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
    OscarsSXSW Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalSTARmeter 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)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • 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
  • 16
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
922K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
455
19
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
On this IMDbrief, we break down our favorite movies from the IMDb Top 250 that boldly look to what might lie ahead.
Play clip4:04
Watch 'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
16 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

A human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn so... Read allA human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.A human soldier is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman whose unborn son is the key to humanity's future salvation.

  • 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
    922K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    455
    19
    • Director
      • James Cameron
    • Writers
      • James Cameron
      • Gale Anne Hurd
      • William Wisher
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Linda Hamilton
      • Michael Biehn
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 218Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #220
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos16

    The Terminator
    Trailer 1:04
    Watch The Terminator
    '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
    Who Nearly Starred in The Terminator Franchise?
    Video 4:38
    Watch Who Nearly Starred in The Terminator Franchise?

    Photos395

    Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dick Miller in Terminator (1984)
    Michael Biehn in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Lance Henriksen and Paul Winfield in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Linda Hamilton in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator (1984)
    Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, and Marian Green in Terminator (1984)
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Darrell Mapson, Patrick Pinney, Bill W. Richmond, and Bob Ritchie in Terminator (1984)

    Top cast

    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
    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: Tag der Abrechnung
    8.6
    Terminator 2: Tag der Abrechnung
    Terminator 3: Rebellion der Maschinen
    6.3
    Terminator 3: Rebellion der Maschinen
    Jurassic Park
    8.2
    Jurassic Park
    Terminator: Die Erlösung
    6.5
    Terminator: Die Erlösung
    Stirb langsam
    8.2
    Stirb langsam
    Terminator - Genisys
    6.3
    Terminator - Genisys
    Alien: Das unheimliche Wesen aus einer fremden Welt
    8.5
    Alien: Das unheimliche Wesen aus einer fremden Welt
    Zurück in die Zukunft
    8.5
    Zurück in die Zukunft
    Terminator: Dark Fate
    6.2
    Terminator: Dark Fate
    Aliens: Die Rückkehr
    8.4
    Aliens: Die Rückkehr
    Der weiße Hai
    8.1
    Der weiße Hai
    Star Wars: Episode VI - Die Rückkehr der Jedi-Ritter
    8.3
    Star Wars: Episode VI - Die Rückkehr der Jedi-Ritter

    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
      (at around 33 mins) 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

      Cleaning Man at Flophouse: [1:14:18] Hey, buddy. You got a dead cat in there, or what?

      [the Terminator visualizes: 'POSSIBLE RESPONSE: YES/NO; OR WHAT?; GO AWAY; PLEASE COME BACK LATER; FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE; FUCK YOU']

      The Terminator: Fuck you, asshole.

    • 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 reviews1K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Amazing, even for a non-fan of the genre
    I don't like action movies generally, and had to be coaxed into seeing this one by a friend. It was a major and pleasant surprise to me, and I left it with questions beyond the scope of the film, which always happens with the ones I really like (ie, Did John know who Reese was/would be when he sent him?). Most of all, I left it a Michael Biehn fan; he is great in this movie.
    helpful•22
    3
    • Gypsy-11
    • Jan 31, 1999

    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

    FAQ43

    • How long is The Terminator?Powered by Alexa
    • When the janitor bothers the Terminator, why does he select "Fuck You, Asshole" as his response?
    • 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.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 15, 1985 (West Germany)
    • 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

    Production art
    List
    Staff Picks: What to Watch in April
    See our picks
    Production art
    List
    New and Upcoming Sci-fi & Fantasy
    See the list
    Production art
    List
    What We're Watching: Time Travel and Anime
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    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.