Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsHalloweenHispanic Heritage MonthMAMISTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Terminator

Original title: The Terminator
  • 1984
  • 13
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
942K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
344
7
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
Kara Swisher, the technology journalist who reports on the business of the internet, has her own "Burn Book" to unleash on the world, so she takes time at 2024 SXSW to tell IMDb about why she gave it that name, some of her favorite technology-forward films, and the big names in country music she wants to interview.
Play clip2:20
Watch Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
17 Videos
99+ Photos
Artificial IntelligenceCyberpunkDystopian Sci-FiTime TravelActionAdventureSci-Fi

A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill Sarah Connor, a waitress who is destined to give birth to a man who will save humankind from extinction.A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill Sarah Connor, a waitress who is destined to give birth to a man who will save humankind from extinction.A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill Sarah Connor, a waitress who is destined to give birth to a man who will save humankind from extinction.

  • Director
    • James Cameron
  • Writers
    • James Cameron
    • Gale Anne Hurd
    • William Wisher
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Linda Hamilton
    • Michael Biehn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    942K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    344
    7
    • Director
      • James Cameron
    • Writers
      • James Cameron
      • Gale Anne Hurd
      • William Wisher
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Linda Hamilton
      • Michael Biehn
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 225Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #218
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos17

    The Terminator
    Trailer 1:04
    Watch The Terminator
    Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    Clip 2:20
    Watch Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
    Clip 4:04
    Watch 'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
    How Mackenzie Davis Expands the 'Terminator' Universe
    Clip 2:09
    Watch How Mackenzie Davis Expands the 'Terminator' Universe
    The Evolution of Sarah Connor & The Terminator
    Clip 2:21
    Watch The Evolution of Sarah Connor & The Terminator
    'The Terminator' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:13
    Watch 'The Terminator' | Anniversary Mashup
    Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    Clip 2:29
    Watch Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Clip 3:35
    Watch Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Clip 3:45
    Watch Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Dark Fate for Terminator Franchise or a Requel That Works?
    Clip 4:20
    Watch Dark Fate for Terminator Franchise or a Requel That Works?
    What We Know About 'Terminator: Dark Fate' ... So Far
    Clip 3:27
    Watch What We Know About 'Terminator: Dark Fate' ... So Far
    The Terminator: I'll Be Back
    Clip 1:29
    Watch The Terminator: I'll Be Back

    Photos404

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 396
    View Poster

    Top cast50

    Edit
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Terminator
    Linda Hamilton
    Linda Hamilton
    • Sarah Connor
    Michael Biehn
    Michael Biehn
    • Kyle Reese
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Traxler
    Lance Henriksen
    Lance Henriksen
    • Vukovich
    Rick Rossovich
    Rick Rossovich
    • Matt
    Bess Motta
    Bess Motta
    • Ginger
    Earl Boen
    Earl Boen
    • Silberman
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Pawn Shop Clerk
    Shawn Schepps
    Shawn Schepps
    • Nancy
    Bruce M. Kerner
    • Desk Sergeant
    Franco Columbu
    Franco Columbu
    • Future Terminator
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Punk Leader
    Brad Rearden
    Brad Rearden
    • Punk
    • (scenes deleted)
    Brian Thompson
    Brian Thompson
    • Punk
    William Wisher
    • Policeman
    • (as William Wisher Jr.)
    Ken Fritz
    • Policeman
    Tom Oberhaus
    • Policeman
    • Director
      • James Cameron
    • Writers
      • James Cameron
      • Gale Anne Hurd
      • William Wisher
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Linda Hamilton Returns to Her Iconic 'Terminator' Role

    Linda Hamilton Returns to Her Iconic 'Terminator' Role

    Has it really been 27 years? The Terminator: Dark Fate actress lets us in on why she's back in the franchise.
    Watch now
    Linda Hamilton in Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
    1:35

