Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Ten years after destroying Cyberdyne Systems,{{efn|As depicted in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)}} John Connor has been living as a nomad following the death of his mother, Sarah Connor, and fears that the malevolent artificial intelligence Skynet is still hunting him despite a war between humans and machines not happening in 1997, as foretold.

Unable to locate John in the past, Skynet sends the T-X, an advanced Terminator with shapeshifting liquid metal covering a virtually impervious metal endoskeleton, back in time to John's present in Los Angeles, to kill his future allies in the Resistance, including John's future wife, Kate Brewster. In response, the Resistance sends back a reprogrammed T-850 Terminator to protect John and Kate.

After killing other targets, the T-X locates the pair at an animal hospital where Kate works. John becomes the T-X's primary target, but the Terminator helps him and Kate escape, taking them to a mausoleum where John's mother, Sarah, is supposedly interred. Inside her coffin, they find a weapons cache left at Sarah's request in case Judgment Day was not averted and the Terminators returned. They escape an armed battle with the police and fend off the pursuing T-X.

The Terminator reveals that John and Sarah's actions only delayed Judgment Day and that Skynet's attack will occur that day; the Terminator intends to drive John and Kate to Mexico to escape the fallout when Skynet begins its nuclear attack. John orders the Terminator to take him and Kate to see her father, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Robert Brewster. The Terminator refuses because he can't jeopardize his mission; however, when Kate demands to see her father, the Terminator obeys. The pair learns that the Terminator originally killed John in the future due to his emotional attachment to the model, before Kate captured and reprogrammed the Terminator and sent it back in time.

Meanwhile, General Brewster is supervising the development of Skynet for Cyber Research Systems (CRS), which also develops autonomous weapons. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pressures him to activate Skynet to stop an anomalous computer virus from invading servers worldwide. General Brewster fails to discover that the virus was Skynet becoming sentient, and John and Kate arrive too late to stop him from activating it. The T-X fatally injures General Brewster and controls the CRS weaponized T-1 and HK drones, which kill the employees. Before he dies, the general gives Kate and John the location of what John believes is Skynet's system core. The pair head for the tarmac to take General Brewster's single-engine plane to Crystal Peak, a facility built inside the Sierra Nevada.

After a battle, the T-X severely damages the Terminator, reprogramming it to kill John, and pursues John and Kate through the CRS facility. When a particle accelerator is activated, it magnetically binds the T-X to the equipment. The still-conscious Terminator struggles to control its outer functions. As it prepares to kill John, he urges the Terminator to choose between its conflicting programming; it deliberately forces a shutdown of its corrupted system, enabling the pair's escape. Shortly after they leave, the Terminator's system reboots. Meanwhile, the T-X escapes the accelerator and resumes pursuit.

After John and Kate reach Crystal Peak, the T-X arrives by helicopter. Before it can attack, the Terminator arrives in a second helicopter, crashing into and crushing the T-X. The T-X pulls itself from the wreckage and attempts to drag itself inside the bunker to follow the pair. The Terminator holds the bunker door open long enough for the pair to lock them inside, then uses its last hydrogen fuel cell to destroy both itself and the T-X.

John and Kate discover that Crystal Peak is not Skynet's core but rather a nuclear fallout shelter command facility for government and military officials. Having no core, Skynet has become a part of cyberspace after becoming self-aware. Judgment Day begins as Skynet fires nuclear missiles worldwide, starting a nuclear holocaust. The pair begins to receive radio transmissions on the emergency radio equipment; John tentatively assumes command by answering radio calls to start fighting back against Skynet.

{{See also|List of Terminator (franchise) characters|l1=List of Terminator characters}}

• Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator.
• Nick Stahl as John Connor. Stahl replaces Edward Furlong from the second film.
• Kristanna Loken as the T-X, an advanced Terminator sent back to murder John's resistance lieutenants
• Claire Danes as Kate Brewster, John's former classmate and Scott's fiancé.
• David Andrews as Lieutenant General Robert Brewster, Kate's father who is also the program director at CRS, which has acquired Cyberdyne Systems' remaining assets
• Mark Famiglietti as Scott Mason, Kate's fiancé who is killed by the T-X. The character was originally named Scott Peterson, but the name was changed in order to avoid association with the case involving the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner by her husband Scott Peterson.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qbp_R_BTqxEC&pg=PA237 |title=Laci Peterson: the whole story: Laci, Scott, and Amber's deadly love triangle By Brad Knight|isbn=978-0-595-34750-6|last1=Knight|first1=Brad|date=April 2005|publisher=iUniverse }} In the ending credits his name is still listed as "Scott Petersen".
• Earl Boen as Dr. Peter Silberman: Reprising his role from the first two films, Boen appears in one scene, attempting to comfort Kate after she witnesses the acts of the Terminator.

Jay Acovone portrayed an LAPD Officer. Kim Robillard and Mark Hicks portrayed Detective Edwards and Detective Bell. In the film's dialogue Bell is identified correctly, however in the film's end credits his name is listed as "Detective Martinez". One of Schwarzenegger's stunt doubles, Billy D. Lucas, portrayed a civilian who has his car accidentally wrecked by John.

File:JAMES CAMERON 2000.jpg

James Cameron had directed and co-written the previous Terminator films. The film rights to the franchise were held by Carolco Pictures and by Cameron's ex-wife and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, who both held 50 percent of the rights.{{cite web |last=Jaafar |first=Ali |title=Deadline Disruptors: King Of Cannes Mario Kassar On The Glory Days Of Carolco, Why Buying Arnie A Plane Made Sense & Talking Vaginas |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/carolco-pictures-mario-kassar-cannes-interview-foxtrot-six-audition-1201752739/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 12, 2016 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} Cameron had sold his stake to Hurd for $1 prior to directing The Terminator (1984).{{cite news |last=Abramowitz |first=Rachel |title=Rage Against the Machines: 'T3's' Rocky Road |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-11-et-abram11-story.html |access-date=October 10, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 11, 2002}} In July 1991, Cameron said that if Terminator 2 was successful, "there may be some economic pressure" to do a sequel.{{cite web |title='Terminator' packs mega-budget |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/273652044/ |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=July 3, 1991 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} Hurd said that month, "I've always felt the story lent itself wonderfully to being a continuing tale." She believed it was natural that a third film would happen, but was unsure at that time if Arnold Schwarzenegger would reprise his role as the Terminator. Hurd said that for Schwarzenegger to commit to another film, he would have to read a finished script, approve a director, and see if the project fit into his schedule.{{cite web |title=Hurd: 'Terminator' Triple Play? |url=https://nl.newsbank.com |website=Daily News of Los Angeles |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=July 23, 1991 |url-access=subscription |via=NewsLibrary}}

Following Terminator 2{{'s}} release, Cameron said he had no intentions for further sequels, believing it "brings the story full circle and ends. And I think ending it at this point is a good idea". Cameron and co-writer William Wisher wrote the script with the intention of leaving no option for a sequel.{{sfn|ShapiroC|1991|p=35}}{{sfn|Shapiro, Marc, July B|1991|p=40}} Even so, Carolco co-founder Mario Kassar said in May 1992 that he intended to make a Terminator 3 film within the next five to seven years.{{cite news |last=Citron |first=Alan |title=Like Carolco, Studio's Boss Trims Sails |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-11-fi-1320-story.html |access-date=October 2, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 11, 1992}} TriStar Pictures, which distributed Terminator 2, would be involved in the new film. That month, TriStar chief Mike Medavoy said the film would probably take a couple of years.{{cite web |title=Hollywood Freeway, Hollywood Willing to Tri |url=https://nl.newsbank.com |website=Daily News of Los Angeles |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=May 28, 1992 |url-access=subscription |via=NewsLibrary |quote=Now comes word that TriStar is planning "Terminator 3." "It will probably take a couple of years," said TriStar chief Mike Medavoy. TriStar distributed "Terminator 2," which was produced by Carolco.}}

By the end of 1995, Carolco had filed for bankruptcy, and Cameron wanted to direct a third film with the involvement of 20th Century Fox.{{cite web |title=Cameron's Lightstorm Docks At Fox |url=https://variety.com/1995/more/news/cameron-s-lightstorm-docks-at-fox-99123505/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=December 18, 1995}} Cameron's 3D film ride, Terminator 2 3-D: Battle Across Time, would open later in 1996. The project reunited the main cast of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and had prompted Cameron to begin writing a script for a Terminator 3 film. Cameron said Terminator 2 3D: Battle Across Time would serve as a "stepping stone" toward a third Terminator film.{{cite AV media |date=2000 |title=The Making of Terminator 2 3D}} However, such a film would not be ready for a few years as Cameron was busy working on Titanic for Fox.{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Chris |title='Terminator' Series Wasn't Terminal After All |url=https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/2/19246013/terminator-series-wasn-t-terminal-after-all |work=Deseret News |date=June 2, 1996 |access-date=September 6, 2019}}

