Top 10 Differences Between Terminator Zero and the Terminator Franchise

Top 10 Differences Between Terminator Zero and the Terminator Franchise

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ways in which the newest installment of the “Terminator” franchise diverges from all that came before, or is that after, 2024. Needless to say, there will be spoilers–so, if you haven’t seen “Terminator Zero” then go watch it then come back! Go on–hasta, la vista!

#10: Japan
Differs from: Every Other Terminator Movie and Series

Who could honestly forget that terrifying scene of nuclear obliteration in Terminator 2: Judgment Day? Los Angeles was ripped apart in seconds. Similar moments have appeared sporadically throughout the series, but rarely have we gotten a glimpse of what happened on Judgment Day in other places. Now, thanks to “Terminator Zero” we have. All previous Terminator stories have taken place in the Americas–with California receiving the most screen time, since Cyberdyne Systems, the creator of Skynet, and Sarah Connor are based there. “Zero’s” setting of Japan marks the first time that the franchise ventured oversea. And as we find out, while most of the world was destroyed on August 29th 1997, Japan’s buildings were still standing.

#9: The Resistance Built What?
Differs from: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) & "Terminator Genisys" (2015)

Whenever we’ve been treated to a glimpse of humanity’s future in the Terminator franchise, it’s been pretty dire. There’s few resources, and–although 2008’s “Salvation” did portray the resistance as being a little more tech-savvy–humans rely on salvage. Yet, somehow, “Zero” showed the Resistance not only building their own Time Displacement device, but using it–seven years before the original T-800 was sent back to terminate Sarah Connor. Yes, “Terminator Genisys” had the “Pop’s” Terminator build one, but he, and the tech needed to run it, was from the future. Up until now, it’s established that the resistance had to use Skynet’s own machine–and then destroy it afterwards, since it was unique. But apparently, according to “Zero,” humans had at least two…

#8: The Big Bads – Plural
Differs from: All The Terminator Franchise (Except "Dark Fate")

For most of the Franchise, the only big bad has been Skynet. Built as a defense system by Cyberdyne Systems, or Cyber Research Systems in “Terminator 3”, Skynet is an AI that becomes self aware, and… you know the story. The only exception is 2019’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” in which the rogue AI is “Legion,” but it’s basically Skynet with a different name. “Zero” introduces another self-aware AI into the mix: Kokoro, created through Cortex Industries with Misaki’s repurposed T-800 CPU. For much of the series, Skynet sort of takes a back seat as a different artificial intelligence turns on humanity. Although it doesn’t end like this, for once, the big bad has a counterpart, and it came from itself.

#7: The Internet
Differs from: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991)

Despite being released in 1991, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” was set in the then-future of 1995. Something that series creator James Cameron hadn’t foresaw, was the real-life growth of the World Wide Web, thus it’s essentially absent in the movie. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” did recognise the internet’s impact on the world, even incorporating a modem into the T-X–and showing Skynet using the web to take over. With the benefit of hindsight, “Zero” is also able to retroactively incorporate the internet into its 1997 setting; borrowing the idea of having the T-800 connect to it, either via an ethernet cable in its tongue or by emitting dial-up tones in the same way the T-X did. Luckily, that’s all they took from the third film.

#6: Mechanical Bias
Differs From: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (2003) "Terminator: Genisys" (2015)

There’s a bit of a dichotomy within the “Terminator” lore. In order to save humanity from machines, humans, led by John Connor, send machines. Yet, in “Zero,” even the suggestion of working with a dismantled terminator is considered as heinous. That prejudice against every machine mirrors Skynet’s; 1997’s proto-resistance group destroys 1NNOs on sight, and the future’s resistance commanders similarly order Misaki to be–quote–“terminated.” Ironically this may be perpetuating the “Zero’s” future war. Presumably, “T2’s” events didn’t happen as the resistance wouldn’t dare reprogram a T-800 to send back to 1995–so Judgment Day wasn’t averted. Conversely, the anti-machine attitude serves as contrast to another novel idea: Kenta’s controversial act of sending a Terminator to broker peace between machines and humanity. Humanity and Skynet co-existing? That’s new…

