Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of Hollywood’s most successful stars. Born in Austria, he started his career as a bodybuilder. His first major break came with the movie ‘Hercules in New York.’ His acting niche involves action comedies. He has also been quite active in the environmental and political sphere and has served as the governor of California from 2003 - 2011.
If you are a fan of the actor, here is a list of the Top 20 roles played by Arnold Schwarzenegger -
20) Gunther - Killing Gunther (2017)
Released in 2017, Killing Gunther is a mockumentary-style movie about a group of assassins who want to take down a notorious hitman by the name of Gunther, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. But Gunther didn’t earn the lethal reputation for himself by doing nothing. He is intelligent and dangerous and much more harder to catch than the group assumed previously. This is one hilarious movie and is famous for being filmed in a record-breaking 20 days.
19) Mark Kaminski - Raw Deal (1986)
Raw Deal released in 1986 is about a man named Mark Kaminsky who used to be an FBI Agent before his fall from grace. Now he has one shot at redeeming his reputation and is determined to do so. In his signature style, Arnold Schwarzenegger blends action-packed scenes with humor to deliver a phenomenal performance. With its thrilling car chases and secret espionage plots, this is a much-acclaimed film.
18) Sherrif Ray Owens - The Last Stand (2013)
Sheriff Ray Owens is now a retired LAPD officer who is settled in a small town. But things don’t go as per his plans when an escaping drug leader lands in his town. He needs to pause his post-retirement plans and with the help of a small team, try and stop the threats towards his town. This movie gives the feeling of old 1980s Hollywood action films and is loved by the audience for that nostalgic feeling.
17) Jericho Cane - End of Days (1999)
End of Days is a movie that combines elements of action, horror, thriller, and the supernatural. It's about Satan’s return to Earth to bring an apocalypse and Jericho Cane, an ex-cop trying to stop that from happening. But Jericho Cane has to stop not only Satan but his own past which is threatening to destroy everything in its wake. Although a little darker as compared to Schwarzenegger’s other works, this film still managed to be a commercial success.
16) Captain Ivan Danko - Red Heat (1988)
By now, we know Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the role of cops quite well. One such role of his happens to be that of Ivan Danke, a soviet police officer. Ivan is on a mission to capture a drug lord in Chicago with help from an unexpected partnership with a Chicago-based detective. Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of the brooding, rule-following cop is in stark contrast to the Chicago detective who is unserious and hilarious, making the movie a perfect dosage of action and humor.
15) Himself - Pumping Iron (1977)
The movie Pumping Iron has Arnold Schwarzenegger playing the role of none other than himself. This movie is a semi-true documentary of his life. It revolves around Schwarzenegger preparing for the Mr. Olympia competition and his rivalry with Lou Ferrigno. This movie has managed to capture what goes on behind the scenes in bodybuilding quite aptly and is an inspiration for many people.
14) Trench Mauser - The Expendables (2010)
Directed by and featuring Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables is a classic movie. It is about a group trying to overthrow a South American dictator. But the mission is not as easy as it sounds. It is filled with complex challenges threatening their goal. In the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger has a cameo in the role of Trench Mauser, a rival to the group. His cameo gained a lot of momentum, especially considering that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were two of Hollywood’s biggest action stars then.
13) Emil Rottmayer - Escape Plan (2013)
Escape Plan is another collaboration between Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. The movie is about two people who are falsely imprisoned in a high-tech prison with unmatched security. As they try to escape this facility they discover some greater and more threatening secrets the facility is hiding. This movie is quite notable in Schwarzenegger’s filmography as it is the first time he had a beard in a movie, which was loved by the audience.
12) Jack Slater - Last Action Hero (1993)
Last Action Hero is a movie about a little boy, Danny, who finds a magical ticket. This ticket transports him into the movies of his favorite hero - Jack Slater. But if Danny can enter the world, the villains in the movie can get out to the real world too. Now it's up to Jack Salter and Danny to stop that from happening. The fantasy, humor, and action aspects of the movie together make it a great watch.
