Terminator Zero’s trailer has been released, and it looks much better than the Terminator saga’s previous four movies. Terminator has sadly become one of the franchises with more bad than good movies. After a strong start with two highly successful films, the Terminator franchise would struggle for over two decades with critical and financial disappointments. There have been four Terminator movies since Terminator 2: Judgment Day, widely considered the best entry in the franchise, but none of them were well-received enough to get an immediate sequel.

Terminator Zero is a Netflix original anime from Skydance and Production I.G., the last of which worked on movies such as Ghost in the Shell and series such as Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. A Terminator anime series from the studio behind iconic works of science fiction sounded incredibly exciting by itself. However, after so many poorly received Terminator movies, it remained to be seen whether the first look at Terminator Zero was going to live up to the expectations.

Terminator Zero Already Looks Better Than The Franchise’s Previous Movies

Terminator Zero’s first trailer is very promising.

The first trailer for Terminator Zero offers the best look yet at the upcoming Netflix anime, teasing an exciting new take on the franchise that also respects the saga’s tone and aesthetic. Although the premise of Terminator Zero seems to be that of a classic Terminator story – a soldier from a doomed future goes back in time to save someone whose fate is tied to Skynet – the series seems to be doing something different with it. There is a level of horror and suspense in the trailer, not to mention the great visuals.

While the first trailer’s release may be too soon to judge a new series, Terminator Zero looks incredible and sounds more exciting than the franchise’s previous movies. The last four Terminator films were all deeply disappointing and failed to connect with audiences and critics alike. From Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines to Terminator: Dark Fate, all of Terminator’s attempts to reignite the franchise in the past 20 years have failed. Terminator has struggled to find its identity between reboots and new timelines, but Terminator Zero could be a “return to basics” for the series.

Terminator Zero’s Trailer Has The Exact Tone The Movies Were Missing

Terminator Zero looks like a “horror meets sci-fi” anime.

Terminator Zero’s trailer makes it seem like it will be a sci-fi horror series with a lot of action, which is exactly what Terminator should be. Part of the reason why The Terminator was so successful is that James Cameron took what could have been just yet another slasher and turned it on its head by adding a sci-fi twist to it – the “Terminator.” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 almost feels like a horror movie creature in the first film, which is something that very few other Terminator models in the series failed to recapture.

Likewise, Terminator 2: Judgment Day raised the bar for action movies by combining practical effects with innovative VFX techniques to create some of the most memorable sequences of all time. This includes almost every moment in which the T-1000 was on screen. None of the other Terminator films were able to play with genres that well, resulting in forgettable sequels that could not live up to the James Cameron movies. Terminator Zero, despite the different media and format, seems closer to The Terminator and Terminator 2 than Rise of the Machines, Salvation, Genisys, and Dark Fate ever were.

Terminator Zero Can Give The Terminator Franchise A New Future After Genisys & Dark Fate

Terminator Zero’s fresh take on the franchise can inspire future movies.

Terminator Genisys marked the franchise’s return to the big screen for the first time since 2009 and was meant to be the beginning of a new franchise. Despite the multiple callbacks to previous films and the return of Schwarzenegger, Genisys took place in its own timeline and tried to reinvent the saga for a new generation. However, Terminator Genisys’ box office and critical reception were not strong enough to justify a sequel. A new Terminator movie was released in 2019, Terminator: Dark Fate, with James Cameron serving as a producer.

Dark Fate improved upon Genisys in many ways but also left a lot to be desired in other aspects. Additionally, it was a box office bomb that put the status of Terminator 7 in check. The strange creative decisions in Genisys and Dark Fate, including making John Connor a Terminator or killing him off, made it clear that Terminator needed something new and fresh. Hopefully, this is what Terminator Zero will deliver. If it succeeds, the Netflix anime can perhaps inspire future Terminator films and even lead to more animated shows set in this universe.