Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Movie, 2003, Judgment Day, Set in 2004
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is #3 of 8 in release order and #3 of 8 in chronological order in the Terminator.
The story
It's been 10 years since John Connor saved Earth from Judgment Day, and he's now living under the radar, steering clear of using anything Skynet can trace. That is, until he encounters T-X, a robotic assassin ordered to finish what T-1000 started. Good thing Connor's former nemesis, the Terminator, is back to aid the now-adult Connor … just like he promised.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines recap
Judgment Day did not come in 1997, but it has only been delayed. John Connor, now in his twenties and living off the grid, is drifting since Sarah died of leukaemia. Skynet sends the T-X, a female Terminator with a liquid-metal skin over an armed skeleton, to kill John's future lieutenants, including the veterinarian Kate Brewster. A T-850, sent back by Kate in the future, protects them. Kate's father, General Robert Brewster, oversees the military's Skynet project, and a computer virus is spreading across the internet. The Terminator tells John that Judgment Day will happen today. The group tries to stop Skynet from being switched on, but Brewster activates it to stop the virus, which is actually Skynet itself. The T-X mortally wounds Brewster.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ending explained
Brewster sends John and Kate to a bunker he says is Skynet's core, and the T-850 destroys the T-X with a fuel cell, sacrificing itself. The bunker is a fallout shelter for officials, and there is no core: Skynet is software spread across the world. The missiles launch, and John takes command by radio as the bombs fall.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is streaming on YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 70%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, before Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
- Chronological order: after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, before Terminator Salvation.
What to watch before Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Nothing. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines itself is optional in the Terminator order.
Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator
- Nick Stahl as John Connor
- Claire Danes as Kate Brewster
- Kristanna Loken as T-X
- Earl Boen as Dr. Peter Silberman
- David Andrews as Robert Brewster
- Carolyn Hennesy as Rich Woman
- Jay Acovone as Cop - Westside Street
- Mark Famiglietti as Scott Petersen
- Moira Sinise as Betsy
- Chopper Bernet as Chief Engineer
- Christopher Lawford as Brewser's Aide
Directed by Jonathan Mostow.