When Carolco filed for bankruptcy on November 10, 1995, its assets were bound to a liquidation auction.{{cite news|title= Company News; Carolco Pictures Files for Bankruptcy Protection |work= The New York Times|date=November 11, 1995|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/11/business/company-news-carolco-pictures-files-for-bankruptcy-protection.html|access-date=September 6, 2019 }}Bates, James. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-17-fi-25405-story.html "New Carolco Library Bid Sends Fox Running."] Los Angeles Times (January 17, 1996) That day, Fox signed a $50 million deal to acquire all of Carolco's assets, including the rights to Terminator sequels, as well as the company's existing film library. Fox withdrew its bid in January 1996, when Canal Plus bid $58 million for Carolco's film library. Canal Plus' offer did not include purchasing the rights for Carolco sequel films, but Fox wanted all of Carolco's assets and was unwilling to match or exceed the bid offer made by Canal Plus. The sequel rights would ultimately be auctioned through U.S. bankruptcy court, where Fox intended to purchase them.{{cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Daniel |title=Fox Tries to Make Terminator 3 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/35248/fox-tries-to-make-terminator-3 |website=E! |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=September 28, 1997}}

The new Terminator film would have Schwarzenegger reprising his role. Linda Hamilton had also talked with Cameron about reprising her role as Sarah Connor.{{cite web |last=Archerd |first=Army |title=Cameron waives his 'Titanic' fees |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/cameron-waives-his-titanic-fees-1117863068/ |work=Variety |date=May 9, 1997 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |quote=Hamilton said she and Cameron are talking an eventual reteaming for "Terminator 3" — "someday"}} During 1997, Fox spent nine months negotiating with Cameron, Schwarzenegger, and Hurd, the latter in regard to her share of the sequel rights. Bill Mechanic, chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment, oversaw the project and negotiations at that time. Mechanic wanted the trio to be involved in the new film, so he sought to first secure deals with them before proceeding with a purchase of the Carolco rights. Mechanic also believed that a deal with the trio would give him necessary leverage with the U.S. bankruptcy court to acquire the rights from Carolco.{{cite web |last=Eller |first=Claudia |title=Big Problemo in Bid for 'Terminator 3' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-23-fi-35255-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 23, 1997 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} At that time, Cameron committed to writing and producing the film, and reserved the right to direct it in the event that he wanted to do so.

Fox intended to make the new Terminator film on a budget similar to its predecessor, approximately $95 million. However, it was determined that the film could not be made on the intended budget when considering the additional cost of purchasing Carolco's rights, as well as Schwarzenegger's desired $25 million salary.{{cite web |last=Frankel |first=Daniel |title=Terminator Rights Auctioned; Cyborg May Be Back |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/35339/terminator-rights-auctioned-cyborg-may-be-back |website=E! |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=October 15, 1997}} At some point, Schwarzenegger had talked to Cameron about the two of them buying the rights themselves, but Cameron was not interested in this idea and wanted to let Fox handle the rights. Schwarzenegger said about Fox, "Only later did I learn they were making these ridiculous lowball offers, like $750,000. We could have owned this ourselves, but Jim didn't want to be in that business."

File:Andy Vajna EPLUX7 (11107938725).jpg

Dimension Films, a division of Miramax Films, had agreed to purchase the rights that were owned by Hurd and also intended to buy Carolco's rights through the auction. However, a judge ruled against an earlier motion which stated that only an established studio should be allowed to bid for the Carolco rights. This allowed Andrew G. Vajna to participate in the bidding. Vajna had co-founded Carolco with Kassar but left the company in 1989.

In September 1997, Cameron invited his friends Vajna and Kassar to see an early edit of Titanic, during which Vajna and Kassar learned that the Terminator rights were still available. That month, Mechanic discovered that Vajna had been quietly negotiating with the bankruptcy court to acquire the rights for himself and Kassar; the duo planned to form a new production company with Terminator 3 as its debut. During September 1997, Vajna signed a tentative $7.5 million agreement to purchase the rights, which were to be sold later in an auction scheduled for the following month. Mechanic was upset to learn of Vajna's agreement, having spent months in negotiations with Schwarzenegger, Cameron, and Hurd.{{cite web |title=Vajna re-'Terminates' |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/vajna-re-terminates-1116674536/ |website=Variety |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=September 17, 1997}} Cameron was upset as well, as Vajna and Kassar had not mentioned their intention to buy the rights during their meeting days earlier. This would lead to the deterioration of their friendship. Vajna later said he was unaware that Cameron was already planning Terminator 3. Miramax dropped out of the bidding when Vajna raised his bid to $8 million.{{cite news |last=Bates |first=James |title=Vajna Wins 'Terminator' Rights Bid |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-15-fi-42822-story.html |access-date=October 2, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 15, 1997}}

By October 1997, the budgetary concerns over Terminator 3 and Cameron's troubled post-production of Titanic for Fox led them both to abandon the Terminator project and not pursue the rights. Mechanic had asked Cameron if he wanted Fox to outbid Vajna, but Cameron decided he did not want to be involved in the project. Mechanic believed that Cameron was "only hanging in there at the end because of Arnold and quality control. It was something that Arnold always wanted to do again. Period. And Jim was more than happy to do it." Cameron gave his approval for Hurd and Schwarzenegger to make another Terminator film without him, although Schwarzenegger did not want to make the film without Cameron,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/fox-cameron-opting-out-of-terminator-3-111660993/|title=Fox, Cameron opting out of 'Terminator 3'|author=Chris Petrikin|work=Variety|date=October 6, 1997|access-date=April 14, 2015}} and initially refused to star in the third film.

Over time, Schwarzenegger would continue trying to persuade Cameron to be involved in the new film. In 2003, Cameron said that he felt he had already told the whole story with his first two Terminator films, something that he came to realize during the post-production of Titanic. Cameron later stated, "I just felt as a filmmaker maybe I've gone beyond it. I really wasn't that interested. I felt like I'd told the story I wanted to tell. I suppose I could have pursued it more aggressively and gone to the mat for it but I felt like I was laboring in someone else's house to an extent because I had sold the rights very early on."{{cite web |last=Lussier |first=Germain |title=James Cameron Talks New 'Terminator' Movies: He's "Loosely Attached" But Won't Get Credit |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/james-cameron-new-terminator-movies/ |work=/Film |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} Nevertheless, feeling that the Terminator character was as much Schwarzenegger's as it was his own, Cameron eventually advised Schwarzenegger to do the third film without him, saying, "If they can come up with a good script and they pay you a lot of money, don't think twice."{{cite news|last=Downey|first=Ryan J.|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1459299/he-said-hed-be-back-schwarzenegger-talks-terminator-3/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209013708/http://www.mtv.com/news/1459299/he-said-hed-be-back-schwarzenegger-talks-terminator-3/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2015|title=He Said He'd Be Back — Schwarzenegger Talks 'Terminator 3'|publisher=MTV News|date=December 26, 2002|access-date=July 16, 2017}} The film was in high demand according to Schwarzenegger, who said he was frequently asked in interviews about the possibility of a third film.{{cite news |last=Horn |first=Steven |title=An Interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/426/426306p1.html |work=IGN |date=June 27, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110141353/http://movies.ign.com/articles/426/426306p1.html |archive-date=November 10, 2008}}

In October 1997, the rights to future Terminator films were auctioned to Vajna for $8 million. Hurd had opposed Vajna's attempt to buy the rights, and had tried unsuccessfully to change Cameron's mind about purchasing the rights.{{cite web |last1=Weiner |first1=Rex |last2=Petrikin |first2=Chris |title=Hurd will fight sale of 'Terminator 3' rights |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/hurd-will-fight-sale-of-terminator-3-rights-111662485/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=October 7, 1997}} On the night that the rights were auctioned, Vajna contacted Cameron and Schwarzenegger to resolve the situation. Vajna was surprised that Cameron would be upset about the rights being sold, later saying, "What difference does it make to Jim who's financing the movie, a studio or us? His deal would have been the same. Arnold tried to convince Jim over a long period of time to do the film. Arnold felt very loyal." Vajna said that Cameron "felt that we 'stole his baby', even though we're the ones who put it together last time round. So we felt that that was kind of strange and then we went on to do it ourselves."{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=Nev |title=Andrew Vajna interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/24/andrew_vajna_terminator_3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=July 24, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031223222106/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/24/andrew_vajna_terminator_3_interview.shtml |archive-date=December 23, 2003}}

