'Best sci-fi film of all time' with 95% Rotten Tomatoes score now streaming for free

One of cinema's greatest sci-fi movies and its most heralded sequels is now free to stream in the UK. Co-created by award-winning director James Cameron, the Terminator franchise focuses on a future war between human survivors, led by John Connor, and Skynet, a now eerily familiar artificial intelligence that tries to prevent humanity's rise by sending cyborg "Terminator" assassins back in time to kill John and his mother.

The original 1984 release, The Terminator, saw Arnold Schwarzenegger portray his now iconic role, famously uttering "I'll be back" and "Hasta la vista, baby," as his character is eventually destroyed by Sarah Connor in a dramatic climax.

But, the story doesn't end there, as James Cameron returned seven years later with the next iteration, this time seeing Schwarzenegger's T-800 robot protecting Sarah Connor and her son from a shape-shifting T-1000, set 11 years after the first movie.

Terminator Two: Judgement Day is often described as being one of the best sequels ever produced, with plenty of follow-up movies unable to capture lightning in a bottle twice.

Sci-fi fans will be thrilled to learn that T2 is available to stream for free on the ITVX platform, with a free account sign-up being all that is required to watch the classic.

Cameron's second cyborg adventure currently commands a 95% approval rating on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, from more than 250,000 reviews.

The film is still amassing hundreds of five-star reviews each week, more than 30 years after its release, with one such critique declaring "Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a rare sequel that surpasses the original, blending groundbreaking visual effects with a gripping story."

Reviewer Khaliel P goes on to add: "James Cameron introduces morphing technology to cinema, delivering thrilling action sequences while reshaping Sarah Connor into a fierce warrior rather than a victim.

"The film balances spectacle with emotion, particularly in the touching bond between John Connor and the T-800, who becomes a protective father figure. More than three decades later, it remains a defining masterpiece of science fiction and action."

Eric B echoes the sequel sentiment raised in many reviews, stating that "When you think of 'greatest sequels of all time', Terminator 2: Judgement Day is right there in the discussion.

"By now it's well known that a sequel to a great film is hard to make as great, but T2 is one of those films that lives up to and possibly even surpasses the first.

"There is not a single complaint I can think of for this film. It is perfect in all aspects of filmmaking. The action, the suspense, the score, the cast, the writing and dialogue, it's all perfect. The scale is bigger in this film, as well as the stakes, and it handles everything so well. The very final scene in T2 has enough emotion behind it that even grown men will struggle not to shed a tear or two."