Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

R

2003

1h 50m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

202 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Now 25, Connor (Nick Stahl) lives with no record of his existence -- no way he can be traced by Skynet. Out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (Kristanna Loken), Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), his mysterious former assassin. Together, they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day.

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Critics Consensus

Although Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines never reaches the heights of the second movie, it is a welcome addition to the Terminator franchise.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Jul 22, 2022

A steely [Kristanna Loken]... makes the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) look positively creaky.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 13, 2018

Perhaps wisely, Mostow doesn't try to outdo James Cameron. His sequel has a B-movie spirit--swift, punchy, tongue often in cheek. ...at its screeching, wall-breaking best, "T3" achieves heavy-metal slapstick.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

4/5

Basically one long, exciting chase scene.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 19, 2023

2.5/4

Mostow directs without concern for his own ideas, and instead considers What Would Cameron Do? In turn, we wonder the same thing. The result isn’t poor direction, just clearly not that of a singular voice.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 16, 2021

What is one to make of such a cheap and unserious, but misanthropic and morbid conclusion? A Terminator 4 is foreseen, and there is most likely no way to forestall that future.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 9, 2020

7/10

It's undeniably fun to see Schwarzenegger return for another high-octane installment in the hugely successful franchise.

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Dylan R

@Dylanlovesmovies 4 days ago

Good tereminater movie to end the trilogy of.I like this movie far more then the later sequels..This movie is a bit goofy but I still enjoyed it.No where near as good as the first two but no where near as bad as the later sequels.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 18, 2026

Not my favorite Movie!!!

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Austin B

@RT35999578 Sep 12, 2026

Austin B Boswellllgmailcom

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Tyler S

@tylerking24 Aug 12, 2026

yeah I mean no issues here, but I worry if this is the kind of films we have moving forward, this could get old real quick.

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abrother S

@RT33140855 Jul 21, 2026

This is even more timely than it was back in 2003! With the AI now and the drones, and global domination!!! BEWARE!!! This was one of my go to movies in the 20 teens, and still! (like 'Aliens' and '2012' (the first half is best) and 'The Fifth Element'). There is so much humor in this it's incredible, totally campy like the 'Escape' movies, loads of little nods to the original and the sequel (I never watch T2, ** from me). I only wish Linda H. had decided to be in it. Claire Danes is a terrific actress and I wish that Nick Stahl would have done more stuff. For some reason they didn't offer it on streaming for a long while, so I am re-watching it on Tubi for free w/ads (finally!) It's been several years since I could find it for free. It's holding up so well!!! (I'm 2/3rds of the way through and I figured I should make my first RT review because it seems like some folks don't like it as much as I do.) I see this as a total classic like 'Aliens'. The more you watch it the better it gets.

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diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 11, 2026

After the second film proved to be a masterpiece, this third one is a massive letdown. The story is incredibly repetitive, and the plot brings absolutely nothing new to the saga. It is worth watching only for the occasional action scene featuring Schwarzenegger, because otherwise, it is a very weak film.

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Jonathan Mostow

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Terminator (T-800)

Nick Stahl

John Connor

Claire Danes

Kate Brewster

David Andrews

Robert Brewster

Kristanna Loken

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Synopsis

Now 25, Connor (Nick Stahl) lives with no record of his existence -- no way he can be traced by Skynet. Out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (Kristanna Loken), Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), his mysterious former assassin. Together, they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day.

Director: Jonathan Mostow
Producer: Mario Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna, Joel B. Michaels, Hal Lieberman, Colin Wilson
Screenwriter: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris, Tedi Sarafian, Michael Ferris
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: IMF, InterMedia Film Equities Ltd., C-2 Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Brief Nudity|Strong Sci-Fi Action|Strong Sci-Fi Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $150.4M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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