Arnold Schwarzenegger has criticized the fourth Terminator movie, branding the 2009 science fiction follow-up "awful".

The veteran action star is enjoying his return to the big screen after fulfilling his political duties as Governor of California last year, starring in an upcoming sequel to The Expendables and new thriller The Tomb.

However, he is eager to reprise his iconic role as The Terminator after expressing disappointment with the last installment.

When asked which franchise he would like to return to, he tells Collider.com, "(I'm open to) all those things, if it's True Lies, Terminator, a well-made Terminator... the last one was awful. It tried hard, not that they didn't try, the acting and everything. It missed the boat."

Schwarzenegger made a brief cameo appearance in Terminator Salvation, which starred Christian Bale and Sam Worthington.