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The Terminator
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The Terminator (1984) More at IMDbPro »

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The Terminator -- A human-looking, apparently unstoppable cyborg is sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor; Kyle Reese is sent to stop it.

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #172  (login to vote)
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Down 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
James Cameron
Writers:
James Cameron (written by) and
Gale Anne Hurd (written by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Terminator on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 October 1984 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Sci-Fi See more »
Tagline:
In the Year of Darkness, 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by changing the Past. The plan required something that felt no pity. No pain. No fear. Something unstoppable. They created 'THE TERMINATOR' See more »
Plot:
A robotic assassin from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to eliminate a waitress, whose son will grow up and lead humanity in a war against machines. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
5 wins & 6 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(3185 articles)
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User Reviews:
This is the movie that made a big break through for sci-fi movies!!!! See more (572 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Arnold Schwarzenegger ... Terminator

Michael Biehn ... Kyle Reese

Linda Hamilton ... Sarah Connor

Paul Winfield ... Lieutenant Ed Traxler

Lance Henriksen ... Detective Hal Vukovich

Rick Rossovich ... Matt Buchanan

Bess Motta ... Ginger Ventura

Earl Boen ... Dr. Peter Silberman

Dick Miller ... Pawn Shop Clerk
Shawn Schepps ... Nancy
Bruce M. Kerner ... Desk Sergeant

Franco Columbu ... Future Terminator

Bill Paxton ... Punk Leader
Brad Rearden ... Punk

Brian Thompson ... Punk
William Wisher Jr. ... Policeman
Ken Fritz ... Policeman
Tom Oberhaus ... Policeman
Ed Dogans ... Cop in Alley

Joe Farago ... TV Anchorman
Hettie Lynne Hurtes ... TV Anchorwoman
Tony Mirelez ... Station Attendant
Philip Gordon ... Mexican Boy (long shots)
Anthony Trujillo ... Mexican Boy (close-ups) (as Anthony T. Trujillo)
Stan Yale ... Derelict
Al Kahn ... Customer
Leslie Morris ... Customer
Hugh Farrington ... Customer
Harriet Medin ... Customer
Loree Frazier ... Customer
James Ralston ... Customer
Norman Friedman ... Cleaning Man (as Norma Friedman)
Barbara Powers ... Ticket Taker
Wayne Stone ... Tanker Driver
David Pierce ... Tanker Partner
John E. Bristol ... Phone Booth Man

Webster Williams ... Reporter
Patrick Pinney ... Bar Customer
Bill W. Richmond ... Bartender
Chino 'Fats' Williams ... Truck Driver

Greg Robbins ... Motel Customer (as Gregory Robbins)

Marianne Muellerleile ... Wrong Sarah
John Durban ... Sentry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

J. Randolph Harrison ... Policeman (uncredited)

Darrell Mapson ... Bar Patron at Pay Phone with Sarah (uncredited)

John Stuart West ... MacDougal (uncredited)
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Directed by
James Cameron 
 
Writing credits
James Cameron (written by) and
Gale Anne Hurd (written by)

William Wisher Jr. (additional dialogue)

Produced by
John Daly .... executive producer
Derek Gibson .... executive producer
Gale Anne Hurd .... producer
 
Original Music by
Brad Fiedel 
 
Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Mark Goldblatt 
 
Casting by
Stanzi Stokes 
 
Art Direction by
George Costello 
 
Set Decoration by
Maria Caso  (as Maria Rebman Caso)
 