Cameron said in January 1998 that it was unlikely he would direct Terminator 3.{{cite web |title=Golden Globes: Backstage Notes |url=https://variety.com/1998/tv/news/golden-globes-backstage-notes-1117466812/ |work=Variety |date=January 18, 1998 |access-date=September 27, 2019 |quote=[Cameron] added that he wasn't sure what he would direct next, noting that "Terminator 3" was probably out of the question, but "Spiderman" "was a possibility."}} In March 1998, Vajna and Kassar acquired Hurd's half of the Terminator rights for $8 million, to become full owners of the franchise, with plans to proceed on Terminator 3.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/kassar-vajna-redux-1117469201/|title=Kassar & Vajna redux|author=Chris Petrikin, Benedict Carver|work=Variety|date=March 26, 1998 |access-date=April 14, 2015}} Hurd served as an executive producer on the film.{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/awards/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-1200540754/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 26, 2019 |date=June 30, 2003}} Kassar and Vajna contacted Cameron with the hope that he would direct, but he declined.{{cite news |title=Upstart director takes on 'T3' |url=https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/4/19732948/upstart-director-takes-on-t3 |agency=Associated Press |date=July 4, 2003 |access-date=September 6, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Dana |title=Cameron won't be back; Director developing 'True Lies 2' |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/cameron-won-t-be-back-1117783604/ |work=Variety |date=July 12, 2000 |access-date=September 26, 2019}} According to Kassar, Cameron was trying to obtain the auctioned Terminator rights for himself at the time that he was asked to direct. Cameron and his company, Lightstorm Entertainment, had considered trying to obtain the rights, but ultimately chose not to do so; it was estimated that acquiring the rights and paying Schwarzenegger to reprise his role could cost up to $100 million.{{cite news |title='T3' looks so costly Arnold may go 'Ape' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/478521913/ |work=Daily News |date=September 28, 1998 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}

By 1999, Kassar and Vajna had been negotiating with various studios about partnering on the project but decided to finalize the film's concept and script first. They founded C2 Pictures that year, and by October 1999,{{cite web |title=Bad 'bots will 'be back' for Terminator 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/152519325/ |work=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=October 13, 1999 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} they had brought Toho-Towa and German company VCL on board the project as co-financiers. The latter companies helped finance development of a script by Tedi Sarafian, who was hired for the film in 1999, along with David C. Wilson for a possible fourth installment.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/t2-times-two-1117757936/|title='T2' times two|author=Michael Fleming|work=Variety|date=November 10, 1999 |access-date=April 14, 2015}} Fox held discussions with Vajna and Kassar about buying the rights from them for Cameron. Mechanic said these discussions were never serious. It was also reported that Fox and Cameron had been in discussions with Vajna and Kassar about partnering on the film. Vajna and Kassar accepted a proposal from Fox, but it fell apart once Toho-Towa and VCL were brought onto the project, as the latter companies purchased the distribution rights for Japan and Germany, the largest markets outside of the United States. Kassar and Vajna intended to proceed on the film with or without Schwarzenegger, although Kassar preferred that he be involved. Filming was expected to begin in 2000 for a release the following year.

In March 2000, it was announced that VCL would have a 25 percent stake in the film, as well as the rights in German-speaking territories. At the time, Sarafian was days away from completing his draft, and Kassar hoped to announce a director within 45 days. Filming was still expected to commence later that year, with a release scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2001. Kassar wanted to have Terminator 3 and Terminator 4 shot back to back, possibly with different directors.{{cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |title=VCL takes 25% stake in next two Terminator films |url=https://www.screendaily.com/vcl-takes-25-stake-in-next-two-terminator-films/401858.article |work=ScreenDaily |date=March 27, 2000 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} Plans to shoot the film and its sequel simultaneously were later dropped, in case Terminator 3 did not become a success. Later in 2000, the start of production on Terminator 3 was delayed by a year.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=It's Official! Terminator 3 Starts Production Spring 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/21/its-official-terminator-3-starts-production-spring-2001 |work=IGN |date=June 21, 2000 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}

Sarafian's script, titled T-3: Rise of the Machines, featured John Connor working in a dot-com company. The script's villain was the T-1G, a female Terminator sent from the future, with the ability to turn invisible.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=T3 Actors Speak & Possible Plot Details |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/16/t3-actors-speak-possible-plot-details |work=IGN |date=October 16, 2000 |access-date=October 10, 2019}} By July 2000, Cameron had been given a copy of Sarafian's script, but he passed on directing the film due to his estranged relationship with Vajna and Kassar. Cameron later stated that he refused to direct or produce Terminator 3 because he disliked the idea of working from somebody else's script in a story he originated.{{cite book|last=Nathan|first=Ian|date=2013|title=Terminator Vault|location=London|publisher=Aurum Press Ltd.|page=158|isbn=978-1-78131-126-4}} According to Schwarzenegger, Cameron declined involvement on the project because he did not want to commit to a time frame, as he was busy and had other projects he wanted to explore.{{cite news |title=Saviour Of Humanity |url=http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3680 |work=Empire |date=January 29, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020219144043/http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3680 |archive-date=February 19, 2002}}{{cite news |last=Michael |first=David |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/arnold_schwarzenegger_t3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=July 28, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811201006/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/arnold_schwarzenegger_t3_interview.shtml |archive-date=August 11, 2003}} Other directors being considered in 2000 included Ang Lee, Christian Duguay, David Fincher, John McTiernan, Ridley Scott, and Roland Emmerich.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Terminator 3 Director Short List |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/12/terminator-3-director-short-list |work=IGN |date=July 12, 2000 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Terminator director won't be back |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/jul/12/news |work=The Guardian |date=July 12, 2000 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/mctiernan-helming-terminator-3 | title=McTiernan Helming Terminator 3? | date=November 21, 2000 }} Lee passed on the project to instead direct Hulk (2003).{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Elvis |title=Ang Lee on Comic Books and Hulk as Hidden Dragon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/movies/film-ang-lee-on-comic-books-and-hulk-as-hidden-dragon.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=June 22, 2003}} Scott declined to direct the film so that he could begin production on Black Hawk Down.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/directors-who-almost-helmed-terminator-movie/|title=5 Directors Who Almost Helmed A Terminator Movie (& 5 Who Should)|website=Screen Rant |date=October 28, 2020 }} Intermedia was announced as a co-financier in October 2000.{{cite web |last=Lyons |first=Charles |title=C-2 finds coin for sequels |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/c-2-finds-coin-for-sequels-1117788273/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 27, 2019 |date=October 25, 2000}}

Although production was scheduled to begin in 2001, it was delayed in anticipation of a writers strike, which ultimately did not occur.{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |title=H'w'd stop signs |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/h-w-d-stop-signs-1117796132/ |website=Variety |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=March 28, 2001}} There was also the possibility of an actors strike, and filming was scheduled to begin after it ended. In March 2001, Jonathan Mostow and his producing partner Hal Lieberman were in negotiations to join the project as director and producer respectively.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/mostow-morphs-to-terminator-3-1117796023/|title=Mostow morphs to 'Terminator 3'|author=Michael Fleming|work=Variety|date=March 26, 2001 |access-date=April 14, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Mostow Gets Terminated |url=http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3038 |work=Empire |date=March 28, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020417214945/http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3038 |archive-date=April 17, 2002}} Mostow said he was "not shy" when he started working on the project; as he later recalled, "I said, 'Here's the movie I'm going to make, here's how I'm going to do it. If you don't want to do it my way, you should find a different director.'"{{cite news |last=Michael |first=David |title=Jonathan Mostow interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/jonathan_mostow_t3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=July 28, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030813052237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/jonathan_mostow_t3_interview.shtml |archive-date=August 13, 2003}} Mostow had concerns about Sarafian's script and declined to start filming until it was perfected.

Mostow invited his college classmates John Brancato and Michael Ferris to rework the screenplay;{{cite web |last=Horn |first=John |date=June 29, 2003 |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/29/entertainment/ca-horn29/2|title=Switching drivers|work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123414/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun/29/entertainment/ca-horn29/2 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}} they signed on to rewrite it in June 2001.{{cite web |last1=Brodesser |first1=Claude |last2=Dunkley |first2=Cathy |title=Scribes to morph 'T3' script |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/scribes-to-morph-t3-script-1117801615/ |work=Variety |date=June 18, 2001 |access-date=September 26, 2019}} Sarafian still got a story credit, although much of his draft was rewritten, and scenes were added to make it more of a road movie, fulfilling Mostow's vision for the film. Brancato said there was initial consideration given to ignoring the basic format of the earlier films by removing aspects of time travel and killer machines from the future: "We tried all sorts of wacky scenarios [...] But to be honest it just wasn't working."{{cite news |last=Brett |first=Anwar |title=John Bracato interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/29/john_brancato_t3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=July 29, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030809021009/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/07/29/john_brancato_t3_interview.shtml |archive-date=August 9, 2003}} The idea of a female Terminator was retained from Sarafian's draft, although Mostow disliked Sarafian's idea that the character could turn invisible, saying, "It's not visceral." The film makes a subtle reference to Schwarzenegger's age by depicting his character as an obsolete Terminator compared to the T-X. Mostow said, "It's always great if you can have your protagonist or hero be completely outmatched."

