Terminator: Dark Fate faced several challenges at the box office

Terminator: Dark Fate faced several challenges at the box office, including a crowded release schedule, audience fatigue with the franchise, and mixed marketing. Despite positive reviews and the return of original stars Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film underperformed financially, which could be attributed to several factors.

Firstly, the film faced competition from other big-budget action films released around the same time, such as Joker, which became a cultural phenomenon and dominated the conversation in October 2019. Additionally, the franchise had suffered from a string of subpar sequels since James Cameron's original Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which may have affected audience interest in yet another sequel.

Secondly, the decision to ignore the events of the previous three Terminator films and serve as a direct sequel to T2 could have alienated some long-time fans who had invested in the continuity of the franchise. The film also saw the departure of original star Edward Furlong, who played John Connor, which was a significant change that might have disappointed some viewers.

Lastly, the marketing for Terminator: Dark Fate was criticized for being too focused on the nostalgic elements of the franchise, namely the return of Hamilton and Schwarzenegger, rather than highlighting the new story and characters. This could have led to the perception that the film was a nostalgia play rather than a fresh entry in the series.

Despite its financial struggles, Terminator: Dark Fate's streaming success indicates that there is still a strong fan base for the franchise, and the positive reception suggests that the storyline and characters resonated with audiences who were able to appreciate the film without the burden of theatrical expectations. The film's director, Tim Miller, had expressed interest in a sequel, but the poor box office performance has likely put any immediate plans for further installments on hold.

Arnold Schwarzenegger