How did Terminator 2 push CGI forward?

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) marked a turning point for computer-generated imagery (CGI). For the first time, audiences saw seamless integration of digital effects into live-action film, most notably the liquid metal T-1000, which required 350 hours of rendering per second of footage. This level of detail and realism was unprecedented. The film’s use of motion capture for the T-1000 and digitally altered scenes, such as the iconic truck morphing into a Terminator, set new standards for visual effects. These techniques laid the groundwork for future CGI-driven films, proving that digital effects could be both realistic and emotionally engaging. The success of Terminator 2 helped establish CGI as a vital tool in modern cinema.