have a good time if you love to laugh. The LAPD detective John Kimble (Schwarzenegger) goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher. While looking after, and running around five-year-olds in his classroom, Kimble is determined to apprehend a drug lord by finding a witness who can put the criminal behind bars. If you want to go and watch something funnier and more bizarre the next movie by Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to surprise you.

Junior (1994)

Schwarzenegger was eager to try different genres of acting and he might’ve started with his titular role as an action hero or a cyborg but he later went on to do several comedies that also became a hit at the box office. He teamed up with Ivan Reitman for Twins in 1988, which became a huge success. But in 1994, when he was asked to portray a pregnant man by Reitman, he took up the challenge.

He had spoken about the role in an interview and revealed that his wife’s three pregnancies helped him understand the nuances of carrying a child. Arnie’s already existing respect increased for women after he did this movie. While acting in Junior, Schwarzenegger had to carry a prosthetic stomach to appear like a 9-month pregnant man.

He said, “At least at lunchtime, I had a chance of taking this thing off, or after an evening when we were finished filming, I had a chance of taking it off, but women have to carry this thing 24 hours a day, they have it on them.” This comedy movie will surely surprise you if you decide to watch it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

True Lies (1994)

This movie is also very well-known and released in 1994. Action comedy movie is different from the rest of the movies directed by James Cameron. The spy, epic shows Arnold Schwarzenegger in the main role of an undercover spy Harry who keeps his job a secret from his wife Helen.

This becomes an issue with terrorists starting to infiltrate their homes. From blockbuster action sequences to helicopter sequences over the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys, this movie does not feel to make you laugh and put you on the edge of your seat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story:  Inside $450 Million Worth Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Insane Real Estate Empire

There are many more movies that are perfect for the holiday season and will show how talented ‎Schwarzenegger is in bodybuilding and being a governor, but also in acting. Other movies that you can watch are Last Action Hero, Total Recall, The Predator, and Commando among others.