- 8
...opens and closes with humanity at war with the machines. In other words, this thing isn't going to end soon. Nor should it, if it keeps on like this.
—John Anderson Variety
- 8
Much to nobody's shock, director McG's new addition to the killer-robot franchise isn't as good as the first three. To the surprise of many, however, it's still pretty kickass -- no new classic, but it's big and loud and mostly fun.
—Luke Y. Thompson E!
- 7
...a solid fouth entry in the series...
—Leah Rozen People
- 7
Despite some laughably silly plot elements, McG has created an overall entertaining movie experience.
—Patrick Parker Premiere
- 7
The Terminators in this fourth film in the franchise are so big and clangy that, during the fight scenes, you may find yourself clutching your ears far more often than the armrests.
—Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor
- 7
...a sturdy and serviceable sequel...
—A. O. Scott New York Times
- 6
T4 is a mixed bag, but it's not f**king amateur.
—Peter Travers Rolling Stone
- 6
...basically a zombie movie with machines instead of the walking dead...
—Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly
- 6
While the filmmakers have lost some of the soul of the franchise, if you're a Terminator fan, Salvation is mostly worth it.
—Betsy Sharkey Chicago Tribune
- 6
As long as McG keeps the action moving, the film remains on solid ground, matching and often surpassing the thoroughly adequate 2003 entry Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines.
—Keith Phipps Onion AV Club
- 6
The original Terminator was a well done B-movie. That's all. This is an enjoyable sci-fi action flick. That's all. Isn't that enough? It was never going to top T2, but then again, neither did T3.
—Eric Alt Maxim
- 6
...either a solid B-movie or a disappointing A-movie, is worth seeing for the lusty blare of its pumped-up shootouts, and for the mucky, clanking post-apocalypse...
—Kyle Smith New York Post
- 6
Director McG's energetic movie plays with elements from earlier in the franchise. But some of its soul has been lost.
—Betsy Sharkey Los Angeles Times
- 5
Six credited screenwriters hammer away at the Terminator timeline but can't come up with a compelling reason for McG and his crew to go back to this future.
—Sean O'Connell Reel
- 5
After scrutinizing the film, I offer you my summary of the story: Guy dies, finds himself resurrected, meets others, fights. That lasts for almost two hours.
—Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times
- 5
Things do explode well, and loudly. The machines are bigger, shinier and meaner than ever, and the world they inhabit is even more grim and bleak. But the dramatic elements flat-line; any kind of humanity is in short supply.
—Claudia Puig USA Today
- 4
Save Yourself! (From McG's Terminator)
—Nick Pinkerton Village Voice
- 4
Save yourself from McG's franchise add-on.
—Nick Pinkerton LA Weekly
- 4
Sound and fury overpower story...
—Sean O'Connell filmcritic.com
- 4
Like the human skulls crushed under sleek metal feet in those feverish sequences, the Terminator film series is finished.
—Ryan Stewart Slant Magazine