Part 4/7:
The Demise of the Franchise and Audience Alienation
Many fans, acknowledging the film’s creative stagnation—recycling plots from previous installments and sidelining humanity’s primary hero—felt betrayed. The film’s narrative decision to kill off Sarah Connor in favor of a new female protagonist upset traditional audiences, while the promotional materials, notably a poster featuring three female leads, drew ridicule for their awkwardness and perceived pandering.
Miller’s response to this backlash was to criticize the fanbase further, claiming that internet trolls and misogynists were responsible for the film’s failure. He indicated that the online environment was filled with “toxic” criticism, which he suggested contributed to the film’s poor performance.