In December 2001, several companies competed for the distribution rights to the film. The heads of each major studio were invited that month to a secret hotel room meeting to read the script and bid for the rights. Fox declined to participate in the meeting, out of loyalty to Cameron. Warner Bros. won the U.S. distribution rights that month, with filming scheduled to begin in April 2002.{{cite news |title=WB wins bidding war for Terminator sequel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/454494275/ |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=December 14, 2001 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International subsequently acquired most of the international distribution rights, including those that would have been handled by VCL, which was suffering financially at the time.{{cite web |last1=Brodesser |first1=Claude |last2=Harris |first2=Dana |title=Sony has 'T3' o'seas |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/sony-has-t3-o-seas-1117857897/ |work=Variety |date=January 2, 2002 |access-date=September 26, 2019}}

The film's production budget was initially set at $169–170 million,{{cite web |last=Epstein |first=Edward J. |author-link=Edward Jay Epstein |title=Budget for T-3 with Arnold Schwarzenegger |publisher=edwardjayepstein.com |url=http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/budget.htm |access-date=November 11, 2010}}{{cite news |last=Dutka |first=Elaine |title=Arts And Entertainment Reports From The Times, News Services And The Nation's Press. |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 12, 2001 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-dec-12-et-morn12-story.html |access-date=November 11, 2010}} making it the most expensive film ever to be greenlit at the time.{{cite news |last=Brodesser |first=Claude |title=Inside Move: He's back, but who's got him? |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/inside-move-he-s-back-but-who-s-got-him-1117856630/ |work=Variety |date=December 2, 2001 |access-date=September 6, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Hayes |first=Dade |title=The candid candidate |url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/vpage/the-candid-candidate-1117890558/ |work=Variety |date=August 7, 2003 |access-date=September 6, 2019}} The budget would include paying off the debts of Carolco, as well as a $5 million salary for Mostow and a record $30 million salary for Schwarzenegger.{{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Scott |title=Is Arnold worth $30 million? |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/12/10/arnold-worth-30-million/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=December 10, 2001 |access-date=September 6, 2019}}{{cite web |title='T4' Producers Hope Schwarzenegger 'Will Be Back' |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/t-producers-hope-schwarzenegger-will-back-23500/ |website=Backstage |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=September 26, 2004}} The distribution rights were sold for $145 million, while the remaining $25 million would be covered by Vajna, Kassar, and Intermedia. Budget statements for the film put the final cost at $187.3 million (or $167.3 million excluding the production overhead).{{cite web |last=Epstein |first=Edward J. |author-link=Edward Jay Epstein |title=Concessions Are for Girlie Men |work=Slate |publisher=The Washington Post Company |date=May 9, 2005 |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2118243/ |access-date=November 11, 2010}}{{cite book|editor1-last=Block|editor1-first=Alex Ben|editor2-last=Wilson|editor2-first=Lucy Autrey|year=2010|title=George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-By-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-177889-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/832 832]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/832}} Product placement deals, with companies such as PepsiCo and Toyota, helped regenerate profit. For example, the film prominently features the then-new Toyota Tundra truck. Schwarzenegger received a record salary of $29.25 million, plus 20 percent of the profits, although he agreed to defer part of his salary in order to prevent the relocation of the set to Vancouver, British Columbia, from Los Angeles.{{cite book |last1=Elmer |first1=Greg |author-link=Greg Elmer |last2=Gasher |first2=Mike |title=Contracting Out Hollywood: Runaway Productions and Foreign Location Shooting (Critical Media Studies: Institutions, Politics, and Culture) |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |location=Lanham |year=2005 |pages=3–4 |isbn=978-0-7425-3695-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzO7WqwTFvwC&pg=PA4 |access-date=November 11, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Initially, the film was to have a 100-day shoot, with 62 days in Vancouver and 38 days in Los Angeles. The cast and crew generally agreed that they did not want to relocate from California, so $8 million was trimmed from the budget, allowing for filming to take place entirely in the state. Another benefit of shooting in Los Angeles is that the film is set there.{{cite web |last=Higgins |first=Bill |title='T3' goes home to pump up local economy |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/markets-festivals/t3-goes-home-to-pump-up-local-economy-1117876018/ |work=Variety |date=November 17, 2002 |access-date=September 26, 2019}} It was announced in February 2002 that the shoot would take place entirely in California.{{cite news |title=In brief: Terminator 3 stays in LA |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/feb/19/news |access-date=October 2, 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=February 19, 2002}}

Schwarzenegger signed on to the project in June 2000,{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Dana |title=Terminator lives again: Schwarzenegger signs on to 'T3' |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/terminator-lives-again-1117782890/ |work=Variety |date=June 21, 2000 |access-date=September 26, 2019}}{{cite news |title=People |url=https://nl.newsbank.com |work=UPI |date=July 12, 2000 |access-date=September 6, 2019 |url-access=subscription |via=NewsLibrary |quote=True to his word, Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back for a third "Terminator" movie, but he will not get his wish to make the picture with James Cameron [...].}} after reading Sarafian's draft. Edward Furlong signed on in August 2000, to reprise his role as John Connor from the previous film.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Furlong leads forces in 'T3' |url=https://variety.com/2000/voices/columns/furlong-leads-forces-in-t3-1117784865/ |work=Variety |date=August 10, 2000 |access-date=September 26, 2019}} However, in December 2001, casting began for a new actor to replace Furlong,{{cite web |last=Green |first=Willow |title=Furlong Terminated |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/furlong-terminated/ |website=Empire |access-date=October 2, 2019 |date=December 17, 2001}} who was dropped from the project because of a substance abuse problem.{{cite web |last=Libbey |first=Dirk |title=Terminator 2's Edward Furlong Is 'Really Happy' To Return For Dark Fate |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2478367/terminator-2s-edward-furlong-is-really-happy-to-return-for-dark-fate |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=August 22, 2019 |date=August 20, 2019}} Furlong was removed by Warner Bros., which was concerned that his publicized drug problems could jeopardize the project. Furlong later stated "I don't know [what happened]. It just wasn't the time. I was going through my own thing at the point in my life – whatever, it just wasn't meant to be".{{cite web |url=http://moviehole.net/20057133exclusive-interview-edward-furlong |title=Exclusive Interview: Edward Furlong |last=Morris |first=Clint |publisher=Moviehole.com |date=July 1, 2005 |access-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142041/http://moviehole.net/20057133exclusive-interview-edward-furlong |url-status=dead }}

According to Mostow, Furlong had been considered, but the director wanted to start from scratch with a new actor, as John would be portrayed as "a very different character now." Mostow described the character as someone who has carried the burden of being a leader in the future, saying "it's very lonely because nobody else in the world knows about it or believes it. Even if he tried to explain to somebody, they'd think he was crazy and that's a really interesting character."{{cite web |last=Horn |first=Steven |title=On Set: T3 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/20/on-set-t3 |website=IGN |access-date=October 10, 2019 |date=May 20, 2002}} Mostow wanted the character to have soulfulness and he believed that Nick Stahl was the right actor for the role. Although John Connor was written as being 10 years old in the script for Terminator 2, Furlong was actually several years older than that. For Terminator 3, Mostow wondered whether the character's current age should be faithful to what was written before. After some consideration, Mostow chose to make the character slightly older for Terminator 3, to be consistent with Furlong's real age. The film states that John was 13 years old during the events of the previous film. Mostow said he tried to avoid the age discrepancy as much as possible in the film.{{cite web |title=Interview : Jonathan Mostow |url=https://moviehole.net/interview-jonathan-mostow/ |work=Moviehole |date=June 19, 2003 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} Some fans were disappointed by the decision to recast Furlong, and some were alienated by the age change.{{cite web |title=First look at Terminator: Genisys |url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/total-film/20141121/283429189862435 |website=Total Film |access-date=October 10, 2019 |date=November 21, 2014 |quote=Yet writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, whose credits range from The Game to Catwoman, alienated fans with a script that fudged John Connor's age. "You know, we finally just decided to heck with that stuff," sniffed Ferris.}}

