--- title: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/terminator-2-judgment-day/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/terminator-2-judgment-day" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 19 reviews: 18 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. With only 5 reviews in so far, the consensus is positive, with praise clustering around Cameron’s action sequences and the T-1000’s liquid-metal effects. Linda Hamilton’s performance also earns recognition for giving the spectacle a human centre. Reservations concern pacing and purpose rather than technical execution: the middle section draws complaints, while Empire finds fewer ideas than in the original. Time Out argues that sentimentality weakens the humour; The New York Times welcomes the stronger characters and wit but finds the violence exhausting and the plea for peace confused. The differences are within broadly favourable responses. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 3 July 1991. The film delivers spectacular special effects and action sequences centered on the shape-shifting T-1000 villain, while balancing a story of protection and human resistance against machines. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/terminator-2-judgment-day-1991) ## Little White Lies — Taylor Burns Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2016. The critic hails T2 as one of the greatest action films ever made and a high-water mark for genre cinema, crediting its groundbreaking visual effects and set pieces for changing Hollywood filmmaking. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/in-praise-of/terminator-2-greatest-action-movie-ever-made) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 1991. The critic hails the film as a massive box-office hit driven by its relentless intensity and revolutionary special effects that push the sci-fi action genre forward. Cameron and his team are praised for blending apocalyptic Man vs. Machine themes with quirky human moments, with standout performances from Edward Furlong and Linda Hamilton providing emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terminator-2-judgment-day-review-movie-1991-1249476/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★☆. 1 September 2017. The critic recommends catching the 3D re-release on the big screen for its enduring narrative urgency and effects. He singles out Robert Patrick's T-1000 as a flawless piece of visual trickery while noting the story as the film's true strength. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/terminator-2-judgment-day-3d-1991-205b3q0jj) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1990. The critic praises the sequel as more impressive than the original in expanding the concept with two cyborgs and strong visual effects, noting Schwarzenegger's assured performance and the film's innovation in the liquid-metal villain despite some script issues. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/terminator-2-judgment-day-1200428733/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 8.6/10. 16 August 1991. Cameron delivers a worthy sequel with hard-edged humour, rollercoaster action and groundbreaking liquid-metal effects from the T-1000. Linda Hamilton's committed performance gives the high-octane mayhem a necessary human centre. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-snn8tv/terminator-2-judgment-day/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 1991. The critic calls it top-flight kick-ass entertainment with astonishing effects and untoppable action set-pieces, though notes it is less idea-driven than the original. The T-1000 is singled out as one of cinema's great monsters. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/terminator-2-judgment-day-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 1991. Cameron has crafted an elaborate, shrewdly constructed wild ride that combines the best elements of the first film with new twists, showcasing his mastery of action filmmaking mechanics and psychology. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-03-ca-1467-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Justin Clark Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2016. The review celebrates the film's groundbreaking spectacle and audacious storytelling as a high point of Cameron's career, highlighting the innovative T-1000 effects and Linda Hamilton's intense performance as Sarah Connor. It notes the film's blend of nihilism with a ultimately hopeful message about humanity. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-91-james-camerons-terminator-2-judgment-day/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 August 1991. The critic praises Cameron's skillful direction and the film's verve, imagination, and special effects, noting it retains the original's enthusiasm without sloppy compromises, though it sags slightly in the middle. The effects, particularly the molten lead sequence, are highlighted as memorable. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1991/aug/15/1) ## Sight and Sound — J. Hoberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 1991. The critic views T2 as a spectacular, expensive blockbuster that redeems the Terminator while delivering relentless action and pyrotechnics, positioning Schwarzenegger as the ultimate embodiment of 1980s Hollywood excess. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/features/he-blockbuster-given-human-form-j-hoberman-arnold-schwarzenegger) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 1991. The critic finds the film a swift, exciting special-effects epic that improves on the original with better characters and wit, though it is tirelessly violent and ultimately exhausting with a confused purpose as a plea for peace. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/03/movies/review-film-in-new-terminator-the-forces-of-good-seek-peace-violently.html) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The film largely repeats the first with more spectacular effects and an anti-nuclear message, but the story sags in the middle and sentimentality undercuts the wit; the opening hour and finale show relentless bravura. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/terminator-2-judgment-day) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 1991. The sequel is far less satisfying than the original, with a lumbering narrative, heavy-handed anti-nuclear message, and spectacular effects that fail to compensate for the monotonous plotting and absurd premise. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1991/07/29/4-12) ## Den of Geek — Adam Sloman Rating 5/5. 26 May 2009. The Blu-ray release showcases the film's enduring quality, with excellent transfer, audio, and extras that highlight its status as a franchise high point. It praises the effects, performances (especially Robert Patrick and Linda Hamilton), and overall impact as a fantastic action film. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/terminator-2-judgement-day-skynet-edition-blu-ray-review/) ## Digital Spy — Sam Ashurst Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2016. The critic praises Terminator 2 as a timeless, fast-paced action classic that remains fun and profoundly moving decades later. They single out the practical effects work, Sarah Connor as the ultimate action heroine, and the emotional robot-son relationship for particular acclaim. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/re-viewed/a654283/re-viewed-terminator-2-judgment-day-james-camerons-ground-breaking-sequel/) ## Polygon — Adam Barnhardt Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2026. The film remains one of the most near-perfect action sci-fi movies ever made and one of the rare sequels better than its predecessor. Cameron excels at staging blockbuster spectacle through practical effects, stunts, and CGI, while Linda Hamilton's hardened Sarah Connor and the emotional bond between John and the Terminator provide real depth. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/best-sci-fi-movie-terminator-2/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 June 2015. The critic praises T2 as a game-changing, hopeful blockbuster that inverts the original film's grim tone by emphasizing family, emotional warmth, and the possibility of changing fate. It singles out the groundbreaking effects (especially the T-1000), strong performances (particularly Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor), and the film's reassuring message about humanity. [Read the review](https://collider.com/terminator-retrospective-t2-judgment-day-revisited/) ## Eye for Film — Scott Macdonald Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 January 2007. Terminator 2 is a wonderful sequel, dramatically satisfying and a fine entertainment in its own right. The film delivers strong action sequences and groundbreaking effects, with standout performances from the cast including a compelling turn from Edward Furlong. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/terminator-2-judgment-day-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/terminator-2-judgment-day.md