Blade Runner currently beats The Terminator 56–44
Blade Runner leads The Terminator. The rain edges the police station.
The Verdict
This matchup has 16 votes. The picture may shift as more people weigh in.
Two 1980s sci-fi films that became genre landmarks, and the contemplative one leads. Blade Runner is built around atmosphere and a question about its own protagonist that Scott refuses to answer: the rain, the neon, Hauer's monologue, a film whose power increases with every viewing because the ambiguity never resolves. The Terminator is built around momentum and a machine that doesn't stop: the police station, the car chases, Schwarzenegger's blank-eyed relentlessness. The narrow lead for Blade Runner suggests the film that rewards return visits has an edge over the one that peaks on first impact, but Cameron's pacing is clearly landing. Atmosphere is leading momentum, and the gap is close enough to stay interesting.
The Numbers
| Blade Runner | The Terminator | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 56% | 44% |
| Overall Win Rate | 55% | 51% |
| Championships | 9 | 7 |
| Budget | $28M | $6M |
| Box Office | $42M | $78M |
Where This Matchup Sits
Among 25 films from the 1980s on BingeBracket, Blade Runner at #8 and The Terminator is in the upper half.
Looking at shared opponents, neither film has any trouble with Star Wars. Both win that matchup comfortably on BingeBracket.
The box office gap is clear: $78M for The Terminator, $42M for Blade Runner. But Blade Runner wins head-to-head despite earning less.
Think The Terminator deserves better?
You're in the 44%.
Play the bracket these votes came from. Your pick shifts the result.
Original or Sequel? Classic Sci Fi
Where to Watch
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