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The Terminator (1984) 8.1
Ratings:
8.1/10 from 479,444 users
Metascore: 84/100
Reviews: 628 user | 177 critic | 11 from Metacritic.com A human-looking indestructible cyborg is sent from 2029 to 1984 to assassinate a waitress, whose unborn son will lead humanity in a war against the machines, while a soldier from that war is sent to protect her at all costs. Director:James Cameron |
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | ... | ||
| Michael Biehn | ... | ||
| Linda Hamilton | ... | ||
| Paul Winfield | ... | ||
| Lance Henriksen | ... | ||
| Rick Rossovich | ... | ||
| Bess Motta | ... | ||
| Earl Boen | ... | ||
| Dick Miller | ... | ||
 |
Shawn Schepps | ... | |
|
|
Bruce M. Kerner | ... | |
| Franco Columbu | ... |
Future Terminator
|
|
| Bill Paxton | ... | ||
|
|
Brad Rearden | ... | |
| Brian Thompson | ... | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (197) »
Storyline
A cyborg is sent from the future on a deadly mission. He has to kill Sarah Connor, a young woman whose life will have a great significance in years to come. Sarah has only one protector - Kyle Reese - also sent from the future. The Terminator uses his exceptional intelligence and strength to find Sarah, but is there any way to stop the seemingly indestructible cyborg ? Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>
Plot Keywords:
cyborg | future war | shootout in a police station | urban setting | car chase |Taglines:
Your future is in his hands. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
26 October 1984 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Terminateur See more »Filming Locations:
Tunnel at Lower Grand & West Gen Thad Kosciuszko Way, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$6,400,000 (estimated)Gross:
$38,400,000 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
[the garbage truck's engine stops]
Truck Driver: What the hell? Goddamn son of a bitch...
See more »
Performed by Tryanglz
Written by Tane McClure (as Tahnee Cain), Pug Baker, Jonathan Cain
Published by Any Garage Music (ASCAP)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The Terminator (1984) was filmed on a very tense set, e.g. Schwarzenegger didn't enjoy the prosthetics, because the wires of the red eye burned a lot of the time; for the arm scene, he had to have his real arm tied behind his back for hours. James Cameron also shot the carjacking scene without a permit. Anyone who came up to him with lame ideas wound up irritating Cameron, e.g. Cameron waxed an idea of the Terminator drinking a beer and acting silly (like in ET) because that just couldn't happen. See more »Goofs
When Det. Vukovich laughs at Dr. Silberman's ray gun joke, he can be seen reacting to an off-screen crew member who must be gesturing for him to stop looking at Sarah Connor and back to the video monitor. See more »Quotes
[first lines][the garbage truck's engine stops]
Truck Driver: What the hell? Goddamn son of a bitch...
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening credits run while large outlines of the two halves of THE TERMINATOR cross each other. After the last directorial credit is shown, the title THE TERMINATOR zooms backward, is filled by metallic blue, and reveals itself. See more »Soundtracks
PhotoplayPerformed by Tryanglz
Written by Tane McClure (as Tahnee Cain), Pug Baker, Jonathan Cain
Published by Any Garage Music (ASCAP)
See more »
Many people look back at the films of James Cameron and suggest that the smaller, the budget, the tighter the limitations, the better the end product. Films like Avatar, Titanic and True Lies had huge budgets and drew in even bigger box office but many still yearn for the Cameron that gave us The Terminator and Aliens which were huge movies but packed a far bigger punch artistically. My feelings all these years on are that Cameron has earned the right to make those huge movies but i have to admit to preferring his earlier body of work. The Terminator is a nightmarish, time travelling science fiction film told at a breakneck pace and delivered with confidence and style. The film has a very gritty, underground look to it and does a great job of telling its story amid the frenetic action. There is also a huge slice of horror and suspense thrown in, an impression that has diminished in the years since it's release due to inferior sequels. Viewed as a standalone piece however, The Terminator is fine piece of work from a director with a very clear vision.Everyone knows that The Terminator is the film that gave us Arnold Schwarzenegger but when i look back at the film, it has heart and its the Michael Biehn character, Kyle Reese, that provides it Artistically speaking,Cameron might be well advised that less is more.