11) U.S. Marshal John Kruger - Eraser (1996)
John Kruger is a US Marshal working in a witness security program. On a mission to save one of the witnesses set to testify against an arms dealer, he uncovers some secrets that lead him to question everything around him. Schwarzenegger’s acting in the movie is charismatic and a combination of intelligence and muscle power. It features an iconic fight sequence where Schwarzenegger fights his enemies while hanging from a cargo plane.
10) Julius Benedict - Twins (1988)
Twins is a movie about a pair of fraternal twins. They were part of a genetic experiment that had given one twin all the greatest qualities and the other twin nothing. Twins is not big on action but makes good use of Schwarzenegger’s other talent - Humor. This movie did wonders commercially and has a very heartwarming tone to it.
9) Detective John Kimble - Kindergarten Cop (1990)
Another of Schwarzenegger’s cop roles, this movie is about a detective, John Kimble. In order to find the wife and son of a drug lord he has to work undercover as a kindergarten teacher. A brawny man like Schwarzenegger teaching kids was loved by the audience. It has grown to become a family favorite watch with its humor and laugh-out-loud moments.
8) Ben Richards - The Running Man (1987)
The Running Man, released in 1987 is a movie based on a book by Stephen King. It's about a cop wrongly convicted of a massacre. As his punishment, he has to participate in a televised game known as The Running Man where criminals are hunted by Stalkers. Featuring a variety of hand-to-hand combat scenes it is a fast paced, thought-provoking movie.
7) Colonel John Matrix - Commando (1985)
Through the years, Commando has become a cult classic. In the movie, Schwarzenegger plays the role of John Matrix, an ex-special forces officer whose life turns into chaos when his daughter is held hostage. Filled with explosions, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combats, this movie is notorious for its over-the-top action. It has garnered a terrific reputation for itself and rightly so.
6) Conan - Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Conan the Barbarian is a mythical movie. Set in the Hyborian Age, this movie is about the revenge of Conan, a young slave. Conan’s family and village were destroyed by a sorcerer. It is one of Schwarzenegger’s most iconic roles where his expressions were highly praised. He has undergone extensive bulking training to portray Conan and what a job he did. The movie is famous for its graphic and grotesque violent scenes.
5) Harry Tasker - True Lies (1994)
True Lies is about an ordinary computer salesman who is hiding his true identity. In reality, he works in a U.S. Spy Agency. His life takes a devastating turn when his wife gets caught up amidst some terrorist business. Arnold Schwarzenegger has done an incredible job of portraying his double life with unexpected comic pop-up moments and has managed to make this thriller, one of his best works.
4) Douglas Quaid - Total Recall (1990)
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s another hit movie is Total Recall. It is the story of a construction worker in the future who experiences strange dreams about a woman on Mars. Troubled by these visions, he visits a company that offers to implant false memories. Instead, he discovers during the procedure that his entire life is a fabricated memory. The film was a commercial success.
3) Major Alan Schaefer - Predator (1987)
The movie Predator was released in 1987. It is about a group of soldiers on a rescue mission in the Central American Jungle. This group is being hunted by alien predators who have technologies that allow them to cloak and hide. Making the best use of their survival skills these soldiers try to fight off the alien. It is considered one of the best action films to be made.
2) The Terminator (T-800) - Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
The Terminator franchise finds its name amongst some of the best time-traveling movies to be made. The second part, Judgement Day, has Arnold Schwarzenegger as a guardian, unlike the villain he portrayed in the first movie. The plot is centered around The Terminator who has to travel back in time to the year 1995 and save John Connor who in the future will save the world from Artificial Intelligence invasion.
1) The Terminator (T-800) - The Terminator (1984)
Trending
The Terminator features Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic role to date. He portrays T-800, a lethal, emotionally detached cyborg who is tasked with killing a young woman. His entire look of the cyborg, including makeup, wardrobe, and special effects, was so cold and chilling that the audience was left surprised. It was one of the first movies in the dystopian genre and is a fan favorite.
Reply