In November 2000, Linda Hamilton said she had turned down an offer to reprise her role as Sarah Connor.{{cite web |title=Hamilton won't return to role in 'Terminator 3' |url=https://nl.newsbank.com |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=November 3, 2000 |url-access=subscription |via=NewsLibrary}} Hamilton said in October 2001 that the script did not take her character in any new directions: "The film is really about turning the baton over to Sarah's son John, played by Eddie Furlong. It's Eddie's movie - and Arnold's. It was like a no-win situation for me." She also was dissuaded by the fact that Cameron would have no involvement in the film.{{cite web |last=Green |first=Willow |title=Terminator 3? No, Thanks! |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/terminator-3-thanks/ |work=Empire |date=October 21, 2001 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |title=The secrets of "Terminator 3" |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/01/31/secrets-terminator-3/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 31, 2002 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} Hamilton later explained her decision not to reprise her role: "They offered me a part. I read it and I knew my character arc was so complete in the first two, and in the third one it was a negligible character. She died halfway through and there was no time to mourn her. It was kind of disposable, so I said no thank you."{{cite news|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/02/19/exclusive-linda-hamilton-in-negotiations-for-terminator-salvation/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221183752/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/02/19/exclusive-linda-hamilton-in-negotiations-for-terminator-salvation/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2009|title=Linda Hamilton In Negotiations For 'Terminator Salvation'|author=Eric Ditzian|work=MTV Movies Blog|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2009}} When Mostow signed on as director, one of his conditions was that Hamilton reprise her role. However, he realized that the character would not have changed much since the previous film and that she would not contribute much to the story, saying later, "Linda Hamilton is too important to the franchise to stick her in as the third wheel." Mostow realized that John Connor would need to be the focus of the story, although the mausoleum scene was added as a way of integrating Hamilton's character into the story as well. Old footage of Hamilton was expected to be used for flashback scenes of Sarah Connor,{{cite web |title=Collateral Damage |url=http://www.latinoreview.com/moviereviews/2002/cdamage/cdamageinterview.html |website=Latino Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020424083652/http://www.latinoreview.com/moviereviews/2002/cdamage/cdamageinterview.html |archive-date=April 24, 2002 |date=January 25, 2002}} although no such scenes exist in the final film. Mostow said the flashbacks made "a complicated story even more complicated."

When Schwarzenegger was called into Kassar and Vajna's office in April 2001, he did not expect them to bring up Terminator 3 given the film's long stint in development hell. Instead, he wanted to talk to the producers about his political interests, including a potential candidacy as Governor of California in the 2002 election. However, pre-production was rolling along, with the screenplay nearly finished and set deals for both merchandising and distribution. Schwarzenegger postponed his gubernatorial plans, which eventually came into fruition with the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election. Instead, the actor combined production of the film with the promotion of Proposition 49, which advocated increased extracurricular activity in California schools. At times Schwarzenegger even received politicians, journalists, and potential financial backers of the proposition on the film set.{{Cite book |title= Total Recall |last= Schwarzenegger|first= Arnold|year= 2012|publisher=Simon & Schuster |location= United States|isbn=978-1-84983-971-6|pages=470–7}} During pre-production, Schwarzenegger worked out daily to prepare for the role, to get into the same physical shape in which he was during shooting of the previous films. Schwarzenegger felt it was important to be in the same physical condition as he was for the previous film, saying, "Otherwise, people would say, 'He's lost it; he's all saggy and flabby,' and that would be all anyone would talk about it. I didn't want to be digitized, because someone would blab, and it would be in all the columns. So I just worked harder."

Approximately 10,000 women auditioned for the role of the T-X.{{cite news |last=Horn |first=Steven |title=An Interview with Jonathan Mostow |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/30/an-interview-with-jonathan-mostow |work=IGN |date=June 30, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624145854/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/06/30/an-interview-with-jonathan-mostow |archive-date=June 24, 2016}} Schwarzenegger originally wanted wrestling star Chyna to portray the T-X.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Arnie Talks Femme Terminator |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/07/arnie-talks-femme-terminator |work=IGN |date=February 7, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023022303/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/07/arnie-talks-femme-terminator |archive-date=October 23, 2012}} Famke Janssen subsequently emerged as the most likely candidate for the role.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Jean Grey Turns Terminatrix? |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/30/jean-grey-turns-terminatrix |work=IGN |date=November 30, 2000 |access-date=October 10, 2019}} Following the 2001 release of The Fast and the Furious, starring Vin Diesel, there was consideration given to rewriting the T-X character as a man with Diesel in the role.{{cite web |title=Vin Diesel Talks T3 And Hellboy |url=http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3355 |website=Empire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021225062809/http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?story=3355 |archive-date=December 25, 2002 |date=August 31, 2001}} In early 2002, Kristanna Loken was cast as the T-X, while Stahl was cast as John Connor.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Thesp proves metal as 'T3' terminatrix |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/thesp-proves-metal-as-t3-terminatrix-1117861130/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=February 21, 2002}}{{cite web |last=Feiwell |first=Jill |title=Stahl ready to battle machines in WB's 'T3' |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/stahl-ready-to-battle-machines-in-wb-s-t3-1117864364/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=March 24, 2002}} Stahl auditioned approximately five times, and underwent three screen tests, before receiving the role.{{cite magazine |last=Bonin |first=Liane |title=Meet "Terminator 3'"s hot new star |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/04/30/meet-terminator-3s-hot-new-star/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 30, 2002 |access-date=September 27, 2019}} Other actors considered for the role of John Connor included Shane West, Jake Gyllenhaal,{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Shane West as John Connor? |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/15/shane-west-as-john-connor |work=IGN |date=March 15, 2002 |access-date=October 2, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Michael |first=David |title=Nick Stahl interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/nick_stahl_t3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=June 24, 2003 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} and Logan Marshall-Green.{{cite web |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |title=Logan Marshall-Green Turned Down John Connor Role In Terminator 3 |url=https://screenrant.com/terminator-3-logan-marshall-green-john-connor/ |work=ScreenRant |date=July 7, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} For the film, Stahl took some weapons training and learned how to ride a motorcycle. Stahl did not aim to impersonate Furlong's earlier performance. For her role, Loken underwent six weeks of training, involving weights, fighting, and weapons. She also undertook Krav Maga, and gained {{convert|14|lb}} of muscle.{{cite web |title=Actress enjoyed hitting Arnie |url=http://www.cinema.com/news/item/6633/actress-enjoyed-hitting-arnie.phtml |work=Cinema.com |date=August 1, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212200103/http://www.cinema.com/news/item/6633/actress-enjoyed-hitting-arnie.phtml |archive-date=February 12, 2006}} In addition, Loken took a mime movement class to perfect her character's robotic movements.{{cite web |last=Downey |first=Ryan J. |title=Terminator 3's Nick Stahl Cautiously Talks About Sci-Fi Sequel |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1456121/terminator-3s-nick-stahl-cautiously-talks-about-sci-fi-sequel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031205954/http://www.mtv.com/news/1456121/terminator-3s-nick-stahl-cautiously-talks-about-sci-fi-sequel/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 31, 2019 |website=MTV News |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=July 17, 2002}}

Mostow originally wanted Claire Danes for the role of Kate Brewster, but the initial effort to get her involved did not work out. Sophia Bush was cast in the role instead, and Mostow was more excited about her casting than any other character. However, during filming, Mostow felt that Bush's appearance and performance seemed too youthful for the role. He said, "I tried everything I could to make her look older, but ultimately the camera doesn't lie. So I had to replace her and it was heart breaking because it was a huge break for her." After reading the script, Danes decided to join the cast to play Kate. Bush was replaced by Danes in May 2002, a month into filming.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Danes dons role in 'T3'; Bush terminated in recasting |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/danes-dons-role-in-t3-1117866454/ |website=Variety |access-date=September 6, 2019 |date=May 5, 2002}}{{cite magazine |last=Susman |first=Gary |title=Claire Danes joins "T3" a month into production |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/05/07/claire-danes-joins-t3-month-production/ |access-date=September 6, 2019 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Danes began filming the day after she was hired.{{cite news |last=Womack |first=Tiffany |title=Claire Danes In Action |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/claire-danes-in-action/ |access-date=September 6, 2019 |work=CBS |date=July 1, 2003}}

Filming began on April 15, 2002. The first night of filming involved Schwarzenegger's Terminator ramming a vehicle into Loken's T-X outside the animal hospital, which was constructed as a set in Los Angeles' Sunland-Tujunga neighborhood.{{cite web |title=First Images from Terminator 3 |url=http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=12105 |work=Ain't It Cool News |date=April 24, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020806031706/http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=12105 |archive-date=August 6, 2002}} Initially, Mostow was somewhat hesitant about following Cameron's footsteps as director, but he eventually put aside such concerns and later said, "Everyone will see this movie and make comparisons, but I can't control any of that." Schwarzenegger missed working with Cameron and initially did not have the same kind of confidence in Mostow as filming began. However, during the first week of filming, Schwarzenegger became convinced that Mostow was an adequate choice.

