Marking a Hollywood Return After His Twin Heart Surgeries in Late 90s, Arnold Schwarzenegger Handpicked ‘End of Days’ to Make a Bold Statement: “First Time I’m on Drugs and Alcohol”

Arnold Schwarzenegger set an unparalleled example through his contributions to bodybuilding, cinema, and politics. After becoming the champion of the Mr. Olympia with seven Sandow trophies in the 1970s, Arnie decided to switch to the movie arena. Despite the initial setbacks, the Austrian Oak rose to unimaginable stardom as Hollywood’s action hero in the 1980s with iconic movies. 

In 1997, the Terminator star had to undergo a twin heart surgery to fix his congenital heart condition. But the news made people believe that the action superstar wouldn’t be able to ace his high-voltage sequences like before. However, Arnie proved everyone wrong.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood comeback with an action horror film

The Terminator icon witnessed success as a bodybuilding champion at the early age of 20 when he won the Mr. Universe title. But when Arnie wanted to become a Hollywood actor, many were apprehensive about his success initially. The 76-year-old struggled to get movie opportunities due to his thick Austrian accent and unconventional physique that didn’t suit the existing Hollywood standards.

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But Schwarzenegger rewrote history with his action stunts in The Terminator, directed by James Cameron. He established himself as a superstar with high-intense films like Commando, Predator, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and True Lies. However, he had to undergo twin operations in 1997 and made a comeback to films with a unique script, “End of Days.”

Speaking about his character Jericho Cane, Arnie once boldly said, “Here I start out for the first time with a gun to my head, wanting to take my life and for the first time I’m on drugs and alcohol. I’ve lost my family. I’ve lost my job. It’s the end-of-the-rope kind of thing.” But did the movie succeed? 

End of Days fell short of expectations

Schwarzenegger wanted to prove that he was still an action hero after the surgeries, and the excitement for Arnie’s comeback film was huge in 1999. But it didn’t meet expectations. The film received poor reviews and a modest profit. The Austrian Oak followed it with two flops, The 6th Day and Collateral Damage.

It was not until 2003 that Schwarzenegger registered a blockbuster with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. But he soon ventured into politics, becoming the Governor of California that year. Arnie movie lovers missed him on screen for many years till his comeback after a political stint. 

Despite multiple setbacks, Arnold Schwarzenegger never believed in giving up and consistently worked towards his goals. Hence, his story has been inspirational for many. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below! 

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