Arnold Schwarzenegger, Claire Danes, David Andrews

John Connor is now in his 20's, and a female terminator, called T-X or Terminatrix, is after him. Another T-101 is sent back through time to protect John once again on the verge of the rise of the mac...( read more  read more... )hines.

Flixster Users

54% liked it

263,267 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

191 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Mostow

Release Date: December 31, 2003

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DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003

Stats: 16,760 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,760)


  • September 17, 2009
    A disappointing cash in that doesn't feel like a proper continuation due to the different cast.
  • July 15, 2009
    Also unnecessary
  • May 26, 2009
    Twelve years after the destruction of Cyberdine and the end of Judgment Day John Connor is attacked yet again in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, a lackluster sequel to the two great films by James Cameron. In this third installment John Connor (Nick Stahl) is living of the gr...( read more)id, keeping no profile just in case there's another attack on his life, which ends up occurring. A new killing machine called the Terminatrix (Kristanna Loken) is sent back to the past to eliminate Connor's lieutenants, all of whom are in the late teens and early twenties. One of them is Kate Brewster (Claire Danes) who just happens to have John Connor locked away after catching him stealing medicine from the vet clinic where she works. The film basically turns into the pair being protected by another version of the original Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) as they are pursued by the Terminatrix. Judgement Day was not eliminated, just postponed.

    T3 is a decent action film, but it fails as a follow-up to the original two films. The only reason that can be pinpointed is the lack of James Cameron's involvement in the film with him stating that the story was told in the first two films. Whereas the original two films made it seem as the future is not set, this film makes it seem as though the future can only be delayed- what is destined to happen will happen which destroys much of what the first two films were about.

    The story is ok, with the basic premise being updated for today's technology. The acting is also ok. That's about all I can say. This is your standard action picture that tries to one up the previous installments but fails to have much of a heart in the end. I've seen worse action films, but I've also seen better, too.
  • May 22, 2009
    Terminator: I'm back.

    Another installment in the time traveling cyborg series. Of course it can't be as good as the first 2, and I didn't expect it to be, but that doesn't stop this from having kick ass, no-holds bar action sequences and fun with Arnold's signature character.
    ...( read more)
    Once again, two robotic beings are sent back to involve themselves in John Connor's life. One is Arnold's terminator, the other is this new chick, with new gizmos to help her fight people and other terminators, the TX. Now it's a battle to possibly stop Skynet from destroying the world, which would lead to the dark future we all fear.

    John Connor: So... she's an anti-Terminator Terminator? You've got to be shitting me.
    Terminator: No, I am not shitting you.

    Anyone expecting this to be on par or better than Judgment Day, has too high of expectations, for everyone else, this has all you need. A good enough plot to get Arnold back in the game, some new, creative effects, and action that is just really cool to watch. Make no mistake, this is a Hollywood action blockbuster, but the way it is handled puts it above average.

    The movie also does a good job in pacing, it moves along so quick and stays around the chase element that made up the first two work so well. Every time I watch it, things just fly by.

    Gov. Schwarzenegger does a good enough job returning to his roots, and the older John Conner is alright. Clair Danes is here (strangely) as a special lady for John to get close with. And Kristanna Loken plays the Terminator bitch.

    Kate Brewster: He's not human... he's really, not human.
    Dr. Peter Silberman: I know what it's like to be in a hostage situation, I've been there myself. The fear, the adrenaline, you find yourself imagining things, impossible things, crazy things, insane things... takes years to get over it.

    There are a number of holes in the story involving the logic based around the previous films, let alone a basic change in tone (the absence of the same type of scoring is very noticeable). However, this movie delivers on its action. The car chase sequence alone is worth it, not to mention anything involving Arnold and Loken slamming each other around, metal on metal.

    Just a lot of good summer fun. R-rated, summer action fun.

    Terminator: Your levity is good, it relieves tension and the fear of death.
  • May 21, 2009
    Terminator 3 continues the story of John Connor - now in his 20's. This time around, an advanced Terminator known as the T-X is sent back to destroy not only Connor, but all of his lieutenants, including Catherine Brewester - his future wife.

    Arnold Schwarzenegger retu

    ...( read more)rns to play another T-101 sent back to protect John and, now, Catherine too. Arnold is stiff and cheesy, just like we remember the Terminator. Nick Stahl was a good choice for Connor, and Claire Danes was pretty average as Catherine. The absolutely gorgeous Kristanna Loken was a formidable villain that added a nice change of pace from the traditional macho villains. She was cunning, and she nailed the robotic mechanics perfectly - everything from her walk to her eyes.

    T3 raised the bar on special effects for the franchise with some crazy stunts. The crane truck chase scene is one of the most intense action scenes ever made. Literally every vehicle, building, and street sign was demolished.

