Terminator Salvation (PG-13, 2009)

common sense media says

First PG-13 Terminator is loud, explosive, and dark.


parents & educators say
  • 71% say violence is an issue
  • 41% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this installment of the Terminator series is the first to earn a PG-13 rating instead of an R, it's still extremely violent. There's not much actual blood, but there's plenty of broken flesh, bruises, and batterings. The film's tone is also quite intense, with constant attacks, life-or-death struggles, and scenes in which giant robots attack and abduct humans. While much of the violence is directed against robots, some of those robots are remarkably human-looking, which makes the gore and grim action a bit tougher to take than you might think. Characters also touch on heavy topics like morality, ethics, and redemption. There's a little bit of kissing, but hardly anything to worry about in the way of strong language, drinking, or smoking.

Positive messages: Despite the constant violence, the movie's ultimate messages about the possibility of redemption and of sacrifice in the name of a greater good come through. The essential ethical nature of human behavior is discussed: "We aren't machines, and if we act like them, what's the point of winning?"
Positive role models: Marcus -- a one-time criminal -- repeatedly puts himself at risk for others, particularly Kyle, and ultimately makes a very noble choice. John is relentless in his goal of eliminating the machines and sometimes lets that get in the way of compassion; but he, too, is a hero in the end. Some of the other resistance leaders are inflexible and short-sighted.
Violence: Extensive violence, much of it involving battles (hand-to-hand and with firearms) between super-strong robots and humans. There are also explosions (including a character getting blown up by a mine), crashes, shootings, stabbings, and assault with blunt objects; mutilated, wounded, and dead bodies are seen -- though there's not that much blood overall. Robots are burned with molten metal; the red-hot robots covered in jagged metal then attack humans. Gruesome medical/experimental imagery.
Sex: Some kissing. A man and a woman snuggle up to share warmth.
Language: Mostly includes words like "hell" and "damn," but there are also a couple of uses of "s--t" and one of "f--k," plus "son of a bitch," "ass," and "God."
Consumerism: It's good to know that Jeep and 7-Eleven make it through the apocalypse. ...
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Terminator Salvation

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what's makes this movie different from the other Terminator films -- why do you think this one is rated PG-13 when the others were R?
  • What's the impact of seeing violent images like the ones here?
  • Can human nature be replicated by a machine -- and, if so, would that machine be human?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Taking place after the events of Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, TERMINATOR SALVATION begins with a 2003-set prologue in which condemned prisoner Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) volunteers his body to science; it then jumps ahead to a devastated 2018, where the now-grown John Connor (Christian Bale) is leading the fight against the machine intelligence that's devastated the planet. But after a raid on a machine base, a single figure staggers from the wreckage -- it's Wright, confused about the battered new world he's woken up to. Marcus and John rally around Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), the freedom fighter who, years later, will be sent back in time to protect John's mother from a robot assassin -- and who, in the past, becomes John's father.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Full of pretzel-logic time-travel philosophy and an over-the-top production jammed with effects and action, Terminator Salvation feels less like an addition to the Terminator franchise than an ambling, throat-clearing side-track. Promised the ultimate war between humanity and machines, we instead get more of the same plot threads the franchise has already served up three times: the dangers of a fractured time-space continuum and the possibility that a robot designed to kill humans might come to know and feel for them.

Director McG has a firm hand on the big, blow-'em-up action set pieces, but the film founders in the spaces in between. Bale's Connor is a loud bore, even while Worthington infuses his thin role with a stiff shot of star power and rugged charisma. Terminator Salvation promises the last word in the franchise, but it's just a tale full of sound and fury and special effects, signifying nothing.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: McG
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Christian Bale, Sam Worthington
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 114 minutes
Theatrical release: May 21, 2009
DVD release: December 1, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language

This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 17 parent & educator reviews:
  • 71% say violence is an issue
  • 41% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

sowhat1111
teen, 14 years old
 
It's good, but not as good as the 1st and 2nd
This movie was very good and my friends and I who have seen it enjoyed it alot. But if you havent seen the first one the seconed, you should either wath those first of read about. Just so you get filled in and don't get lost during this one.

ironside
teen, 15 years old
 
Beware the Directer's cut is rated R
Note; reviewed on theatrical cut. two kissing scenes. Marcus trades his dead body (for experimentation) for a kiss from a dying woman. a man and woman huddle together to share warmth (survival situation.) one main character wears a tight/semi-lowcut outfit. a man, naked and covered in mud (nothing is shown), wanders onto a battle scarred site. a newly formed *naked* terminator (nothing is shown) walks out of a cell and proceeds to beat the stuffings out of John Coner; untill Marcus intervenes. a few men attempt to sexualy assault Blair; Marcus intervenes and Blair shoots one of the baddies in the crotch. three uses of s---, (one holy s---.) three uses of h---, two s.o.b. words, one b--t--- and one d--n, God's name is missused three times, Marcus says, "That thing is *pissing* off." note: pluggedin, imdb, and commonsensemedia, all say they use the f-word once; I reviewed it on closed caption, and I didn't see or hear it.