Production designer Jeff Mann and his crew of 350 people designed and constructed multiple sets for the film during a four-month period prior to filming.{{cite web |title=About the Production |url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=2134 |work=CinemaReview.com |access-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031108094907/http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=2134 |archive-date=November 8, 2003 |pages=1–2}} Los Angeles Center Studios was a major filming location, as the production used six sound stages there. At least three sound stages were occupied by the project at all times during filming, and at one point all of the stages were in use for the shoot. In June 2002, driving scenes were filmed at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.{{cite web |title=Whittier's film highlights include 'Back to the Future' |url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2013/07/08/whittiers-film-highlights-include-back-to-the-future/ |work=Whittier Daily News |date=July 8, 2013 |access-date=September 27, 2019}} Filming also took place at Big Bend National Park in Texas.{{cite web |title=Select Film and Television Projects Made in Texas (1910 - 2018) |url=https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/film/tx_made_filmography.pdf |work=Texas Film Commission |date=2018 |access-date=September 27, 2019 |page=46}} Some sequences use more than 1,000 simultaneous tracks of audio.

Stahl had few scenes during the initial weeks of filming, giving him time to work on his physique. Schwarzenegger worked out during lunch breaks to maintain his physical appearance.{{cite web |last=Ruby |first=Jack |title=Interview: Schwarzenegger/Mostow |url=http://www.chud.com/news/aug02/aug13arn.php3 |work=CHUD |date=August 13, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021001202407/http://www.chud.com/news/aug02/aug13arn.php3 |archive-date=October 1, 2002}} He had a {{convert|20|foot|adj=on}} trailer with a gym inside, where he would work out in between filming. Schwarzenegger also performed many of his own stunts, something that he enjoyed doing. One of the most elaborate and choreographed stunts was devised by Mostow and stunt coordinator Simon Crane. The scene involves the T-X driving a 100-ton mobile crane down a street in pursuit of John Connor. During the scene, Schwarzenegger's Terminator hangs on to the crane arm as it is swung around, smashing him into a glass building and a passing fire truck. Fourteen cameras were used for the shot in which he crashes through a glass building, as the film crew would only have one chance to film it, which was the case with many of the film's stunts. Schwarzenegger enjoyed filming the scene and called it "unbelievable," while stating, "We used every safety precaution, but there were close calls, many times." The street chase was filmed on a {{convert|0.25|mi|adj=on}} set of road and buildings, constructed at a Boeing plant in Downey, California.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=T3 Set Scoop |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/02/t3-set-scoop |work=IGN |date=August 2, 2002 |access-date=October 10, 2019}} The film's showdown between the two Terminators is set in a marble and steel bathroom. Mostow's vision for the scene was to have the bathroom completely destroyed by the Terminators by the end of their battle. The scene took four weeks to rehearse and two weeks to film. In early September 2002, scenes were filmed at San Bernardino International Airport.{{cite web |title='Terminator 3' latest film to use SBIA as location |url=https://nl.newsbank.com |website=The San Bernardino Sun |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=September 6, 2002 |url-access=subscription |via=NewsLibrary}}

As with the previous films, the Terminator characters arrive naked after travelling through time. One of the film's opening scenes is set at the Desert Star bar, where Schwarzenegger's Terminator goes in search of clothes. The scene was filmed at the Cowboy Palace bar in the San Fernando Valley. The Sierra Inn bar and restaurant, in Agua Dulce, California, was also used for exterior shots of the Desert Star.{{cite web |title=Terminator-3 Bar Scene |url=https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/t3barscene.htm |work=SCVTV |access-date=September 27, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Adkins |first=Jane |title=Historic Agua Dulce Property for Lease |url=http://archive.signalscv.com/archives/137951/preview/ |work=The Santa Clarita Valley Signal |date=June 2, 2015 |access-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927194228/http://archive.signalscv.com/archives/137951/preview/ |url-status=dead }} The final scene to be filmed was another opening scene in which the T-X arrives naked on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Mostow said shooting the scene discreetly was a challenge due to the tourist popularity of Rodeo Drive. The filmmakers had to wait five months before finally receiving clearance to shoot the scene. The street had to be closed for filming to take place.{{cite news |last=Michael |first=David |title=Kristanna Loken interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/kristanna_loken_t3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=July 28, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030811185145/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/24/kristanna_loken_t3_interview.shtml |archive-date=August 11, 2003}} The 5-month shoot proceeded as scheduled (From April 15, 2002), and concluded on September 8, 2002.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Michael |title=Jersey sparks to 'Ark' |url=https://variety.com/2002/voices/columns/jersey-sparks-to-ark-1117872585/ |work=Variety |date=September 9, 2002 |access-date=September 27, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Terminator 3 finishes filming |url=https://www.cinema.com/news/item/6158/terminator-3-finishes-filming.phtml |work=Cinema.com |date=September 12, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212200057/http://www.cinema.com/news/item/6158/terminator-3-finishes-filming.phtml |archive-date=February 12, 2006}}

The film features more than 600 special effects shots.{{cite magazine |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/25/terminator-3-rise-machines/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 25, 2003 |access-date=September 6, 2019}} Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Stan Winston created the special effects, as they had done for the previous film.{{cite web |last=Graser |first=Marc |title=ILM will be back for 'T3' |url=https://variety.com/2002/digital/news/ilm-will-be-back-for-t3-1117858364/ |work=Variety |date=January 10, 2002 |access-date=September 26, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Graser |first=Marc |title='T3' calls on Winston for f/x |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/t3-calls-on-winston-for-f-x-1117862029/ |work=Variety |date=March 7, 2002 |access-date=September 26, 2019}} Winston created the Terminator special effects and also designed the T-1,{{cite web |title=Stan Winston interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/06/19/stan_winston_terminator_3_interview.shtml |work=BBC |date=June 19, 2003 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} an early Terminator machine that appears in the CRS facility near the end of the film. Mostow said about the T-1, "I wanted to depict the first generation of Terminator robots, to show where it all began. […] We came up with this primitive but deadly robotic machine that is part tank, part robot." Winston created five full-sized, functioning T-1 robots, each one controlled by hydraulics. Winston's team also designed the T-X's endoskeleton frame, as well as her weapons. Certain sequences involving fire and explosions were deemed too dangerous for Schwarzenegger and Loken to perform, so Winston and his team constructed life-sized robot replicas of the actors for such scenes. When the start of production was delayed from its earlier 2001 date, it allowed Winston more time to develop the various special effects.{{cite web |last=Lawson |first=Terry |title='T3' was almost the big movie that couldn't get made |url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/T3-was-almost-the-big-movie-that-couldn-t-get-2125230.php |work=Knight Ridder Newspapers |date=July 1, 2003 |access-date=October 2, 2019}} ILM used miniature sculptures and computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create numerous visual effects for brief scenes set in the future, depicting the post-apocalyptic war between humans and machines. ILM's effects included Terminator endoskeletons seen during the future war. The endoskeletons were created entirely through CGI.{{cite news |title=An Interview with Stan Winston |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/427/427029p1.html |work=IGN |date=July 2, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316011459/http://movies.ign.com/articles/427/427029p1.html |archive-date=March 16, 2008}}

One challenging scene for the visual effects team takes place at a cemetery, where the T-X has taken on the appearance of Kate's fiancé, before morphing to her original appearance. The scene required several repeated shots of the same area with the use of controlled camera movements that were the same for each take. Another difficult scene depicts the T-X's liquid metal exterior peeling off to reveal her endoskeleton. The visual effects team took six months to develop a method that would adequately simulate the scene. Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor for ILM, said, "We had no application for creating and controlling streams of liquid metal, so we had to begin by determining the density, weight, shape and mass of this material, and how it would move under these conditions. It was a really complicated process." Another scene features the crane vehicle flipping over at the end of the road chase sequence. The production crew determined that it would be too dangerous and impractical to use the actual vehicle during this portion of the sequence, so ILM digitally recreated the crane using photos of the actual vehicle.

One scene depicts the T-101 cutting open his chest cavity to remove a failing fuel cell battery, while simultaneously driving a truck. For the scene, Winston's team used cyber scans to create a body cast replica of Schwarzenegger that would sit in the driver's seat. Schwarzenegger was situated in the back of the truck, and his head and arms were visible in the front seat to give the impression that he was connected to the body cast. Several shots during the bathroom battle used CGI to simulate the Terminators. Helman said the scene required "a tremendous amount of visual effects to accomplish, and in some shots, large sections of the bathroom are completely computer generated." Mostow said the battle was "actually a much more complicated sequence from a visual effects standpoint than the audience will ever realize." A combination of Schwarzenegger's real body, prosthetics, and CGI were used to create the T-101 for its final scene in the film.