    Although Rise of the Machines isn't as good as the original two, it is still a great addition to the franchise.

  • November 3, 2009
    No tan buena como las demas de terminator, pero aun asi, hay que verla.
    Demasiada accion en muy poco tiempo... la siento acelerada.
  • October 31, 2009
    The action scenes are good and this movie is an above par action film but the biggest problem for this movie is that it has to live up to the greatest movie ever made, Terminator 2, and when you do that it pales in comparison. Still a good movie but I just see it as a story filler.
  • October 27, 2009
    Keep them coming....Classic and especially getting Claire Danes involved.
  • October 23, 2009
    Big Arnold back again but this movie did not live up to its hype three & half stars at the most.
  • October 19, 2009
    Waited a long time for this, was told it would never happen, but it did, and it was awesome.

Critic Reviews


July 3, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

The villain comes back more times than Wile E. Coyote. I found it tiresome and witless and numbingly repetitive, but action mavens won't feel cheated. full review

July 2, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines may lack the mythic pow of the 1984 original and the visionary thrill of T2, but it's a potent popcorn movie that digs in its hooks and doesn't let go until an endin... full review

July 2, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

There's a flat feeling about this effort that's unmistakable and inescapable. full review

July 1, 2003
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

T3 director Jonathan Mostow delivers a high-energy barrage of special effects gee-wizardry that self-effacingly mimics Cameron's style. full review

July 1, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Essentially one long chase and fight, punctuated by comic, campy or simplistic dialogue. full review

July 1, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Holds our interest but lacks the punch of its predecessors. full review

July 1, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Terminator 3 moves at not-quite-breakneck speed, and the shape-shifting, metal-melting special effects aren't exactly spectacular. full review

July 1, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Terminator 3 is essentially a B movie, content to be loud, dumb and obvious. full review

View more Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • SkywalkerJones
    September 22, 2008
    Good thing:Arnold.Bad thing:No James Cameron.
  • TheScotishWelshMan
    August 22, 2008
    y does it say it came out in 1993 wen it came out in like 2004 or sumik
  • thedoctor2k7
    August 22, 2008
    this is the worst film in the trilogy i mean who would ever want to make trhis piece of shit film
  • itbegins2005
    January 28, 2008
    Somebody should kill Jonathan Mostow for directing this hunk of shite. And Mario Kassar for producing it. Thanks for effectively destroying one of the most perfect film franchises in cinema history with one incredibly stupid blow. One salivates at the very thought of Cameron having done T3, but alas, it shall never be. For that, there is not enough torment to be found in all of Hell to satisfy my lust for vengeance against these "filmmakers."

    Oh, well. At least the CG was decent. Sometimes.
  • haxc100
    December 12, 2007
    cgi was ok but without cameron its dissapointing. what we needed here was a 3-way showdown between arnie guarding john connor and vin diesel and the rock.
  • GymNetic25
    December 6, 2007
    This film itself has tons and tons of action packed scenes..and that's about it. As for the storyline itself it looses it's luster in this 3rd installment of "Terminator". I really feel that they should have stopped with the last film. But like always they want to try to make things bigger and better with sequel's which in the end turns you off all together, but you keep watching the other films because you are entranced to find out what happens to the characters. When making this 3rd film they should have had the original characters such as Sarah Connor. For the time it was made the special effects were outstanding. For the new characters in this story it just falls way short and dull of the other films. I would only recommend seeing this for the action and special effects.
  • ilbv5
    July 26, 2007
    This episode wasn't I expected from it's trailer....I want some answers to my question
    1.Why is Skynet is still there even if his creator has been terminated and all evidence was vaporized?
    2.Why is Terminators are still alive?
    3.How the hell did t-800 knows other terminator's story?
    4.Motherfuckers...I saw Sarah Connor and John are playing in the park in 2029.Sarah became grandma,John became a senator and have one girl..(In the end of the original T-2
    now they changed it)

    Errors to storyline had came with this episode.
  • jbpelican
    August 1, 2006
    Ive always loved the Terminator films (rumore has it that theres a fourth and fifth one in the making, after big Arnie gets away from politics. T3 is about as basic as it gets without being shit. Story is simple, two cyborgs travel back in time, one to protect the leader of the future human resistance against evil machines, the other to try and kill him. Survive long enough to stop judgment day and save the world. And during this simple story, it was explosion after fight scene after gun battle and so on. Really, really fun to watch.

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Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines Trivia

Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machin... Trivia


  • In "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", how many people total is the T-X sent through time to kill?  Answer »
  • Do you even remember me? Sarah Connor, blowing up Cyberdyne, hasta la vista, baby. Ring any bells?   Answer »
  • Who plays John Connor in Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines?  Answer »
  • In Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines, who played the T-X?  Answer »

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