Arnold Schwarzenegger is a renowned action star with a long and thriving career. He has portrayed numerous roles throughout the years. These include a barbarian, a spy, a cop, a soldier, a governor, and even, famously, a pregnant man. Among all the roles that he has brought on-screen, almost all are still loved by fans. An action hero with a ravishing physique is what comes when one thinks of the actor. In all of his movies, the characters have a strong personality and exuberant style, charisma laden with bravery and edge-of-the-seat action. It is hard to pick up even one among them as almost all the characters are equally loved by different sections of fans.

A constant debate that rages among fans of the actor is as to who among all the action heroes the 75-year-old legend has portrayed stands out as the strongest, bravest, and boldest. And it is a debate that needs to be settled. Regardless, among all these characters, which one stands out as the strongest may come as a surprise. It is not Conan the Barbarian, who possesses exceptional swordsmanship and can defeat his foes effortlessly. Neither is it Dutch, who astonishingly manages to survive an encounter with an extraterrestrial predator. 

According to this list by Screenrant, the strongest Arnold Schwarzenegger character is the one who started it all: the T-800, also known as the Terminator, who serves as the main antagonist in James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi masterpiece, The Terminator. Regarded as one of the most unforgettable villains in cinema history, it is the ultimate action hero and the ultimate Arnold Schwarzenegger character.

The T-800 possesses an extraordinary metal endoskeleton, which grants him tremendous power and resilience. He can effortlessly lift heavy objects, penetrate through walls and withstand impacts that would prove fatal for a human being. Furthermore, the cyborg has the ability to regenerate from injuries and repair any damage sustained.

However, what makes T-800 so special even though he is an antagonist?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800: a relatable icon?

T-800 is not a villain. He is a hero. And not just a character. But an icon. And every action movie fan can relate to him. The Terminator is unlike other antagonists. He has no malice or desire and simply followed his programmed directives. Furthermore, the T-800 evolves into a hero full of passion and symbolic meaning through dynamic character arcs. The manner in which the actor embodied the role of T-800 was adored by fans the world over, even if the actor himself were to dislike a few of its sequels. 

In the sequels, he emerges as an ally to safeguard humanity. Throughout this journey, the T-800 learns to embrace complex emotions; ultimately sacrificing himself for the greater good. Both a beacon of optimism and a symbol of redemption. Unlike the actor’s other action characters, who were flawed as they were human, the cyborg was perfect in its programming. However, what we can relate to most is how he too is flawed yet perfect like all of us, earning him a solid first place on the list. Notably, the actor had once doubts about playing T-800 on-screen, but alas he did it and the rest is history.

What do you think? Do you agree that the Terminator is the strongest of all Arnold Schwarzenegger characters? Or do you have another favorite? Let us know in the comments below.