Special Report

20 Facts You Might Not Know About ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day”

Kurt Krieger - Corbis / Corbis Entertainment via Getty Images

The 1991 sequel to the hit 1984 sci-fi action film “The Terminator” was even more successful than the original film, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (played by Linda Hamilton), a woman whose unborn son would grow up to lead a revolution and save mankind. 

The critically acclaimed sequel “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” saw Hamilton and Schwarzenegger’s characters return and team up against a terrifying new supervillain: the invincible robot T-1000 (Robert Patrick) who was sent to kill Connor’s son, John (Edward Furlong). “Judgment Day” raked in over $200 million at the domestic box office, making it one of the highest grossing R-rated movies of all time.

In addition to creating one of the most terrifying and memorable villains in movie history, the film can also be credited with bolstering the careers of the lead cast as well as director James Cameron, who signed a $500 million contract with 20th Century Fox in 1992 and went on to direct such iconic films as “Titanic” and “Avatar ” – some of the most expensive movies ever made. 

Click here to learn 20 facts you might not know about “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”

24/7 Tempo compiled 20 facts you might not know about “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” including behind the scenes stories, real life relationships, and set design secrets, by consulting IMDb, an online database of information related to films and television, as well as other entertainment news sources.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

1. Not just props

During the opening war scene, the burnt cars, bikes, and other props had actually been burnt. They were debris brought in from a Universal Studios fire set in 1989 when a disgruntled employee torched one of the lots.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

2. A surprise guest

A bystander wandered into the biker bar between takes, not realizing she was on a movie set. Upon seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger at the bar in boxers, she asked what was going on. Schwarzenegger replied that he was a male stripper that evening.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

3. Not a special effect

Actors’ twins were used twice during the filming of scenes where T-1000 mimics the form of a human character. Linda Hamilton’s twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Gearren, played Sarah Connor during scenes when Linda was portraying the T-1000 imitation of Sarah. In addition, a security guard at the mental institution (played by Don Stanton) came face to face with a T-1000 replica of himself (played by his twin Dan Stanton) before being stabbed.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

4. Time to grow up

Shooting the film took so long that actor Edward Furlong was much taller and visibly older by the end. He had to stand in a hole for one shot late in production to maintain a consistent height. His voice also changed dramatically and had to be re-dubbed in post-production.

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

5. Bionic man

In order to run without appearing to grow fatigued, Robert Patrick trained by breathing only through his nose while exercising. In the end, he could easily catch up to Edward Furlong’s dirt bike and had to slow his pace during filming. He also trained himself never to blink while playing T-1000.

Frank Trapper / Corbis Historical via Getty Images

6. A smash hit

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” was the first film to make over $300 million in international box office receipts.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

7. Short-sighted

During the chase scene through the storm drain, the top of the wrecker is ripped off by the overpass. That wasn’t scripted. The cab was too tall to fit under the bridge, so director James Cameron decided that the roof would have to go.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

8. Occupational hazards

Linda Hamilton suffered permanent hearing loss after the elevator shootout scene because she forgot to replace her ear plugs between takes.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

9. A realistic explosion

Stan Winston and his special effects crew watched hours of nuclear test footage to recreate a nuclear blast as accurately as possible. Several U.S. nuclear test lab employees have praised the film’s nuclear explosion scene for its veracity.

[in-text-ad-2]

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

10. Bad timing

James Cameron’s first choice for T-1000 was Billy Idol, and preliminary sketches showed the robot looking very much like the rock star. Unfortunately, Idol was recovering from a motorcycle accident that had nearly cost him his leg and couldn’t take the role, which would have required him to run.

Kurt Krieger - Corbis / Corbis Entertainment via Getty Images

11. Academy Awards

This was the only “Terminator” film to be nominated for Oscars – in six categories, in fact, of which it won four.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

12. Practice makes perfect

Arnold Schwarzenegger had to practice for weeks to perfect the L.A. River sequence, tearing skin off of his hand while cocking the gun repeatedly and training his eyes not to move as he shot and rode a Harley at the same time.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

13. It’s only a movie

Local residents showed up to protest when the medical center was made up into the Pescadero State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, only to realize that it was just a film set.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images News via Getty Images

14. Rodney King connection

The biker bar scene was filmed across the street from where LAPD officers viciously assaulted Rodney King. According to James Cameron, he was filming the night of the beating.

[in-text-ad-2]

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

15. The search for authenticity

While seeking a streetwise kid for the role of John Connor, casting director Mali Finn wasn’t happy with the child actors who auditioned. She eventually found Edward Furlong at the Boys’ Club of Pasadena. His life even mirrored that of John Connor – he’d grown up without a father and had been separated from his mother. On set, Schwarzenegger became somewhat of a surrogate father to the young actor.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

16. A lavish gift

Producer Mario Kassar gave Arnold Schwarzenegger a Gulfstream III private jet for agreeing to appear in the film.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

17. Now that’s dedication

Linda Hamilton trained for three hours a day, six days a week, for 13 weeks to prepare for filming, and ate a strict no-fat diet during production. She also underwent weapons training with Israeli submachine gun designer Uzi Gal and learned judo.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

18. Natural predators

Robert Patrick studied and mimicked the head movements of the American bald eagle and the graceful fluidity of the shark for his role as the high-tech hunter robot T-1000.

Brenda Chase / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

19. Workplace romance

Linda Hamilton and James Cameron began a romantic relationship during filming and married in 1997, only to divorce two years later.

[in-text-ad-2]

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

20. Cameron’s signature move

The final budget was $102 million – $90 million more than the first projected budget.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.