{{Infobox album

| name = Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

| type = Film score

| artist = Marco Beltrami

| cover =

| alt =

| released = June 24, 2003

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 51:22

| label = Varèse Sarabande

| producer =

| chronology = Terminator soundtrack

| prev_title = Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

| next_year = 2008

}}

Marco Beltrami composed the musical score. He did not use the series' leitmotif by Brad Fiedel,{{cite web|url=http://archive.thearnoldfans.com/interviews/t3/beltrami/beltrami.htm|title=TheArnoldFans.com: News|access-date=April 14, 2015}} though it was used in the film's end credits. The film's soundtrack was released by Varèse Sarabande on June 24, 2003:

{{Track listing

| headline = Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

| extra_column = Original artist

| all_music = Marco Beltrami except "The Terminator" and "I Told You"

| total_length = 51:22

| title1 = A Day in the Life

| extra1 =

| length1 = 3:41

| title2 = Hooked on Multiphonics

| extra2 =

| length2 = 1:47

| title3 = Blonde Behind the Wheel

| extra3 =

| length3 = 2:07

| title4 = JC Theme

| extra4 =

| length4 = 3:34

| title5 = Starting T-1

| extra5 =

| length5 = 1:50

| title6 = Hearse Rent a Car

| extra6 =

| length6 = 1:48

| title7 = T-X's Hot Tail

| extra7 =

| length7 = 3:39

| title8 = Graveyard Shootout

| extra8 =

| length8 = 1:31

| title9 = More Deep Thoughts

| extra9 =

| length9 = 0:58

| title10 = Dual Terminator

| extra10 =

| length10 = 0:51

| title11 = Kicked in the Can

| extra11 =

| length11 = 2:03

| title12 = Magnetic Personality

| extra12 =

| length12 = 4:35

| title13 = Termina-Tricks

| extra13 =

| length13 = 2:12

| title14 = Flying Lessons

| extra14 =

| length14 = 0:56

| title15 = What Do You Want on Your Tombstone?

| extra15 =

| length15 = 1:19

| title16 = Terminator Tangle

| extra16 =

| length16 = 3:21

| title17 = Radio

| extra17 =

| length17 = 2:23

| title18 = T3

| extra18 =

| length18 = 3:17

| title19 = The Terminator

| note19 = from the motion picture The Terminator

| extra19 = Brad Fiedel

| writer19 = Brad Fiedel

| length19 = 2:21

| title20 = Open to Me

| note20 = bonus track

| extra20 = Dillon Dixon

| writer20 = Dillon Dixon

| length20 = 3:46

| title21 = I Told You

| note21 = bonus track

| extra21 = Mia Julia

| writer21 = Mia Julia

| length21 = 3:11

}}

Songs that are not included on the soundtrack album

• "Dat Funky Man" (performed by William Randolph III; words by Jonathan Mostow)
• "Sugar" (performed by Peter Beckett; words by Jonathan Mostow)
• "Party" (performed by Peter Beckett)
• "Can't Hide This" (performed by Mega Jeff)
• "Macho Man" (performed by Village People)
• "The Current" (performed by Blue Man Group featuring Gavin Rossdale){{cite web |url=http://www.blueman.com/media/video |title=Blue Man Group :: Blue Man Video |publisher=Blueman.com |date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702120908/http://www.blueman.com/media/video |archive-date=July 2, 2011}}

The first teaser trailer of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines premiered online and in theaters with Men in Black II in July 2002.{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|title=A T3 Tease|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/08/a-t3-tease|access-date=May 28, 2022|date=July 8, 2002}} On December 13, 2002, the first shot of T-X was revealed on USA Today. Just four days later, a trailer was officially released online. It debuted in theaters a day later on December 18 with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-schedule-of-events-straight-from-arnold/|title=Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines schedule of events straight from Arnold!|date=December 12, 2002 }} The film was also advertised during Super Bowl XXXVII with a television commercial.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2003/01/27/theyre-overhyped-overgrown-even-terrifying-but-we-love-to-see-em-play-on-super-sunday/4b5fff2e-34ba-4d44-9aee-7bc63f710ffd/|title=They're Overhyped, Overgrown, Even Terrifying, but We Love to See 'Em Play on Super Sunday|newspaper=The Washington Post }}

In May 2003, several parties were held in Cannes to promote the film. Also held there was a publicity event that included {{convert|10|foot|adj=on}} metal robots, as well as comments from Schwarzenegger about the film.{{cite web |last1=Bing |first1=Jonathan |last2=Gray |first2=Tim |title=Rise of PR 'Machines': Schwarzenegger, giant robots promo 'T3' with Cannes flair |url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/rise-of-pr-machines-1117886418/ |work=Variety |date=May 17, 2003 |access-date=October 10, 2019}} Action figures of the Terminator characters were produced by McFarlane Toys.{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |title=Toying with the Terminator: Have a look at McFarlane Toys' T3 figures |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/386/386687p1.html |work=IGN |date=February 19, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303113857/http://movies.ign.com/articles/386/386687p1.html |archive-date=March 3, 2012}}

Atari adapted the film into three video games, beginning with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) developed by Black Ops Entertainment for multiple platforms.{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2003 |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/24/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220323224958/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/24/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-6 |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=IGN }} This was followed by Terminator 3: War of the Machines (2003) and Terminator 3: The Redemption (2004).{{Cite web |last=McKinney |first=Luke |date=July 6, 2015 |title=The Strange History of Terminator Games |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/the-strange-history-of-terminator-games/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220323225847/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/the-strange-history-of-terminator-games/ |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=Den of Geek }}

On the weekend of the film's release, NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Michael Waltrip each drove T3-branded cars during races at Daytona International Speedway. The cars featured the likenesses of Schwarzenegger and Loken's characters. In addition, a month after the film was released, Formula One team Jaguar Racing would run their cars with T3 liveries at the 2003 British Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.grandprix.com/news/arnie-comes-to-f1.html|title=Arnie comes to F1|website=GrandPrix.com|access-date=March 24, 2023}}

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines had its premiere at Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles on June 30, 2003.{{cite web |title="Terminator 3: Rise Of Machines" To Be Celebrated With Debut Of "T3 Radio" From Warner Bros. Pictures And KROQ |url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cterminator-3-rise-machines%E2%80%9D-be-celebrated-debut-%E2%80%9Ct3-radio%E2%80%9D-warner-bros-pictures-and/ |website=Warner Bros. |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=June 30, 2003 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025081716/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cterminator-3-rise-machines%E2%80%9D-be-celebrated-debut-%E2%80%9Ct3-radio%E2%80%9D-warner-bros-pictures-and |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=World Premiere of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" Monday, June 30 |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20030630005142/en/World-Premiere-Terminator-3-Rise-Machines-Monday |website=Business Wire |access-date=October 13, 2019 |date=June 30, 2003}}{{cite news |title=He's baaaaack! |url=https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/2/19732494/he-s-baaaaack |access-date=October 13, 2019 |work=Deseret News |date=July 2, 2003}} In the United States, the film was released by Warner Bros. in 3,504 theaters on July 2, 2003.{{cite news |last=Friedman |first=Roger |title=Terminator 3: A Terminal Case? |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/terminator-3-a-terminal-case.amp |access-date=October 13, 2019 |work=Fox News |date=June 30, 2003}} Press screenings of the film were very limited prior to release.

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2022}}

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was released on DVD and VHS on November 11, 2003,{{cite web|title="Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines" Comes To DVD And VHS From Warner Home Video|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cterminator-3-rise-machines%E2%80%9D-comes-dvd-and-vhs-warner-home-video}} and on Blu-ray on February 26, 2008.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines earned $150.4{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada and $283{{nbsp}}million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $433.4{{nbsp}}million.{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=0181852 |title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines |access-date=January 2, 2022}} It was the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2003.{{Cite web |title=Top 2003 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120105133/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2003 |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |website=The Numbers }}