4Spice
adult
 
the movie was ok
this movie was ok not as good as the older terminators 12 and for violence not worth buying watch this after you see all the terminators in order

eagles4ever
teen, 15 years old
 
Good Christian Bale movie.
You might need to see the first 3 movies to understand what is going on. That is an issue though, the first 3 movies are rated R so you will need parental advisory while watching them. Christian Bale did a good job portraying John Connor. This movie is violent. In one scene you can see the stomach of a "terminator".

shortcuts
kid, 13 years old
 
terminator salvation review
This terminator movie is way different than the other 3 terminator movies. One of the terminators in this movie is good and it's not arnold schwarzenegger but he is in this movie for like 3 minutes. Not the actual actor but he's cgi. His name is marcus brody. He thinks he's a human and john connor talks like batman from the dark knight. Kyle reese from the first movie is here but he's like 17 years old and he has a little girl following him around. Great movie so 5 out of 5

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
First (and hopefully only) "Terminator" without Arnold Schwarzenegger--who IS the Terminator. Only for die-hard "Terminator" fans, I guess.
My rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action/violence and language.

Tom N.
teen, 15 years old
 
Salvation is a Great Pick!
I saw it the day it came out, I must it admit it was pretty good. It does have it's bad moments, for example, the movie does contain a lot of fictional violence between robots and mankind which may be a bit of an issure. It also contains a bit of minor language usage which parents should be cautioned about, other then that, it's a pretty fun movie to see(a lil' scary for those younger ones) and I hope you enjoy it! :)

danixix
kid, 10 years old
 
i saw it and i just only have 9 years but it was a little scary

lizzie3276
teen, 17 years old
 
Very disappointing movie...
I'm 14 and I absolutely love the first Terminator. It keeps you hooked and it has Action, Suspense, Romance, and it's actually more thought-provoking than it has the reputation of being. The second and third are also great, but I the first is best. However, this movie ruins everything for a fan of the other three. The movie is totally off and not having Arnold in it really puts this movie in a pile separate from the others. If you haven't seen the others, I guess it's okay, but you'll be very disappointed if you have.

Hidden_light96
teen, 16 years old
 
I liked this movie! But T2 was better :)
I like this movie and it was the first Terminator movie I saw. The violence is okay, but it's not for little kids I can tell you. But let me tell you this: If you wanna see this movie and you're not that familiar with the Terminator franchise, I recommend you see the first 3 Terminator movies before seeing this. You're gonna get really confused If you see this movie before the others. That's why I watched the older Terminator movies after watching this one.

residentevilfa ...
teen, 13 years old
 
A must see for a terminator fan. but is the movie for kids?
Terminator salvation takes place in 2018, judgement day has happened machines have nearly took over. Im not going to talk that much about the story so i wont give away spoiler. Violence: 4/5 The violence in this movie is frequent and strong. although its not as strong as 1 and 2 the violence might even be a bit stronger then T3. Their are jump scenes where terminators pop out of no where while its very quite..very cliche of course *laughs*. The violence may frighten younger audiences if they have not seen many movies like this. if your kids saw the last 3 terminators then let them see this one. its not as violent but that not saying much its still very strong. Language 3/5: Their is usual PG-13 language the S word is said a few times. One use of the F word but it can be missed by. The b word is used a couple times.. Not as bad as the last 3 but still theirs language. Love/you know: None and a man and a woman snuggle to share warmth. Their is a couple kissing scenes but its not bad. 1/5 for Love/you know Is the movie any good?: If you are a terminator fan you will probably love this movie *like me* or you can hate it many people have different opinions. if your kids loved the last 3 movies then they are going to love this movie. I say go watch it. but i think someone younger then 12 or 11 should not see the movie. if you have someone younger then 11 or 10 and you let them see it and they were okay then let them see this one. 5/5 *in my opinion*

erraggarn98
kid, 13 years old
 
A fun action movie
A look at what it is like after Judgement day in the terminator series... Fine for 12 and up. 4/5

ChristianGamer
teen, 15 years old
 
Good Movie, NO F WORD
I personally think this was a very good movie. There was no f word though. it is very, very, very violent. a lot of people die. John Connor is a good role model and so is Marcus Wright, because John Connor is heroic and brave. And Marcus Wright goes against the machines that crated him(who were evil)

EZRASHUGEREVIEWS
teen, 15 years old
 
LOVE THE MOVIE. IT'S A TEEN MOVIE.

mattthemovieman
teen, 17 years old
 
good movie
good movie if youve seen the other ones

JCK11
teen, 15 years old
 
Ok for 14 year olds
Terminator salvation is a pretty good movie but not as good as the old ones. The language is pretty severe since it goes up to f**k. The 2 worst parts are when whats his face gets executed with toxic treatment.2 is when John Conner gets a pole stabbed through him.

MEGAFLASH500
kid, 13 years old
 
no scwartzenneger :(
scenes of people beeing led through prisons by machines. in the opening scenes, a bomb explodes and a machine is crushed.

KinbJune
teen, 13 years old
 
Terminator: Destruction
For the people that think I'm going to give this movie a horrible review, go to that Power Rangers one, now THAT was ranting. I actually mildly enjoyed this movie, when you put aside the action. Sure, it is a little short on story, but it has an awesome ideal, when fighting the enemy, never become the enemy. Yes, it does have the same thread as the other Terminator movies, as mentioned above in the "is it any good" section of CSM's review, however I honestly believe that this isn't like that, because the terminator feels for humans in the beginning, because it is basically half human, half machine. The terminator mostly labors towards being human, saving humans throughout the movie, but that isn't exactly why this movie was made, plot-wise. It was made to see how the future would turn out, whether Kyle Reese was to survive, or die trying to protect his friends, so I wouldn't say that this movie is centered around John Connor, but more around the future, Kyle Reese, and Marcus Wright (the machine/human).

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
this was movie was,yes, violent, but also had a good message. nothing a teen can't handle

The BatFan
teen, 15 years old
 
Decent movie, not the worst in the franchise
This is an olright movie which has it's moment, see the first two before this to understand it a bit more.

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