Released in 1985, Red Sonja feels like the forgotten cousin in the Conan the Barbarian family—set in the same universe of swords, magic, and muscle-bound heroes, yet lacking the grit, depth, and energy that made Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984) staples of the fantasy genre. While Arnold Schwarzenegger’s presence as the warrior Kalidor adds some much-needed muscle to the film, Red Sonja…
There are movies that define a decade, movies that change the trajectory of careers, and movies that leave a permanent mark on pop culture. The Terminator (1984) is all of the above. Directed by James Cameron on a shoestring budget, this sci-fi thriller not only launched Cameron’s illustrious career but also cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of the biggest action stars of all time. What started…
After the success of Conan the Barbarian (1982), it was only a matter of time before Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to swing his massive sword as the titular Cimmerian warrior. With Conan the Destroyer, the filmmakers delivered a sequel that takes the original’s dark, mythic tone and injects it with a dose of campy fun and broader appeal. While The Destroyer isn’t as raw or brutal as…
Before Conan the Barbarian, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a world-famous bodybuilder but hardly a household name in Hollywood. Sure, he had a few roles under his belt, most notably in Pumping Iron (1977) and Hercules in New York (1970), but he was far from the global action icon he would become. Enter Conan the Barbarian, the sword-and-sorcery epic that transformed Schwarzenegger from a niche athlete into a…
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career is filled with iconic roles that showcase his charisma, physicality, and screen presence. Whether he’s a relentless killing machine in The Terminator, a battle-hardened warrior in Conan the Barbarian, or even a fish-out-of-water dad in Kindergarten Cop, Schwarzenegger has proven time and again that he can dominate the screen. Unfortunately, 1979’s The Villain—an early misfire in his filmography—is one of those rare cases…
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became one of the biggest action stars in the world, before he defined the genre with iconic roles in The Terminator (1984) and Predator (1987), there was Stay Hungry—a peculiar indie dramedy that feels like an odd footnote in his illustrious career. Directed by Bob Rafelson (Five Easy Pieces), Stay Hungry is a strange mix of offbeat comedy, Southern Gothic weirdness, and low-stakes…
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger became the face of blockbuster action cinema with The Terminator (1984) or flexed his comedic chops in Twins (1988), he was simply “Arnold the Bodybuilder.” And Pumping Iron—a half-documentary, half-drama chronicling the world of professional bodybuilding—captures Schwarzenegger on the cusp of superstardom. While the film doesn’t have the pulse-pounding action of Predator (1987) or the high-concept brilliance of Total Recall (1990), it’s a…
Every great star has to start somewhere. For Arnold Schwarzenegger, that “somewhere” is Hercules in New York, a film so gloriously bad that it has achieved a kind of infamous cult status. Released in 1970, this was Arnold’s first film role, back when he was still known as Arnold Strong (the producers didn’t think audiences could handle “Schwarzenegger”) and just beginning to transition from his Mr.
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