    More like this

    Terminator 2 : Le Jugement dernier
    8.6
    Terminator 2 : Le Jugement dernier
    Terminator 3 : Le Soulèvement des machines
    6.3
    Terminator 3 : Le Soulèvement des machines
    Terminator Genisys
    6.3
    Terminator Genisys
    Terminator Renaissance
    6.5
    Terminator Renaissance
    Jurassic Park
    8.2
    Jurassic Park
    Piège de cristal
    8.2
    Piège de cristal
    Retour vers le futur
    8.5
    Retour vers le futur
    Pirates des Caraïbes : La Malédiction du Black Pearl
    8.1
    Pirates des Caraïbes : La Malédiction du Black Pearl
    Terminator: Dark Fate
    6.2
    Terminator: Dark Fate
    Aliens, le retour
    8.4
    Aliens, le retour
    Blade Runner
    8.1
    Blade Runner
    Rocky
    8.1
    Rocky

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While shooting this film, James Cameron often resorted to what he called "guerilla filmmaking" as a way of getting around acquiring permits needed to film certain scenes. This involved the production crew and actors quickly arriving at a specified location, shooting the scene and leaving before the police arrived. As a result, some of the people seen in a few shots are actual everyday citizens completely unaware they're in a movie. This was also used for re shoots with Cameron even calling and waking Arnold Schwarzenegger once at 3am to meet him at a location already in full costume to quickly re-shoot a scene. Cameron also used this tactic to film the very last scene where Sarah drives off into the desert. Waiting for the heat to rise to the point that ripples could be filmed a highway patrolman appeared. Producer Gale Ann Hurd convinced him they were working on a UCLA film project and he allowed them to finish.
    • Goofs
      When Sarah is in the night club she has to put change into the pay phone to call 911.

      While 911 calls are free, many pay phones in the 1980s required you to insert a coin in order to obtain a dial tone.
    • Quotes

      The Terminator: [59:15] I'm a friend of Sarah Connor. I was told she was here. Could I see her please?

      Desk Sergeant: No, you can't see her she's making a statement.

      The Terminator: Where is she?

      Desk Sergeant: [uses his pencil to point to the bench] Look, it may take a while. Want to wait? There's a bench over there.

      [points to bench]

      The Terminator: [looks around, examining the structural integrity of the room, then looks back at him] I'll be back!

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      NBC edited 7 minutes and time-compressed 4 minutes of this film for its 1987 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Terminator: 'Terminated' Scenes (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      You Can't Do That
      Performed by Tryanglz

      Written by Ricky Phillips

      Published by Ricky Lynn Phillips Music (BMI)

    User reviews1.1K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    One of Arnold's best
    There are actors,and there are movie stars.Arnold Schwarzenegger is without question a movie star,because every time he is on screen, he is,well,Arnold.There is a different Arnold in this film,and this is what I like about it.He,for once,is playing the villain,and to perfection,I might add.He makes for one of the best screen villains ever in cinema history.It's a pity that his "good guy" image won't allow him to play the bad seed more often,but that's Hollywood, I guess.Aside from the thrilling sequel,this is perhaps Arnold's best work.
    • SmileysWorld
    • Feb 25, 2002
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    The Amazing Arnold

    The Amazing Arnold

    Whether he's bodybuilding in the gym or obliterating baddies on screen, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been delighting audiences for decades. Take a look at some of the amazing moments in his career so far.
    See the gallery
    Editorial Image
    Photos

    FAQ41

    • How long is The Terminator?Powered by Alexa
    • In one of the future scenes when the resistance base is under attack, is the model of Terminator a T-800 but with a different skin job?
    • How did the Terminator know how to drive a car, Kyle would know how as they were still using cars to fight Skynet, but the Terminators used more advanced machines so wouldn't have ever needed to drive a car.
    • If the Terminator had so many useful scanners, why did it need to use its finger to find some names in a phone book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 1985 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Terminator
    • Filming locations
      • 720 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(Tech Noir)
    • Production companies
      • Cinema '84
      • Euro Film Funding
      • Hemdale
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,371,200
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,020,663
      • Oct 28, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $78,371,200
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono(original release)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Terminator (1984) in India?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.