Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Cooksey, Earl Boen

A shape-shifting cyborg is sent back from the future to kill John Connor before he can grow up to lead the resistance; a protector is sent, too.

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88% liked it

658,647 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

38 critics

R, 2 hrs. 15 min.

Directed by: James Cameron

Release Date: July 3, 1991

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DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998

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Stats: 32,001 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (32,001)


  • November 17, 2009
    ''3 billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day. They lived only to face a new nightmare: the war against the machines. The computer which controlled the machines, Skynet, sent two Terminators back through time....( read more)''

    The cyborg who once tried to kill Sarah Connor must now protect her teenager son, John Connor, from an even more powerful and advanced cyborg.

    Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Terminator

    ''Hasta la vista, baby.''

    The first Terminator project was a modest success at the box office in 1984; by 1990, millions of people were anxious for a sequel. James Cameron granted their wish and again exceeded expectations with his effort.
    The sequel is 10 years later, based upon the age of the central character (played by newcomer Ed Furlong from American History X). Cameron was provided with a budget exceeding the original picture a hundred fold over, and used this to his advantage. Notably, this was an early use of computer FX which are prevalent today; back then, they were simply amazing to behold (this was before even Jurassic Park, and each instance of their use was mind blowing). Most of the best examples of effects used in T2, revolved around the T-1000 super-villain (Robert Patrick), a revolutionary approach to depicting a fantastic menace. Arnold was back as another durable cyborg, a multi-layered hero this time, the big man was on the side of good.

    The film was another impressive progression of action and suspense, interlocked with the theme of nuclear holocaust. More than just building on the threat of nuclear annihilation from the 1st pic, the picture throws the concept at the audience with some striking images. It slows at about the halfway point when the heroes evade the pursuing super-killer for a time, but then you see that nuclear bomb going off, still about the best such depiction ever seen. Just when you think you can relax for a few minutes, a city blows up. By this time, the definitive version of this film is the extended cut Cameron presented a couple of years later. The extra scenes accentuate the plot and elaborate the story wonders, not that they needed it, but it's a nice little dessert for fans.

    ''I need your clothes, boots and your motorcycle.''

    Like all the best sequels, it presents characters which progress and advance. This is especially true of Linda Hamilton's character; she's really lived those past 10 years and is a much older, much stronger mother figure here, moulded by ceaseless struggle. She really does turn out to be the mother of the future, as mentioned in the original Terminator, obsessed with saving us all from a nuclear Armageddon. Arnold, of course, has to play a more human-like, more understanding cyborg, very different from the mono-syllabic droid he interpreted in the previous installment. The film pulls another fast one in the beginning, still keeping the audience guessing as to which is the heroic protector, Arnold or the T-1000(the T-1000 actually seems more human than Arnold in the first segment). When the hero turns out to be Arnold, the viewer claps in appreciation for a fine role reversal. We had to wait another dozen years for the next one, but it could never match this baby.

    Overall, Terminator 2: Judgement Day is not like other typical actioners, which are usually mindless, moronic and are little more than an excuse to eat snacks and put on in the background as mindless accompaniment. Instead, it's got depth, emotion, character and is highly memorable, and keeps you glued to the screen throughout; as well as boasting some astounding action and suspense while flaunting state of the art effects at the time, which still look good to this day. T2 is quite possibly the best action film and a unrivaled sequel, in existence, and I'm predicting that it will hold that honour for all time...Lastly, just picture this; Patrick Patrick running; his arms going up and down; his hands straight; that droning, mesmerizing sound of toned dread pounding in the background. This is a thrilling, timeless piece of action/thriller art which squeezes at your heart strings. Just writing about T2 makes me want to watch it again, then melt everytime...and hear those iconic lines...Arnie will be back! and thus viewers will be back for repeated viewings everytime.

