LOS ANGELES — He promised he’d be back, and he’s keeping his word in the biggest premium formats available.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of James Cameron’s ground-breaking sci-fi action masterpiece, StudioCanal, Fathom Entertainment, and Rialto Pictures have announced a massive global theatrical re-release of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
The four-time Academy Award-winning film will return to theaters worldwide starting in late August, giving audiences the chance to experience the blockbuster in 4K, RealD 3D, and various premium large formats. Crucially, the roll-out has been carefully timed around a date that fans know all too well: the U.S. premiere lands on Friday, August 28, meticulously leading into August 29—the franchise’s fictional “Judgment Day,” the catastrophic moment Skynet achieved self-awareness.
A Global Rolling Calendar
The theatrical event will rollout across a staggered international calendar, ensuring sci-fi fans around the globe can mark the milestone on the big screen:
- **August 27: Germany, Latin America, Czech Republic
- **August 28: United States, Italy, Poland
- **September 2: France
- September 3: Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary
- September 4: United Kingdom
The theatrical presentation will utilize StudioCanal’s extensive 2017 restoration and 3D conversion. While the 4K transfer has historically drawn debate among physical media purists for its digital noise reduction (DNR) processing, director James Cameron remains incredibly vocal that the theatrical 3D environment is the definitive sandbox for the film.
Cameron’s Tongue-in-Cheek Warning
In an official statement accompanying the announcement, Cameron expressed his excitement about bringing the T-800 back to its original home. He also couldn’t resist a timely joke about the film’s central themes, given modern society’s real-world anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence.
“T2 was made for theatres, and our lovingly-prepared 3D version, coming back to the big screen, is the absolute best way to see the film. I believe it’s safe to do spoilers after 35 years, so SPOILER ALERT: the good guys win against the AI superintelligence! And maybe that’s a message of hope we all could use this summer.”
— Director James Cameron
The Unrivaled Legacy of 1991
Released originally on July 3, 1991, Terminator 2 shattered industry records before a single frame was ever projected, commanding a then-unheard-of budget of over $102 million.
It went on to become a cultural phenomenon, pulling in $517 million worldwide to finish as the highest-grossing film of 1991. It swept the technical categories at the Oscars—taking home trophies for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Makeup—and revolutionized the use of computer-generated imagery through Robert Patrick’s terrifying liquid-metal T-1000.
Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment, emphasized that the cinematic package remains just as potent decades later. “Terminator 2 was a cultural phenomenon in the U.S. upon release and 35 years later, remains a timeless, non-stop thrill ride,” Nutt stated. “With iconic performances from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, spectacular sound and visual effects, and even a massive hit song by Guns N’ Roses, the re-release of T2 is a must-see theatrical event.”
U.S. tickets for the anniversary screenings will officially go on sale online via Fathom Entertainment on July 17.
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