Arnie's career was surprisingly solid all the way up until the mid 2000s when he quit acting and turned Governor of California. With action hits like 'The Terminator', 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Predator' backed with surprisingly effective comedy roles like 'Twins', 'True Lies', 'Last Action Hero' and 'Kindergarten Cop', Schwarzenegger crafted his onscreen persona into a perfect blend of muscle and humanity.

Critical duds such as 'Raw Deal' and 'Jingle All The Way' didn't impact his box office standing. Over 20 years after his first hit film and just before he turned professional politician, the Austrian Oak commanded $20m for 'Collateral Damage' and a cool $30m for the misfiring 'Terminator 3'.