Terminator 2:3D - Making Of Documentary | James Cameron | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Behind the Scenes

T2-3D: Battle Across Time (also known as Terminator 2: 3D and stylized as T2 3-D) was an attraction at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. The version of the show at in Hollywood had its final performance on December 31, 2012; the show then closed January 1, 2013.[3] The version in Florida had its final performance on October 8, 2017; the show then closed October 9.[4][5] The version in Osaka closed on September 14, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, making the show on September 13, 2020, the final performance.[6][7]

The attraction is a mini-sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day and reunites director James Cameron and the main cast from the movie, including Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, Edward Furlong as John Connor, and Robert Patrick as the T-1000. The show was presented in two parts; a pre-show where a Cyberdyne Systems company hostess shows guests a brief video presentation about the company's innovations, and the main show, where live performers interact with a 3D film.

History
The attraction was originally developed for Universal Studios Florida, with producers pushing for a second installation in Universal Studios Hollywood during development.[8][9] The original attraction cost a total of $60 million. With a total run time of 12 minutes, the film alone cost $24 million, making it one of the most expensive films per minute in the world.[10][11]

On May 30, 1995, Universal Orlando announced that they would be receiving Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time.[12] The attraction opened in the Hollywood area of Universal Orlando on April 27, 1996,[13] to very positive reviews.[2] Additional venues were later announced for Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan.[2][14]

Construction for the Hollywood venue forced the closure of Fievel's Playland and An American Tail Theatre, which were built atop a parking structure. The attraction opened on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood on May 6, 1999. In the year of the attraction's opening, attendance at Universal Studios Hollywood remained steady at 5.1 million; however, other parks in the region saw declines in revenue, such as Disneyland which experienced a 5% drop.[9][15] The Terminator stage was subsequently used for the annual Halloween Horror Nights event, with The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute being shown in 2009.

At Universal Studios Japan, the attraction was added as one of the debut attractions in the New York section of the park. It opened to the public on March 31, 2001.[9][16] California-based firm Technifex provided special effects and show equipment for the attraction.[17]

In late 2012, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that their version would close on December 31, 2012.[3] It was later announced Despicable Me Minion Mayhem would replace the attraction.[18][19] The version at Universal Orlando had its final performance on October 8, 2017.[4][5] Two years later, Universal Orlando announced that a new Jason Bourne-themed show named The Bourne Stuntacular would replace that park's version of the Terminator show.[20] This attraction premiered on June 30, 2020.[21]

The version in Osaka was temporarily closed on September 14, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However on May 16, 2023, Universal Studios Japan announced the park had no intentions to reopen the attraction.[6][7]