PREDATOR
Commando fans will be steaming, but Dutch pips John Matrix in the ultimate Arnold action movie stakes, despite the former's higher comedy quip rate. Boasting a terrifying villain and Schwarzenegger at the height of his physical powers, this thriller's clever but stripped-down sci-fi premise rises above its seemingly generic appearance and delivers the lot: tension, action, iconic characters and catchphrases that will echo around university digs for the rest of time. It's also one of the few films ever made that can rival The Expendables series for sheer ripped muscularity.

TERMINATOR 2
Taking the role that defined his career and, um, redefining it, Cameron and Schwarzenegger surprised audiences and took the ruthless killing machine from the original and made it a ruthless killing machine… for good. As with most time travel tales, there are plotholes so large you could wheelie a Moto-Terminator through them, but first the two thirds of set-up pay off beautifully with a final act that will leaving you melting in your seat, even allowing Arnie to act a bit – "I know now why you cry. But it's something I can never do." In other words, you can safely paraphrase Roger Ebert (and a certain Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 Terminator) and say 'two thumbs up'.

TRUE LIES
Though he'd tried to send himself up before with the likes of Kindergarten Cop, Twins and The Last Action Hero, Arnie had to wait until 1993 for James Cameron to deliver the Arnold-starring comedy action movie the world had been waiting for. Based on Claude Zidi's 1991 French comedy La Totale!, it's also one of the best remakes ever made, in no small part thanks to a Harrier jumpjet, a horse chase through a hotel and that missile-based kiss off line. Shame about the mild xenophobia and sexism, sure, but you can't have everything…