STUDIOCANAL, Fathom Entertainment and Rialto Pictures today announced that James Cameron’s Oscar® winning and groundbreaking Sci-Fi action classic is set to return to cinemas in 4K and 3D premium formats.
To mark the 35th anniversary, Terminator 2: Judgment Day will open in New Zealand theatres on 3rd September 2026 alongside a range of late August/early September premiere dates to commemorate T2’s “Judgment Day” (29 August).
Originally released in 1991, T2 remains one of the highest-grossing and most influential films ever made. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, and Robert Patrick, the film earned four Academy Awards® and revolutionised action cinema with effects that still hold up today. Terminator 2: Judgment Day holds a 90% critics score and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The release begins on 27 August and hits NZ and Australia on 3 September.
James Cameron comments, “T2 was made for theatres, and our lovingly prepared 3D version, coming back to the big screen, is the absolute best way to see the film. I believe it’s safe to do spoilers after 35 years, so SPOILER ALERT: the good guys win against the AI superintelligence! And maybe that’s a message of hope we all could use this summer.”
Anna Marsh CEO of STUDIOCANAL, Chief Content Officer of CANAL+, expands, “We are incredibly proud to mark the 35th anniversary of James Cameron’s masterpiece Terminator 2: Judgment Day in partnership with the passionate teams at Fathom Entertainment and Rialto Pictures in the US. This collaboration has been thrilling, and we cannot wait for audiences to mark Judgment Day in theatres all over the world.
“The continued restoration and discovery of classic and revolutionary cinema is the cornerstone of our strategy and it’s particularly gratifying to see the scale of this celebratory re-release come to fruition.”
Ray Nutt, Chief Executive Officer for Fathom Entertainment adds, “Terminator 2: Judgment Day was a cultural phenomenon in the U.S. upon release and 35 years later, remains a timeless, non-stop thrill ride that audiences – new and old – will love to see. With non-stop action, iconic performances from Arnold Scwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, spectacular sound and visual effects, and even a massive hit song by Guns N’ Roses (“You Could Be Mine”), the re-release of T2 is a must-see theatrical event perfect for 3D and other premium formats.”
Cinemas across New Zealand will celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary from 3 September, with tickets going on sale prior to this date.