Costume Design by
Hilary Wright 
 
Makeup Department
Jeff Dawn .... makeup department head (as Jefferson Dawn)
Kyle Sweet .... hair stylist: second unit (as Kyle Tucy)
Kyle Sweet .... makeup artist: second unit (as Kyle Tucy)
Peter Tothpal .... hair stylist
Melissa Street .... assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Brian Wade .... special makeup effects artist: Stan Winston Studios (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Bruce M. Kerner .... executive in charge of production
Donna Smith .... post-production supervisor
Donna Smith .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomas A. Irvine .... additional first assistant director (as Thomas Irvine)
Betsy Magruder .... first assistant director
Jean-Paul Ouellette .... second unit director: action
Robert Roda .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Shay Austin .... assistant art director
John S. Curran .... construction supervisor (as John Curran)
Tommy Estridge .... property master
Mark Freedman .... carpenter
Kerry Jennings .... assistant property master
Amy McGary .... scenic artist
Kristen McGary .... scenic artist
Kurt Meisenbach .... art assistant
Jewel Myrow .... art assistant
Joe Rainey .... assistant to the art director
Cynthia C. Rebman .... set dresser (as Cindy Rebman)
David Reece .... carpenter
Stephen Reece .... carpenter
Stephen Rinehart .... art assistant
Jennie Ryan .... art assistant
Gary Schoeneck .... lead man
Linda Schoeneck .... art assistant
Gregory R. Wolf .... set dresser (as Greg Wolf)
Christopher Gilman .... property maker (uncredited)
Jay Koiwai .... painter (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Elizabeth Barnard .... assistant sound editor
Ken Brocious .... boom operator (as Kenneth Brocious)
David Campling .... supervising sound editor
Gordon Daniel .... foley artist
Greg Dillon .... sound effects editor
James Fritch .... sound effects editor (as Jim Fritch)
Robert Garrett .... synthesized sound effects
David J. Hudson .... sound re-recording mixer
James J. Klinger .... sound effects editor (as Jim Klinger)
Mike Le Mare .... sound effects editor (as Mike Le-Mare)
Richard Lightstone .... production sound mixer
Horace Manzanares .... sound effects editor
Gilbert D. Marchant .... sound effects editor (as Gil Marchant)
Mel Metcalfe .... sound re-recording mixer
Rob Miller .... sound effects editor
Terry Porter .... sound re-recording mixer
John Post .... foley artist
Gary Shepherd .... sound effects editor
Karola Storr .... sound effects editor
Gabriel Cubos .... sound utility (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Jack Bricker .... terminator special effects
Ellis Burman Jr. .... terminator mechanical effects
Frank DeMarco .... special effects
Ernest D. Farino .... special effects coordinator
Roger George .... special effects
Richard J. Landon .... terminator special effects (as Richard Landon)
Ron Macinnes .... terminator mechanical effects assistant
Shane Mahan .... terminator special effects
David B. Miller .... terminator special effects (as David Miller)
John Rosengrant .... terminator special effects
Brian Wade .... terminator special effects
Bob Williams .... terminator mechanical effects
Stan Winston .... special terminator effects creator
Tom Woodruff Jr. .... terminator special effects (as Tom Woodruff)
Roger Kelton .... special effects technician (uncredited)
R. Bruce Steinheimer .... special effects technician (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Doug Beswick .... stop motion terminator model: Fantasy II Film Effects
Don Bland .... production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Steven Fagerquist .... technical assistant: process photography
Ernest D. Farino .... graphic animation effects
Phil Huff .... optical effects: Image 3
John Huneck .... camera operator: Fantasy II Film Effects
Leslie Huntley .... production supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Michael Joyce .... model shop supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Paul Kassler .... model maker: Fantasy II Film Effects
Pete Kleinow .... terminator stop motion: Fantasy II Film Effects (as Peter Kleinow)
Laurel Klick .... optical effects: Image 3
Ken Marschall .... matte artist: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gerald McClain .... rear screen projectionist: process photography
Austin McKinney .... cinematographer: process photography
Jane A. Pahlman .... production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Eric Peterson .... camera assistant: process photography
Gary Rhodaback .... model maker: Fantasy II Film Effects
Mark Sawicki .... special optical consultant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Joe Viskocil .... pyrotechnics and fire effects: Fantasy II Film Effects (as Joseph Viskocil)
Gene Warren Jr. .... special effects supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Kris Brown .... visual effects engineer (uncredited)
Sam Longoria .... stop-motion electronics (uncredited)
Bret Mixon .... animation assistant (uncredited)
Ted Rae .... stop motion terminator model: Fantasy II Film Effects (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Anthony Cecere .... stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw .... stunts (as Jeff Dashnow)
Diamond Farnsworth .... stunts (as Hill Farnsworth)
J. Suzanne Fish .... stunts
Ken Fritz .... stunt coordinator
Ken Fritz .... stunt coordinator: second unit
Ken Fritz .... stunt double: Michael Biehn
Marian Green .... stunts (as Marion Green)
Tom Hart .... stunts
Gene Hartline .... stunts
Jean Malahni .... stunts
Gary McLarty .... stunts
Frank Orsatti .... stunts
Jim Stern .... stunts
Pete Turner .... stunts (as Peter Turner)
Cynthia Brannon .... stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Habberstad .... stunt performer (uncredited)
Monty Jordan .... stunt driver (uncredited)
Peter Kent .... stunt double: Arnold Schwarzenegger (uncredited)
Rob King .... stunts (uncredited)
Jean Malahni .... stunt double: Linda Hamilton (uncredited)
Lee Waddell .... utility stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Bernard Auroux .... focus puller
Dennis Bishop .... gaffer
Bruce Byall .... grip
Anne S. Coffey .... camera operator: insert photography (as Anne Coffey)
Chuck Colwell .... director of photography: second unit
Mario Davis .... grip and equipment: second unit
Mark Ellensohn .... best boy
Alec Hirschfeld .... additional camera operator
Sean McLin .... camera operator: second unit
David Michels .... dolly grip
Mark Morton .... electrician
Tim Morton .... best boy electric
Elliot Nachbar .... grip
Mark Peterson .... electrician
Vance Piper .... camera assistant
Joyce Rudolph .... still photographer
Roger Schweitzer .... video playback operator
Dylan Shephard .... key grip
Gary Wagner .... camera assistant: insert photography
Rick A. West .... electrician (as Rick West)
Tim Collins .... grip (uncredited)
Donald G. Jackson .... additional cinematographer (uncredited)
John Janusek .... grip (uncredited)
Kyle T. MacDowell .... electrician (uncredited)
Tracy Neftzger .... grip (uncredited)
Barry Seybert .... electrician (uncredited)
Mark A. Shelton .... electrician (uncredited)
Philip Sloan .... best boy grip (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Greg Robbins .... extras casting coordinator (as Gregory Robbins)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Everton .... costume supervisor
Julia Gombert .... costumer: second unit
Virginia Hartman .... costume production assistant
 
