Why Emilia Clarke Says She Didn’t Have a Good Time on Terminator Genisys – And Refuses to Revisit It

Emilia Clarke, the British actress who became a household name for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, has built a diverse film career. While her success in film and television spans many roles, one film stands out for the negative experiences Clarke has openly shared: Terminator Genisys (2015). While Clarke has not explicitly stated that she refuses to finish watching the movie, her reflections on the production and her comments about the project lead many to speculate that Terminator Genisys might be the movie she avoids revisiting.

Clarke’s Career Overview and Notable Film Roles

Clarke’s post-Game of Thrones career has seen her tackle a variety of roles. She starred in Me Before You (2016), a romantic drama that garnered mixed reviews, and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), where her performance as Qi’ra was met with appreciation despite the film’s box office struggles. Clarke also starred in the festive Last Christmas (2019), proving her ability to shine in different genres. However, one of her most high-profile films came with Terminator Genisys, a reboot of the Terminator franchise where Clarke took on the iconic role of Sarah Connor, a character famously played by Linda Hamilton in the earlier films.

The movie, directed by Alan Taylor, was released on July 1, 2015. Despite grossing over $440 million worldwide, Terminator Genisys received a harsh critical reception, with a mere 26% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Clarke’s experience with the film, however, painted a much more tumultuous picture behind the scenes.

The Negative Experience with Terminator Genisys

In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, Clarke openly discussed her dissatisfaction with the production of Terminator Genisys, noting that the experience was far from enjoyable. She said, “I didn’t have a good time. No one had a good time.” Clarke pointed to the fact that director Alan Taylor, who had directed her in Game of Thrones, did not meet her expectations, adding that “he was not the director I remembered.” This sentiment was further echoed by rumors of tension on set, with reports claiming that the crew working on Fantastic Four, another troubled production at the time, mocked Terminator Genisys by creating jackets that read, “AT LEAST WE’RE NOT ON TERMINATOR.”

Clarke’s candid remarks about the film’s chaotic production, paired with her relief at the film’s box office performance that ultimately prevented sequels, further suggests that her aversion to the project could extend to not watching the finished film. In fact, she has expressed a deep sense of satisfaction that Terminator Genisys did not lead to a franchise revival, a feeling that might also be tied to her own discomfort with the film.

The Possibility of Refusing to Watch Terminator Genisys

While Clarke has never explicitly stated that she refuses to watch Terminator Genisys, her negative experiences with the film and her public comments imply that she may choose not to revisit it. Many actors cite reasons such as self-criticism or the pain of reliving negative experiences as reasons for not watching their own work. Clarke’s situation fits this pattern, especially given her discomfort with the Terminator Genisys production. In fact, many actors, including Joaquin Phoenix and Tom Hanks, have publicly admitted to avoiding watching films they starred in due to personal reasons, making Clarke’s reluctance to revisit the film not uncommon within the industry.

It’s also worth noting that Terminator Genisys was not the only film in Clarke’s career that received mixed reactions. For example, Me Before You (2016) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) also faced some critical scrutiny, but Clarke has not made any statements indicating that she feels similarly toward these films as she does toward Terminator Genisys. This distinction further suggests that Clarke’s feelings about Terminator Genisys are tied specifically to the difficulties she experienced during its production rather than a general aversion to watching her work.

Conclusion: Speculation and Actor Preferences

Ultimately, while Clarke has not definitively stated that she refuses to finish watching Terminator Genisys, the strong indications that she had a difficult experience on set, coupled with her comments about the film’s lack of enjoyment, suggest that it is indeed a likely candidate for a film she avoids revisiting. As with many actors, Clarke’s refusal to watch Terminator Genisys could stem from a desire to distance herself from a chaotic production and a project that did not meet her expectations.

Whether or not Clarke will ever confirm this remains uncertain, but her sentiments about the film provide a clear picture of the challenges she faced during its making. As her career continues to evolve, Clarke has demonstrated her resilience and versatility, and it seems clear that she’s moved on to bigger and better projects, leaving Terminator Genisys behind.