In 1984, James Cameron unleashed a cybernetic assassin into theaters and spawned an iconic multimedia sci-fi franchise. The Terminator is a classic that hasn’t lost any of its edge over the last 40 years, and the sequel is an essential sci-fi movie. Even the lackluster follow-ups have singular elements for fans to enjoy, but outside the confines of the franchise there are plenty of other movies that would make for fine substitutions.