The Making of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Terminator 2 was a huge success at the box office, grossing $519.8 million on a reported budget of $102 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made and a financial success. It has become one of the most iconic and beloved films of all time.

The making of Terminator 2 was a long and complex process. Principal photography began in October 1990 and was completed over the course of 10 months, with post-production following soon after. From the original script to the final release, the entire production of the film required the expertise of hundreds of people.

The first step in the making of the film was recruiting the cast and crew, including Arnold Schwarzenegger as the cyborg and Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor. Schwarzenegger was paid a then-unprecedented $15 million for reprising his role as the Terminator. To bring the Terminator's look to life, Cameron and his team employed the latest advancements in cutting-edge visual effects. They used a combination of practical effects, such as animatronic puppets, models, and complex miniature effects for external shots – and computer generated imagery (CGI), digital compositing, and digital matte paintings, for complicated interior shots.

The producers created some of the most iconic and memorable scenes, such as the pursuit of Sarah and John by the T-1000 in the parking garage. This scene centred around a replica of the parking area constructed for the film, which was equipped with sophisticated hidden rigs and mounts, enabling the operators to carry out complicated movements with the metal-alloy Terminator.

The soundtrack was composed by Brad Fiedel. He combined electronic elements, such as the classic Eurythmics track “Sweet Dreams”, with traditional orchestral music to create the aural backdrop for the movie. The effects team created elaborate sets and props, such as the giant diving bell, which had to be continually moved around the set by a complex network of pulleys.

Everything finally came together in June 1991, when the film was released and became a box office success. Terminator 2 went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup. It also earned several other accolades and is widely considered a classic of both the science fiction and action genres.

The movie is still revered today, regularly appearing in critical lists of the greatest science fiction and action films of all time. It has spawned several sequels and a television series, cementing its place as an iconic blockbuster.

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