#5: "Many many times, this path has been walked..."
Mainly differs From: "Terminator Salvation" (2009)

We’ve already talked about the human resistance building their own time displacement device early. A quick throwaway line suggests that it’s not the first time they’ve seen Skynet have been experimenting with time travel. One line that absolutely stands out, however, is Malcolm Lee’s. (insert) The wording here is important; he isn’t talking about just himself who is walking the path to judgment. Fate is an integral theme to all of the “Terminator” franchise–particularly that ‘the future is not set.’ Typically, that’s John Connor’s line, but instead, the role of fate’s guide is “The Prophet;” an older lady with facial skin grafts. We doubt it’s Sarah Connor, either since the age isn’t quite right... So, there’s a new soothsayer in town!

#4: Apparently, T-600s Are Hard to Spot.
Differs From: "The Terminator" (1984) & "Terminator Salvation" (2009)

Most of what we know about the future war comes directly from Kyle Reese. One thing that stood out was his description of the “600 Series,” with easy to spot rubber skins. “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Terminator Salvation” went further, and showed these T-600, though the fact that the latter are over 7’ tall probably would’ve been a giveaway too. In that movie’s 2018 setting, Skynet had only begun prototyping T-800s, and experimenting with the Model 101 living tissue camouflage. Although according to Reese, this human look was still “new” in 2029. Fair enough, but in “Zero” they’re mainstream as early as 2022, as Eiko’s introduction has her fighting a T-800 Model 101J. Sure, this is “Salvation’s” anachronism, but “Zero” doubled down–there’s no T-600 in sight.

#3: 2029?
Differs from: All The Terminator Franchise (Except "Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019)

The year is 2029. Skynet’s defense grid is smashed, the human resistance had won. Or had they? Not according to “Terminator Zero,” which takes us as far as to the year 2045, where the war against the machines is still going on, sixteen years after Connor handed Reese a picture of his mother. To say the timelines of the franchise are convoluted would be an understatement, but we’ll talk more about that later. For now, it seems that 2029 is simply not as important a year to the “Terminator” lore as it was. Either the “Colorado offensive” simply didn’t work, or Skynet wasn’t as defeated as Kyle Reese believed, when he stepped into the time displacement device.

#2: New Characters, Same Family Ties
Differs From: All Terminator Stories, excluding "Terminator Resistance" (VG) (2019)

Since the T-800 first approached someone in a leather jacket and demanded they hand it over, there’s been a Connor in the mix. Every “Terminator” movie and series thus far has been centered around, or included, one or more members of the family. “Zero” omitted all of the Connors’ DNA from their story. However, they still retain the paradox of family ties across time, similar to John Connor effectively manufacturing his own existence, Malcolm Lee is Eiko’s son, but in his timeline, she is sent back to 1997 before he is born–leaving her to bring up her grandkids from an alternate timeline. Speaking of which…

#1: Someone Should Learn The Tech Stuff
Differs From: "The Terminator" (1984)

“The Future is not set...” except, as “Zero” points out, it kinda is! According to Reese, who “doesn’t know tech stuff,” the presence of any character sent back through time should change the future into a “possible one.” Only the time-traveler will experience these alterations. We’ll let “Unveiled” handle Grandfather Paradoxes in more detail, but “Zero” shows how redundant it is of Skynet to send machines back in time to ensure it survives–even as a last ditch effort in defeat. As both the Prophet and Malcolm explain, it’s futile; the 2029 where Skynet is terminated will still exist. If the machines can’t alter their present, just create a new and parallel one, then aren’t Skynet’s motives across the franchise somewhat pointless? Nullified? Or, zero’d?

With James Cameron now looking to make a seventh Terminator movie of his own, what direction do you think he should take? Let us know in the comments.