Nothing says Christmas like a good Arnie movie, at least that is what Netflix users have suggested after making one of the Big Man’s most underrated movies a hit several years after its disappointing showing at the box office. Surprisingly, that movie is not one of Schwarzenegger’s festive offerings, butTerminator: Dark Fate.
As the veteran actorprepares to play Santa in a new movie with Reacher’s Alan Ritchson,Terminator: Dark Fate’s resurgence on Netflix is allowing many to rediscover what is arguably the best sequel in the franchise after James Cameron’s masterpiece that isTerminator 2: Judgment Day. While it has been reported that Cameron is currently working on an idea for a new revamp of theTerminatorfranchise that would move on from the story of John and Sarah Connor, and the iconic T-800, fans clearly still love going back to the familiar sense of nostalgia that the movies that reunite Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton bring.
Released in 2019,Dark Fatewisely ignores the more divisive sequels of the franchise and ultimately forms a nice little trilogy with 1979’sThe Terminatorand its 1991 sequel. Produced by Cameron, with Tim Miller stepping into the director’s chair, the film also brought back Edward Furlong for a brief appearance as John Connor in the opening sequence of the movie, making it a real blast from the past for long-time fans. The film plays out with the kind of big action sequences you would expect, and even addresses Schwarzenegger’s advancing years rather than attempting to portray the T-800 as an ageless machine.
‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ Disappointed at the Box Office
Although the film was expected to deliver big results at the box office, it somehow faltered, making just $261 million from its $185 million budget. This was made even more surprising considering the positive reception to the movie on its release. Critics scored it 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences giving it 83% - notably higher than all but the original two movies – but that did not help the film’s theatrical run, and seemed to put an end to the franchise after more than four decades.
Of course, just like the machines, it always comes back. This year, the franchisedelivered a new chapter with the release ofTerminator Zero, an animated entry that debuted earlier this year on Netflix to near perfect reviews. Although it is doubtful that such a project would float on the big screen – as it would likely land in a similar way to last week’s release ofLord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim– it did prove that theTerminatorfranchise does not need to rely on the familiar characters of the past to deliver a story.
James Cameron Knows Why Terminator: Dark Fate Was a Flop, But He Still Likes It Anyway
James Cameron believes Terminator: Dark Fate bombed because the film was too focused on appealing to older fans rather than new ones.
Now, Cameron has hinted that he could beready to once again return to the world he createdover 45 years ago in an attempt to revitalize the franchise with a brand new story, that will tap into the current fears of AI, and leave behind its reliance on nostalgia. While we await more news on that project, there are worse ways to spend a chilly December evening than watching an action legend playing in the toy box for what is probably the last time.
