: Unlike his previous "invincible" roles, Schwarzenegger portrays a vulnerable character grappling with atheism and despair. His redemption is ultimately found through self-sacrifice and a return to belief.
End of Days received largely negative reviews upon release, with critics like Roger Ebert calling it a collision of "the ludicrous and the absurd".
: Despite critical panning, it was a commercial success, grossing approximately $212 million worldwide against a $100 million budget.
: The film leans into the "999/666" numerical inversion and the era's fear that the year 2000 would bring technological or spiritual collapse.
: While the practical effects and gore—such as a hospital crucifixion—received praise, the CGI climax involving a monstrous Satan was widely criticized as dated or "stupid".
The plot follows Jericho Cane (Schwarzenegger), an alcoholic, suicidal former detective who has lost his faith after the murder of his family. Cane is thrust into a biblical conflict when he must protect Christine York (Robin Tunney), a woman destined since birth to conceive the Antichrist with Satan (Gabriel Byrne) during the final hour of 1999.
: Retrospectively, the film has gained a cult following as a "guilty pleasure" that captures a specific late-90s gothic charm.