This presentation analyses the shift in science fiction films during the 1970s/80s and how the films of the Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day have impacted/been impacted by popularity and society.

1. THE TERMINATOR (1984) VS
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)
A Case Study on the Impact of Audience Expectations

2. SCIENCE FICTION SUBGENRES
OF 1970-80S
Darker, antitechnology science
fiction:
• Mad Max (1979)
• The Road Warrior
(1981)
• Blade Runner
(1982)
• Streets of Fire (1984)
• The Terminator (1984)
Lighter, more
optimistic science
fiction:
•Star Wars (1977)
•The Empire Strikes
Back (1980)
•E.T (1982)
•Return of the Jedi
(1983)

3. THE TERMINATOR
• Released in 1984 and was a surprise hit at the boxoffice
• “Audience discovered this “sleeper” and made it
number one at the box-office for six weeks.”
• Modest budget - $6.5 million
• Profited $38.4 million by the end of theatrical run
• Initially received favourable review but mixed reviews.
Critics’ opinions changed later.

4. “Most critics admired its roller-coaster thrills and
intriguing plot, but few felt it was a “great” film…
Most regarded it as a workmanlike “good film of
its type” (“B”-level science fiction/action), a weak
compliment.”

5. CRITICAL RECEPTION OF THE FILM GRADUALLY
CHANGED BECAUSE:
1. The Terminator’s influenced other films:
1. On the style and content of other directors’ films. They often imitated and quoted The
Terminator.
2. On subsequent style and dialogue of Schwarzenegger’s own subsequent action films
3. It became a part of popular culture, mentioned in a variety of other texts etc.
2. The Terminator acted as a career building film, setting into motion:
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s acting career and James Cameron’s directing career, as
well as many other cast members’ careers.
3. The Terminator impacted film analysis:
1. The visual style and written content of the film apparently provided “food for thought”,
resulting in many published articles in film journals.

6. THE TRANSITION FROM
TERMINATOR TO THE SEQUEL…
Dark, antitechnology scifi
The Terminator
Terminator 2:
Judgement Day
Lighter, more
optimistic scifi.
E.g. Star Wars

7. THE COMPARISON…
The Terminator
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
• Released in 1984 and was a
surprise hit at the box-office - #1
for six weeks.
• Released 1991
• Modest budget - $6.5 million
• Profited $38.4 million by the end
of theatrical run
• Initially received favourable
review but mixed reviews. Critics’
opinions changed later.
• Much bigger budget - $94 million
• Profited $204.8 million by the
end of theatrical run
• Gained greater success because
it took a popular film + audience
expectations to create a more
commercial film.

8. YOUR TASK…
• Watch the trailers for the films, research each
film’s narrative content and style, then compare
the stories.
• Create a venn diagram to show the similarities
and differences between the two films.

9. THE TERMINATOR (1984)

10. • How does the Terminator 2: Judgement Day film
trailer use audience expectation to sell its film?
What are some of the words the narrator uses?

11. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)

12. AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS:
THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES
• TASK: What are the positives and negatives of
the audience expectations that we’ve discussed
around science fiction?
• Write a pros vs cons list/diagram/explanation.