Editorial Department
Lorna Anderson .... first assistant editor
Michael Bloecher .... associate editor
Spike Allison Hooper .... assistant editor
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein .... negative cutter (as Mary Nelson)
Peter Silverman .... color consultant
 
Music Department
Budd Carr .... music consultant
Robert Randles .... music post-production coordinator
Emilie Robertson .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Wayne Nelson .... transportation captain
Wayne Stone .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Polly Apostolof .... assistant to producer
Jo Barnett .... assistant production accountant
Terry Benedict .... production assistant: second unit
Kathy Breen .... production coordinator
Ernest D. Farino .... title designer
J. Randolph Harrison .... assistant to producer (as Randy Harrison)
J. Randolph Harrison .... assistant to producer
Deborah Hebert .... set production assistant (as Deborah A. Hebert)
Scott Javine .... production assistant
Sharon Kirkpatrick .... script supervisor: second unit
Joseph A. Liuzzi .... location manager
Andy Marx .... publicist (as Andrew Marx)
Pattison Newberry .... first aid
George Parra .... set production assistant
Kevin E. Patterson .... utility man (as Kevin Patterson)
Eric Rasmussen .... craft service
Michael Thomas Slifkin .... talent coordinator
Lisa Sonne .... assistant to producer (as T. Elizabeth Sonne)
Anne St. Johns .... assistant production coordinator
Marilyn Tasso .... production accountant
Brenda Weisman .... script supervisor
Frans J. Afman .... financial services (uncredited)
Lisa S. Girolami .... extras wrangler (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Harlan Ellison .... acknowledgment to the works of
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Terminator" - Japan (English title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono | Dolby
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) | France:U | Japan:R-15 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Poland:15 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (No. 27336) | West Germany:16 (cut) (198?-2010) | West Germany:18 (uncut version) (SPIO/JK) (198?-2010) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1984) (1991) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Italy:T (re-rating) (1991) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) (1984) | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2005) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1991) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1996) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Ireland:15 (re-rating) (2007) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2001) | Ireland:18 (1985-2006) | UK:18 (1985-2000) | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Malaysia:U | Chile:14 (DVD re-rating) | Australia:MA (Definitive Edition DVD) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2010) | Portugal:M/16
Filming Locations:
212 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California, USASee more »
Company:
Hemdale FilmSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
In the original script the Terminator was supposed to steal a car at the beginning of the film. The scene involved the Terminator observing an elderly woman getting into a car and as she saw the Terminator she panicked and put it into reverse hitting a trash can then correcting herself put it into drive and sped off. The Terminator then enters the car, puts it into reverse then into drive mimicking the woman's actions. This was cut from a later script.See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: During the police station massacre, the camera is positioned on the floor, and shows the Terminator shooting through a door on the left. As he fires his gun, the supposedly dead cop in the foreground can be seen to jump.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
[the garbage truck's engine stops]
Truck Driver:What the hell? Goddamn son of a bitch...
See more »
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Principal Charming (#2.14)" (1991)See more »
Soundtrack:
IntimacySee more »

