I’ve been watching more Arnold Schwarzenegger movies recently. I think his filmography is fascinating – none more so than his run in the 90’s where he increased his range of roles beyond muscle man. Everything from kid’s movies, sci-fi and secret agent turns. There’s a fine line between bad film and good bad film – I don’t think any actor could play these roles as well.
Total Recall (1990)
In this mind-bending sci-fi thriller, construction worker Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is plagued by dreams of Mars and a mysterious woman. Seeking adventure, he visits Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories, and chooses a spy fantasy set on the red planet. But the procedure triggers suppressed memories, revealing that Quaid might actually be a secret agent whose mind was erased. Suddenly hunted by the government and unsure who to trust, he travels to Mars to uncover the truth. There, he gets entangled in a rebellion against a tyrannical corporate overlord controlling the planet’s air supply. As the lines between real and implanted memories blur, Quaid must decide who he really is—and whether he was ever in control. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story, this action-packed film blends explosive set pieces with existential themes, all anchored by Schwarzenegger’s intense physical presence and dry wit.
Kindergarten Cop (1990)
In a radical change of pace, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays tough LAPD detective John Kimble, a no-nonsense cop on a mission to track down drug lord Cullen Crisp. When the only lead is Crisp’s ex-wife and child—who’ve gone into hiding—Kimble goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher in a small Oregon town to locate them. What begins as a fish-out-of-water comedy quickly becomes unexpectedly heartwarming, as Kimble finds himself bonding with the children and developing feelings for fellow teacher Joyce (Penelope Ann Miller). His gruff demeanor is no match for the chaos of five-year-olds, forcing him to adapt in hilarious ways. But danger soon returns when Crisp tracks them down, leading to a final showdown at the school. The film is a strange yet endearing hybrid of action, comedy and domestic drama, with Schwarzenegger playing off his own macho persona to surprising effect—and delivering one of his most quoted lines: “It’s not a tumor!”
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Schwarzenegger returns in James Cameron’s iconic sequel, but this time he’s the good guy. Reprogrammed by the future resistance, the Terminator is sent back to protect teenage John Connor (Edward Furlong), the future leader of humanity. But a more advanced killing machine—the liquid-metal T-1000 (Robert Patrick)—has also arrived, and it’s nearly unstoppable. The unlikely trio of Terminator, John, and his fiercely determined mother Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) must outrun the T-1000 while also trying to prevent the creation of Skynet, the AI responsible for future nuclear apocalypse. Packed with groundbreaking visual effects, high-stakes action, and surprising emotional depth, the film transformed Schwarzenegger’s Terminator into a tragic, even noble figure. The film became a cultural landmark, cementing his status as an action legend while introducing the idea that even a machine can learn the value of human life. “Hasta la vista, baby” entered the pop lexicon—and the bar for action sequels was permanently raised.
Last Action Hero (1993)
A satirical love letter to action movies, Last Action Hero sees Schwarzenegger play both Jack Slater, an indestructible movie cop, and himself. When young film buff Danny Madigan receives a magical movie ticket, he’s transported into the explosive world of Slater’s latest film. There, he teams up with his fictional hero to fight bad guys, dodge clichés, and challenge genre conventions—from over-the-top villains to nonsensical one-liners. But when the villains get hold of the ticket and cross into the real world, Danny and Slater must follow, where bullets hurt and heroes bleed. The film plays with meta-humour, genre tropes, and self-awareness long before it was fashionable. Though a box office disappointment at the time, it’s since become a cult favourite for its clever deconstruction of Schwarzenegger’s screen persona. It asks: what happens when a bulletproof hero meets reality? The answer is funny, action-packed, and weirder than expected.
True Lies (1994)
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Harry Tasker, a seemingly dull computer salesman who leads a secret double life as a top spy for a covert U.S. agency. His wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), bored with their mundane marriage, becomes unwittingly entangled in his dangerous world when terrorists threaten to detonate a nuclear bomb on American soil. As Harry scrambles to balance saving the world with saving his marriage, explosions fly, lies unravel, and the couple’s domestic life is pushed to absurd extremes. With James Cameron directing, the film blends high-octane action with sharp comedy and domestic drama, all set against a backdrop of international espionage. Curtis nearly steals the film with a memorable transformation from suburban wife to unexpected action heroine. Featuring Harrier jets, ballroom dancing, and Schwarzenegger riding a horse through a hotel lobby, True Lies is one of the most bombastic—and knowingly ridiculous—action comedies of the decade.