    ''The future's not set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves.''
  • September 29, 2009
    I had to reduce this movie to 4 stars because of how annoying and bad Edward Furlong was here. Damn! Other than that Arnold and Robert Patrick are awesome, great effects.
  • September 17, 2009
    This is probably the best action film ever made.
  • June 9, 2009
    A hard-core sci-fi action movie masterpiece. A sequel that tops the original by far and stands as one of best sequels ever released and one of the greatest action movies ever made. A film with surprising human emotion the drills you to the heart. It keeps your pulse-pouding with ...( read more)spectacular action, mind-blowing speacial effects and riveting suspense. A real deal action classic. One explosive and unforgettable thrill-ride from start to it's amasing finish. Arnold Schwarzenegger is at his fierce and most demanding action hero presence, he actually delivers in his performance with great effection.
  • June 3, 2009
    This classic united the dream team Cameron - Schwarzenegger for nothing less than a reinvention of the action genre. Full of quotable lines, great action sequences and a story that took the predecessor to a whole new level, while being touching and smart, characteristics not ofte...( read more)n found in action films. Robert Patrick is a convincing, metal-blooded villain, Linda Hamilton is the ultimate fighting amazon, while Arnie just has to be himself to win the audience's hearts. The ground breaking special effects still look pretty decent 18 years later, the showdown goes down as one of the longest in genre history. A triumph, and the highlight of the series.
  • December 4, 2009
    Another Action movie wrapped up in the Sci-Fi Genre.No doubt "AHNOLD's" best!.The 3rd act is one of the best in the Action film Cannon!.Forget "Titanic" this is Cameron's Best directed Film!.
  • December 3, 2009
    One of my favorite movies!! I'am a HUGE Terminator fan!!!
  • December 3, 2009
    A sequel that's nearly as the good as the original and one of the rare times where the kid isn't annoying. Filled with top notch action and special effects that would still hold up, even by today' standards.
  • December 2, 2009
    In my Library







    Come on its the Terminator!
  • December 2, 2009
    fricken awsome gun action

Critic Reviews


May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

It's Cameron's show; he's the reigning king of movie pow, with dark wit and a poet's eye for mayhem. T2 cost a reported $100 million, and you can actually see where the money went. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Nobody, I think, will complain that it doesn't have enough action. full review

View more Terminator 2: Judgment Day reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • thedoctor2k7
    August 22, 2008
    awarsome film luved it from start to finish
  • aleydaplagge
    June 19, 2008
    Terminator 2 is one of my favorite movies!!
    Arnold Schwarzenegger is the perfect Terminator,anyone that says otherwise doesn't know what their talking about and should jump off a cliff
  • Fanged
    May 21, 2008
    "name one film where the sequel outshines the first one"
  • itbegins2005
    January 28, 2008
    There are not enough words to describe just how much I love this movie, and dammit, none of them are strong enough to convey the sheer intensity of awesomeness that this film produces. This is the one that got me into movies. It's better than anything Spielberg or Lucas ever dreamed up- better even than anything else Cameron himself has ever done. It is the apex of cinema- the pinnacle of storytelling, of action and effects, of drama and suspense. The only way I can truly sum this one up is in one word: Perfect.

    Eat it, Citizen Kane.
  • GymNetic25
    November 26, 2007
    This movie to me was way better than the first Terminator. I loved the fact that it was action packed and at the same time told a story. This film itself had a great cast of characters and not a hard to follow plot which always makes the movie better. I would def recommend this movie for everyone to see.
  • Self1er
    October 18, 2007
    I agreee with prodriguezuk, I love this movie, I saw it when I was a kid and have been loving it since then. they don't make movies like before, I'm watching it as I type this. Gawd I love this movie
  • prodriguezuk
    September 5, 2007
    Some one does need to create a skin for this movie, I would sell my own mother to be able to lose my memories of watching it before so that I could see it again for the first time and not know from the get go that Arnie is the good guy. The first time I realised Robert Patrick was the bad guy I got more excited than a middle aged woman at a chip'n'dales gig.

    Everything about this movie is awesome, the way the Terminator just keeps coming no matter what the fuck they do to it chills me to the bone!
  • sammiewashere04
    August 25, 2007
    i love this movie! its soooo good! better than the 1st and wayyy better than the 3rd!
  • daywalker1488
    April 16, 2007
    someone needs to create a skin for this movie
  • terminatorbrotown
    April 13, 2007
    MY FAV MOVIE EVER!!!

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day Trivia


  • Ten Years Ago. The Machines Who Rule The Future Sent An Unstoppable Terminator To Assassinate The Yet Unborn John Connor. They Failed. In 1991. The Machines Will Try Again this tagline is to which movie  Answer »
  • 'Hasta la vista, baby.' -- 1991  Answer »
  • What was the name of the shape-shifting Terminator in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'?  Answer »
  • Who plays the T-1000 in TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY?   Answer »

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