FAQ

Couldn't Sarah and Kyle have tried to prevent Skynet (and the Terminator) from being created?
Who, or what, is the Terminator?
How many movies are in the 'Terminator' franchise?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
179 out of 204 people found the following review useful.
This is the movie that made a big break through for sci-fi movies!!!!, 4 August 2002
Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

The Terminator is one of those films that no matter if you've seen it or not, you've heard of it, heck you know at least one or two lines without seeing it! This is the movie that blasted then new comer's Arnold Schwartzeneggerr's career, made James Cameron a name in Hollywood, and gave new meaning to a possible dark future that gave us nightmares. I remember the first time I saw this movie, I was just 8 years old and my dad of course walks in saying to cover my eyes at every "bad" scene with violence or nudity, needless to say about 70% of the movie he covered my eyes. Finally I got to see it with my mom and I was in love, this wasn't just an action movie, though it is one of the best, it had a story. To think this was all based upon just a quick nightmare that James Cameron had, he didn't have much money, but he had a good script, a great crew on his side to make one of cinema's greatest movies of all time.

Two men appear in Los Angeles in separate locations, manifesting in sudden, blinding flash-storms of electricity. One is heavily muscular; the other man, slim and wiry. The mysterious muscular man obtains weapons and begins hunting down all women named "Sarah Connor", using a phone book to track his targets. He successfully kills the first two of the three listed women. When he attempts to kill the last Sarah Connor, he is stopped by the other man, Kyle Reese who has been sent back in time to protect her. While hiding in a parking garage, Reese explains that the man hunting Sarah is actually a cyborg assassin called a "Terminator", built by Skynet, an artificial intelligence network created by Cyberdyne Systems. In the near future, Reese explains, Skynet gained self-awareness, initiated a global takeover of military hardware, and launched a nuclear war against humanity. Skynet ordered that a scant number of humans were to be kept alive in order to be used as slave labor. John Connor, Sarah's son, rallied the few remaining humans and led a resistance movement against the machines. After a grinding campaign, the human resistance was on the verge of victory; in a last-ditch effort, Skynet sent the Terminator back in time to kill Sarah before John was born, preventing the resistance from ever being founded and allowing the machines to win by default. Reese volunteered to follow the Terminator back in time to protect Sarah; after his use of the time transportation equipment, it was to be destroyed by the resistance in order to prevent further Terminators from going back in time. The Terminator feels no pain, has no emotions, and will stop at nothing to accomplish its mission.

The Terminator is personally one of my favorite movies of all time, I think because this movie really is something special. Yeah, the effects are very 80's, but for the time and even to this day, I think the special effects are much better than the CGI crud we get in today's cinema. This has everything: action, romance, horror, sci-fi, and even some dark humor. The reason why Arnold's "I'll be back" is so famous is not just because of his accent, but because you knew that something bad was coming. Kyle Reese's "Come with me if you want to live" is classic as well. If you haven't seen The Terminator, I highly recommend this movie, it's an incredible one that is sure to deliver entertainment to the fullest. This is one of the greatest movies of all time and I'm sure that you will not be disappointed, if you are, get a CAT scan.

10/10

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Terminator (1984)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Terminator and Aliens poserpro
So how many timelines exist overall? Dodgemaguire
Kyle driving like a maniac after losing the terminator at Tech-Noir? alexjx
Delete your post Terminator style!! gl_76
What if he won? rbf08
Anyone else's favorite change from T2 to T1 in time? GelmirPalantir
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