Known around the world for his Herculean physique in the old days, the influence and charisma of Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn’t just be limited to the fitness industry, as Hollywood was also on the lookout for a chance to get him on their side. And once they did, it didn’t take long for him to make an impact on the world as he became one of the most popular action stars in the industry.
And continuing on the path of stardom, the actor amassed the love and admiration of his fans along with a whopping $450 Million in wealth from the industry. But hopping back in time to the early days, most would remember The Terminator for being the film that kickstarted the bodybuilder’s Hollywood career, a career that would become so big that it gave him the privilege of asking some wild things on the sets of Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Fulfilled Eccentric Desires Through His Terminator 3 Contract!
While he might’ve been part of a couple of films in the past, the major turning point came when Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast in 1984’s The Terminator, in which he played the titular character who was sent in the future to assassinate John Connor. The film would become an outlet for the star to spread his new wings in the industry for the rest of the decade, and make him the action star of the 80s and 90s he’s remembered as to this day. Thus, with his demand reaching the roof, Schwarzenegger got the leverage to negotiate some wild demands in 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines.
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After the success of the first two films, the third installment was in the works, and everyone knew that the absence of the Twins star would hurt the movie’s appeal to the audience. Thus, Warner Bros. desperately wanted the star to join the ranks once more. But Schwarzenegger had some demands, which when fulfilled, would entice the star to join the third film of the franchise. The contract that was negotiated stated that despite the movie being made or not, the star would receive a whopping $29.25 Million salary with other perks on set if it goes to production.
And after the movie started filming, these perks came to play. These included $1.5 million for private jets, a fully-equipped gym trailer, three-bedroom deluxe suites on locations, round-the-clock limousines, and personal bodyguards. Not to mention, a $1.6 Million overage if the filming exceeded the 19-week schedule. While this may seem like an overkill, the film ended up earning a whopping $433 Million in revenue, which was more than enough to justify the cost incurred to afford Schwarzenneger.
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What Made Terminator 3 A Superhit?
While this third installment took heavy inspiration from the previous film, what sets Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines apart is the subtle differences that the story made. Instead of a young and impressionable John Connor, we have a young adult that understands the gravity of the situation and loosens the funny chemistry with Schwarzenegger’s character. Along with that, the action-packed film also had more dark and gritty scenes and narrative from the first two films, which was also a factor in its success.
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Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines, available on Google Play Movies.
Source: Slate
