At the time of its release, critics savaged T3 . Roger Ebert gave it 2.5 stars, calling it “a skillful action film but not a visionary one.” The consensus was that it was loud, empty, and betrayed the spirit of its predecessors. Audiences were lukewarm; it made $433 million worldwide (a success, but below expectations for that era’s blockbusters).
Where the film falters is in the quiet moments. T2 had the arcade scene, the back alley where John teaches the Terminator to smile, the “I know now why you cry” moment. T3 has… Schwarzenegger delivering one-liners about “talking babes” and needing a “new hand.” The humor is broader, sillier. A scene where the Terminator commandeers a hearse and quips, “I’m a friend of the family,” is funny, but it undercuts the dread. The film never quite commits to the terror of its premise until the final ten minutes. Terminator 3 Rise of The Machines
This remains one of the best practical stunt sequences in cinema. Seeing a massive mobile crane demolish an entire glass building while Arnold dangles from the hook is peak 2000s action. At the time of its release, critics savaged T3