In the United States and Canada, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was released on July 2, 2003. It earned $12.5{{nbsp}}million on its first day, including $4{{nbsp}}million from Tuesday night previews.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/t3s-first-day-gross-of-165m-sends-intermedia-shares-soaring/4014082.article|title=T3's first day gross of $16.5m sends Intermedia shares soaring}} The film grossed $44{{nbsp}}million during its opening weekend,{{Cite magazine |last=Karger |first=Dave |date=July 4, 2003 |title=Arnold's back -- and No. 1 -- at the box office |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/07/04/arnolds-back-and-no-1-box-office/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319193307/https://ew.com/article/2003/07/04/arnolds-back-and-no-1-box-office/ |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} combined with the $72.5{{nbsp}}million five-day Wednesday opening gross.{{Cite news |last=DiOrio |first=Carl |date=July 6, 2003 |title=Arnold's back but B.O. isn't |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/box-office/arnold-s-back-but-b-o-isn-t-1117888875/ |access-date=July 16, 2023}} At the time of its opening, it had the fifth-highest opening weekend for an R-rated film, behind The Matrix Reloaded, American Pie 2, 8 Mile, and Hannibal.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/terminator-3-pays-off-with-725m-opening/4014097.article|title=Terminator 3 pays off with $72.5m opening}} The film also scored the fourth-highest Fourth of July opening weekend, after Men in Black, Men in Black II, and Independence Day. Moreover, it competed against other films that were released during the summer season like Finding Nemo, The Italian Job, Hulk, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Bruce Almighty, and 2 Fast 2 Furious. These films would even dominate the weaker opening of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, an underperforming animated film.{{cite web|url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/fyi/terminator-3-blasts-rivals-at-weekend-box-office/101-384268412|title=Terminator 3 blasts rivals at weekend box-office|date=July 6, 2003|website=WLTX}} Additionally, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines surpassed Batman & Robin for having the biggest opening weekend for any film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102350343/arnold-comes-back-to-lagging-box-office/ |title=Arnold comes back to lagging box office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523194824/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102350343/arnold-comes-back-to-lagging-box-office/ |newspaper=Palladium-Item |page=1 |date=July 7, 2003 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}} It would remain at the top of the box office until it was dethroned by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the following week.{{cite magazine|last=Karger|first=Dave|title=Pirates sails to No. 1 at the box office|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/07/11/pirates-sails-no-1-box-office/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 1, 2022|date=July 11, 2003|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603211805/https://ew.com/article/2003/07/11/pirates-sails-no-1-box-office/|url-status=live}} Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines completed its theatrical run on October 30, 2003, making it the year's eighth-highest-grossing film.{{Cite web|title=2003 Domestic Grosses |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?asof=2004-01-27&view=releasedate&view2=domestic&yr=2003&sort=gross&order=DESC&p=.htm |access-date=February 18, 2014 |website=Box Office Mojo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222190043/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?asof=2004-01-27&view=releasedate&view2=domestic&yr=2003&sort=gross&order=DESC&p=.htm |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }} Warner Bros. said that the film was meaningfully profitable for them.{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2003 |title=Old-Style Cartoons Fade to Black Amid New Computer Animation |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB105753352285373000 |access-date=July 14, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}

Worldwide, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines had box office runs in several countries. The film made $1{{nbsp}}million from India, making it the country's third-highest opening of any film, behind Die Another Day and Spider-Man.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/t3-tops-international-releases-with-194m/4014339.article|title=T3 tops international releases with $19.4m}} In France, it became the third-highest opening for a 2003 film in the country, trailing only behind Taxi 3 and The Matrix Reloaded.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/t3-closing-in-on-200m-international-box-office/4014485.article|title=T3 closing in on $200m international box office}} It then made $2.6{{nbsp}}million in Italy during its opening weekend.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/t3-takes-italy-by-storm-with-26m-on-601-prints/4015133.article|title=T3 takes Italy by storm, with $2.6m on 601 prints}} In the United Kingdom, the film made an opening weekend total of $9.6{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/t3-continues-to-rule-international-roost-and-raises-total-to-141m/4014421.article|title=T3 continues to rule international roost and raises total to $141m}} At this point, it had the country's fourth-highest opening for any 2003 film, after Bruce Almighty, The Matrix Reloaded, and X2. With the exception of Batman & Robin and True Lies, the film's four-day gross was superior to the total gross of any Schwarzenegger film released since Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991. Plus, it had earned $1.7{{nbsp}}million from previews.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/arnie-heats-up-the-uk-box-office/4014442.article|title=Arnie heats up the UK box office}} Meanwhile, in Japan, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines went on to earn $12.5{{nbsp}}million, making it the country's sixth-largest opening of any film. The film had already earned $9.5{{nbsp}}million from previews, surpassing Spirited Away{{'}}s record for having the biggest previews in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/terminator-3-takes-japanese-box-office-by-storm-for-toho-towa-/4014182.article|title=Terminator 3 takes Japanese box office by storm for Toho-Towa...}} It made $1.3{{nbsp}}million in Thailand, becoming the second-highest opening of any film in the country, behind The Legend of Suriyothai.{{Cite news |last=Grove |first=Don |date=July 14, 2003 |title='T3' terminates Asian B.O. |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/box-office/t3-terminates-asian-b-o-1117889284/ |access-date=July 30, 2022}} In total, the international grosses include Argentina ($2.5{{nbsp}}million), Australia ($12.3{{nbsp}}million), Austria ($3.4{{nbsp}}million) France ($18.9{{nbsp}}million), Germany ($19.5{{nbsp}}million), India ($2.1{{nbsp}}million), Italy ($6.2{{nbsp}}million), Japan ($67.5{{nbsp}}million), Mexico ($8.9{{nbsp}}million), New Zealand ($2.3{{nbsp}}million), Russia ($12.8{{nbsp}}million), Spain ($13.9{{nbsp}}million), and the United Kingdom ($31.2{{nbsp}}million).

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines has an approval rating of 70% based on {{RT data|count}} professional reviews on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. Its critical consensus reads, "Although T3 never reaches the heights of the second movie, it is a welcome addition to the Terminator franchise."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes | title= Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | type= m | id= {{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} | website= Rotten Tomatoes | access-date= {{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}} Metacritic (which uses a weighted average) assigned Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines a score of 66 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite Metacritic|id=terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines|type=movie|title=Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines|access-date=January 2, 2022}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= December 20, 2018 }}

Shortly after the film's release, Cameron described the film as "in one word: great",{{cite web | title = James Cameron's Opinion of T3: Great | publisher = CountingDown.com | url = http://www.countingdown.com/movies/1557/news?item_id=3128284 | access-date = December 1, 2007 | archive-date = January 6, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080106194601/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/1557/news?item_id=3128284 | url-status = dead }} but after the release of the fourth film, Terminator Salvation, Cameron added he felt his first two films were better than either of the later films.{{cite web|url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18899|title=James Cameron Says His "Terminator" Films are Better|publisher=Worst Previews|access-date=April 14, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195933/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=18899|url-status=dead}} A. O. Scott of The New York Times said the film "is essentially a B movie, content to be loud, dumb and obvious".{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/01/movies/film-review-a-monotonic-cyborg-learns-to-say-pantsuit.html?pagewanted=2 | work=The New York Times | title=Film Review; A Monotonic Cyborg Learns To Say 'Pantsuit{{'-}} | first=A. O. | last=Scott | date=July 1, 2003 | author-link = A. O. Scott }} Roger Ebert gave the film two-and-a-half stars, remarking "Essentially one long chase and fight, punctuated by comic, campy or simplistic dialogue."{{cite news|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/terminator-3-rise-of-the-machines-2003 |title=Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines |work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=July 7, 2003 |access-date=August 13, 2011 | first = Roger |last=Ebert | author-link = Roger Ebert }}

In retrospect, Director Jonathan Mostow said:

“The problem in Terminator 3 is that Terminator 2 was such a seminal movie. It was going to be impossible to blow people away because T2 was the first time a lot of people saw digital effects. The liquid-metal man, no one had ever seen that before. That and Jurassic Park, those are two movies that probably most have blown people away from seeing them in the theater. I knew that we wouldn’t be able to achieve that. I also knew there was going to be a lot of skepticism. Why do you even need a third Terminator? I felt that I had to disarm those people. So that’s why we made the choice to use humor, which is front-loaded earlier in the movie. Some of it's too shticky, some of it has not aged well with time, I’ll be the first to confess. But if you went to the theater at the time, it worked with the audience.

{{main|Terminator Salvation{{!}}Terminator Salvation|Terminator Genisys{{!}}Terminator Genisys}}

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was followed by Terminator Salvation, with the setting moved to the post-apocalyptic future. Although Salvation was intended to launch a new trilogy for the series, the film is considered a failure. This led to Terminator Genisys (2015), a reboot of the franchise which underperformed at the box office.{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=David |date=September 24, 2020 |title=How to watch the Terminator movie franchise in order – every timeline explained |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/terminator-watch-order/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220106231704/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/terminator-watch-order/ |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=January 22, 2022 |website=Radio Times}}{{cite web|first=Benjamin |last=Lee |title=Darkest Fate: How The Terminator Franchise Was Finally Terminated |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/05/darkest-fate-how-the-terminator-franchise-was-finally-terminated |website=The Guardian |date= November 5, 2019 |access-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211108162231/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/05/darkest-fate-how-the-terminator-franchise-was-finally-terminated |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |url-status=live}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite magazine| last=Shapiro | first=Marc |date=July 1991 |title=A Judgment In Steel |pages=36–40|issue=104|magazine=Fangoria |publisher=Fangoria Publishing, LLC|location=Atlanta, Georgia |ref={{sfnref|Shapiro, Marc, July B|1991}}}}
• {{cite magazine| last=Shapiro| first=Marc |date=September 1991 | issue=170 |pages=32–35|title=Director's Judgment | magazine=Starlog|publisher= Starlog Group, Inc. |location=New York |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-170/page/n31/mode/2up?q=%22terminator+2%22&view=theater |ref={{sfnref|ShapiroC|1991}}}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/terminator-3-rise-machines}}
• {{IMDb title|0181852}}

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Rise of the Machines

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