Empire’s 40 Years Of The Terminator Covers Revealed

40 years ago, cinema’s ultimate cyborg teleported into the Hollywood landscape in a lightning strike. It couldn’t be bargained with. It couldn’t be reasoned with. It didn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear – and for four decades, it absolutely has not stopped. Yes, 2024 marks 40 years of The Terminator – James Cameron’s time-twisting sci-fi horror, which gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his most iconic role, launched the career of the most successful filmmaker of all time, and spawned one of the greatest sequels ever made. Hasta la vista, baby.

The new issue of Empire marks the momentous anniversary of The Terminator with a major, world-exclusive new James Cameron interview – speaking to the legendary director about the making of his debut feature proper; the ongoing legacy of The Terminator and its many sequels; the thematic preoccupations that have reverberated throughout his career; his changing relationship with the original film; and what the future holds for the franchise. Plus, producer Gale Anne Hurd reflects on the casting of Arnie; the co-creator of theme-park attraction T2 3-D: Battle Across Time speaks on its wild ambition; and the showrunner of The Sarah Connor Chronicles reflects on his personal journey with the Terminator’s small-screen series. It’s the ultimate Terminator celebration, with a major new Cameron conversation that finds the director on typically candid, colourful form.

This month’s newsstand cover takes it back to the original Terminator, with Arnie in all his ‘80s glory.

And the subscriber cover brings the T-800 to life in shiny 1980s chrome – illustrated exclusively for Empire by Van Orton.

All that, plus the issue is packed with other goodness. We go behind-the-scenes on Armando Iannucci’s behind-the-scenes superhero satire The Franchise; explore the identity of all-singing, all-dancing mob drama Emilia Pérez; sit down for a career-spanning interview with all-time-great action filmmaker John Woo; talk Blitz and British history with director Steve McQueen; howl at the moon with Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man; go on a fantastic voyage with Paddington In Peru; unwrap a Christmas movie like no other with Red One; and plenty more besides.

It’s an issue worth travelling across time for – make sure you create a future where you own a copy. Find the 40 Years Of The Terminator issue on newsstands from Thursday 26 September. Pre-order yours online here.