Junior (1994)
In one of his most bizarre roles, Schwarzenegger plays Dr Alex Hesse, a research scientist who volunteers to become the world’s first pregnant man. Working with his partner Dr Larry Arbogast (Danny DeVito), he implants an embryo into himself to prevent their experimental fertility drug from being shut down. As hormones kick in, Alex starts to bond with his unborn child and unexpectedly falls for fellow scientist Diana (Emma Thompson). A sequel-of-sorts to Twins in tone and cast, Junior flips gender roles, upends expectations, and puts Schwarzenegger in peak fish-out-of-water territory—crying over baby name books and enduring morning sickness. While critics were baffled and audiences divided, the film remains a surreal oddity in his career. Schwarzenegger plays it straight, which only adds to the absurdity of the premise. It’s a rom-com, a science experiment, and a pregnancy parable wrapped in a muscle suit—and somehow, it exists.
Eraser (1996)
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays U.S. Marshal John Kruger, an elite “eraser” tasked with protecting high-level witnesses by wiping out their identities. When weapons specialist Lee Cullen (Vanessa Williams) uncovers a corporate conspiracy involving illegal arms deals, Kruger is assigned to protect her – but quickly realises that corruption runs deep within his own agency. Framed and hunted by rogue agents, he must go on the run with Lee while dismantling the plot from the shadows. The film delivers heavy firepower, including railguns that shoot at near light speed, a showdown involving a plane mid-crash, and a finale with crocodiles and shipping cranes. Schwarzenegger dials up his classic action-hero mode – cool under fire, loaded with quips, and impossible to kill. It’s a slick, bullet-riddled thriller that balances spy intrigue with outlandish set pieces, and it marks one of his last traditional action roles before the end of the decade pivoted him toward parody and politics.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
In this holiday comedy, Schwarzenegger plays Howard Langston, a busy mattress salesman who constantly disappoints his young son by missing out on key moments. To redeem himself on Christmas Eve, he promises to get the season’s hottest toy – a Turbo Man action figure. The only problem? Every store is sold out, and every parent in the city seems to be after the same thing. What follows is a chaotic, slapstick-fuelled day across Minneapolis, featuring mall brawls, bomb scares, rooftop chases, and a showdown in a Christmas parade. Howard’s main rival is Myron (Sinbad), a stressed-out mailman equally determined to get the doll for his son. The film satirises consumer culture and holiday madness while leaning heavily into absurdity – including Schwarzenegger donning the full Turbo Man costume in the finale. While critically panned at release, it has since become a cult festive staple, with Schwarzenegger playing an increasingly unhinged everyman pushed to cartoonish extremes.
Batman & Robin (1997)
Schwarzenegger trades heroism for villainy as the ice-cold Mr Freeze in this neon-soaked superhero spectacle. Gotham is under threat from two new foes – Freeze, a cryogenic scientist turned vengeful criminal, and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), a seductive eco-terrorist with plans to destroy humanity. Batman (George Clooney) and his partner Robin (Chris O’Donnell) struggle to stay united as tensions rise between them, all while recruiting Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) into the fight. Freeze’s goal is to freeze the entire city and fund research to cure his cryogenically frozen wife, and he delivers a non-stop flurry of ice-related puns along the way. The film is infamous for its over-the-top visuals, exaggerated costumes, and cartoonish tone – with Schwarzenegger hamming it up under layers of silver-blue makeup and robotic armour. Despite flopping with critics and fans, it remains a pop culture oddity, known as much for its camp excess as for Arnie’s icy one-liners and glowing suit.
End of Days (1999)
In this supernatural action-horror blend, Schwarzenegger plays Jericho Cane, a depressed ex-cop turned private security agent haunted by his past. Just before the year 2000, he uncovers a satanic plot to bring about the apocalypse. The Devil (Gabriel Byrne), having taken human form, is in search of a young woman named Christine (Robin Tunney) who has been unknowingly chosen to bear his child – an act that would unleash Hell on Earth as the millennium turns. Jericho, initially sceptical and spiritually lost, is dragged into a battle between ancient prophecy and modern-day chaos, racing against time to stop the unholy union. The film features demonic possessions, rooftop sniper attacks, flaming subways, and religious conspiracies, all set against a bleak, rain-drenched New York. Schwarzenegger plays it with weary gravitas, bringing physical heft and surprising emotional weight to a dark, mythic showdown. It’s a moody, apocalyptic departure from his usual roles – part action thriller, part biblical nightmare.