What Now for the Terminator Franchise?
Tue, May 26, 2009 
Despite the inclusion of Christian Bale (star of the insanely-popular Batman films), a PG-13 rating and a prime Memorial Day release-date, Terminator Salvation failed to meet its projections this past weekend at the box-offce.
The fourth installment of the franchise (the first in a proposed trilogy) churned out $65 million in its 5 day opening. Compare that to its main competitor that weekend Fox's Night at the Museum sequel which grossed $70 million in 4 days(!) not to mention Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines which earned $73 million back in 2003.
The question arises: "What now for the Terminator franchise?"
Long story short, it's done. Now comes spin-control from the key principals. As of a few weeks back, MGM has a "first right to refusal" deal where the producers will present a "packaged deal" for a fifth Terminator film. In fact, said project was already officially announced last December with a Summer 2011 date set as well as the return of Bale as John Connor and its director McG back at the helm.
There's no doubt the meeting will still take place. And you can bet your ass the producers will spend the next few months (if not the rest of 2009) talking up a storm about how Terminator 5 is "definitely" going to happen. But it will ultimately amount to just that - talk.
Warner Brothers and Sony (who are distributing Salvation in the US and foreign territories and paid a fortune to do so) had been previously fighting tooth-and-nail to pertain the rights for the next film. It's safe to assume said fights will quickly cease.
Now comes the fall-back defense of "Well, DVD sales will save it!" Uh, no. Salvation will certainly do solid business on DVD/Blu-Ray. But this isn't a situation like Batman Begins and Austin Powers where the first film does respectable box-office, but trully soars in home-video sales thus causing said studio to invest in a sequel. There have now been two films in this franchise that were box-office under-performers (and expensive as Hell to produce, no less) and one television in the form of The Sarah Connor Chronicles that was a flop.
As for the foreign box-office, it'll do well. But I seriously doubt it's going to be a repeat of T3 where the international grosses save it. Rise of the Machines had one major factor in its corner that Salvation lacked - Arnold Schwarzenegger whose still a mega-star overseas. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the TV spots cut for the foreign markets showcase the Arnold "cameo."
If anything, we'll be spending the next couple years hearing rumors about "how so and so is talking about maybe possibly doing another Terminator film" not unlike how we've constantly heard rumors of Alien 5 ever since the release of Alien: Resurrection back in 1997.
Reader Comments (3)
I can't but help but strongly disagree with you , Jamie.
First of all, I think it would have been better if they stuck with a prevuios format- one movie,one (near) decade.The first film was in '84; the second in '91, the third in '03. With the ill fated Chronicles I actually think folks got 'Terminatored' out.
I been to other sites, such as your old haunt SR, and I'm in SHOCKat the rants against the film. I actually liked it more than I should have. I don't think it's outstanding, I think it's better than the overdone previous film. I didn't miss Arnold. I actually liked his "replacement" in Sam Worthington.
The more I thought about it leaving the theatre, the more I did not have a problem with most of the "fan/internet community" problems with the film. Once again I find myself alienated, not a true movie geek and...
...well, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. However, I'm not to thrilled about the proposed idea for Term 5. I'll give you that. I wish they would just stick with futurewar. Maybe it is time to let this go. Reese will be sent back anway, we know how it ends (begins?)
One thing that annoyed me: "Welcome home, Marcus, we cleaned the place up for you!"
At this point I don't think we're going to have to worry about a story for T5, because T5 won't be happening. This film cost around 200 Million dollars to make, and we're looking it pulling in 60 Million or more below that domestically. Studios are not going to be lining up to cradle a sequel to this project in their arms.
"The question arises: "What now for the Terminator franchise?""
TERMINATION!!!!!