Seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped away from the sport in 1975. Although he returned in 1980 to win his seventh title, Schwarzenegger focused on acting. In 1982, the Austrian Oak got his break with Conan the Barbarian. The bodybuilding icon starred in The Terminator (1984) and became an action cinema star. For the next decade, Arnie starred in multiple blockbuster action films. Some of them remain iconic even today.

However, despite starring genre-defining films like The Terminator, Commando (1985), and others, Arni’s films don’t make his favorite list. During a 2017 interview with Rotten Tomatoes, the five-time Mr. Universe named his three favorite action films of all time.

The three action films that had an impact on Arnold Schwarzenegger

During the interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the RT reporter asked him to name five of his favorite films. However, instead of five, the Governator named six. In his signature humorous style, Arnie said “It’s very hard to really pick one, or five.” Hence, he named six, and three out of the six films were action films.

Schwarzenegger’s preference for action films might not be surprising. However, despite starring in James Cemron’s The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Ture Lies (1994), and John McTiernan’s Predator (1987), none of them made the list. Instead, Schwarzenegger picked Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972). Arnie said The Godfather was unbeatable as “the combination of story and action.”

His next pick was Westworld (1973). The Austrian Oak revealed Westworld had “the most profound impact” on him. The bodybuilding icon said the film got him interested in playing The Terminator as “Yul Brynner plays a machine that malfunctions.” Arnie’s final pick was Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (1992). Schwarzenegger always saw Eastwood as an idol and “loved his Western movies.” However, Schwarzenegger also named three other films during the interview. Interestingly, the other three belonged to different genres, one of them even a musical.

Three other films that inspired the action cinema icon

While Arnie became an action star, he also explored other genres. In fact, some of the Austrian Oak’s most successful films were comedies. From Twins (1988) to Jingle All the Way (1996), fans loved the seven-time Mr. Olympia’s comedic side. The first of the three other films was the sci-fi family film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) directed by Steven Speilberg.

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The next one was one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Schwarzenegger named his good friend James Cameron’s iconic 1997 film Titanic. The final film, which wasn’t an action flick, was the immortal musical drama The Sound of Music (1965). The fact that the film portrayed his homeland Austria, with such beauty won the bodybuilding icon’s heart.

What did you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s three favorite action films? Are they among your favorites as well? Tell us in the comments.

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