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The Terminator

  • 19841984
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
843K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
526
78
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The 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
'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
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99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Sci-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.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
843K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
526
78
  • Director
    • James Cameron
  • Writers
    • James Cameron
    • Gale Anne Hurd
    • William Wisher(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Linda Hamilton
    • Michael Biehn
Top credits
  • Director
    • James Cameron
  • Writers
    • James Cameron
    • Gale Anne Hurd
    • William Wisher(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Linda Hamilton
    • Michael Biehn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 244Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #215
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos16

    The Terminator
    Trailer 1:04
    The Terminator
    'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
    Clip 4:04
    'The Platform' & Future Films From the IMDb Top 250
    How Mackenzie Davis Expands the 'Terminator' Universe
    Clip 2:09
    How Mackenzie Davis Expands the 'Terminator' Universe
    The Evolution of Sarah Connor & The Terminator
    Clip 2:21
    The Evolution of Sarah Connor & The Terminator
    'The Terminator' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:13
    'The Terminator' | Anniversary Mashup
    Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    Clip 2:29
    Top Gun! Terminator! The '80s Live at SDCC
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Clip 3:35
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Clip 3:45
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Dark Fate for Terminator Franchise or a Requel That Works?
    Clip 4:20
    Dark Fate for Terminator Franchise or a Requel That Works?
    What We Know About 'Terminator: Dark Fate' ... So Far
    Clip 3:27
    What We Know About 'Terminator: Dark Fate' ... So Far
    Who Nearly Starred in The Terminator Franchise?
    Video 4:38
    Who Nearly Starred in The Terminator Franchise?
    Cheat Sheet: 'Terminator: Dark Fate'
    Video 4:49
    Cheat Sheet: 'Terminator: Dark Fate'

    Photos336

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

    Top cast

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

    'Dark Fate' for the 'Terminator' Franchise?

    'Dark Fate' for the 'Terminator' Franchise?

    Let's break down the first Terminator: Dark Fate trailer and what's happened since Judgment Day.
    Get the Requel Buzz
    Image caption not available
    4:20

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    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. This almost backfired, however, when the police came sniffing around.
    • 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' Deleted 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
    Top review
    10/10
    Nice night for a walk.
    Is there a better person to play a cyborg than Arnold? For this movie he was a massively built oak tree of a man. His strange accent makes for a perfect callous robotic sounding killing machine. It's almost like his voice is a computer read out ( which I guess it is in one sense ). Terminator is one of those films that started something huge. People didn't realize it at the time, but the careers of Arnold, Cameron and perhaps even guys like Micahel Biehn, Lance Henriksen and even Bill Paxton were substantially started because of this film. And Cameron must have liked working with them so much that he gave all of them substantial roles in his next film ( Aliens ).

    As we all know what the story is, I'll just tell you a bit about what is so fascinating about it. First I have to mention Michael Biehn. He has the real starring role. He is the character that has to explain everything to the audience. He has to explain this complicated story so that we know what is happening and why. It is not an easy job to do something like that and still come off looking all right. But Biehn is simply awesome in this film. A microcosm of his performance can be seen when Sara bites him. Biehn ( Kyle Reese ) replies " Terminator's don't feel pain. I do. Don't do that again. " That is such a great line delivered with the perfect expression, the perfect tone and the perfect timing. Biehn is perfect for the role.

    This is also the first film that I saw as a youngster that ever warned me of the dangers of nuclear war and of the rapid advancements of machinery. Perhaps I was too young and naive to fully understand all that James Cameron was trying to say, but now that I am older, I can honestly say that the two Terminators are perfect anti nuke films. And they are so passionate with what they have to say. I like it when a film has something to say. I enjoy being entertained in the process but if you can manage both then you have a masterpiece. This is a masterpiece.

    Finally. there are two other reasons to enjoy this film. One, this is the first film where "I'll be back" was spoken. Now it is part of Arnolds vernacular. Secondly, Bill Paxton is in it. And he adds spark to any film that he's in. Especially here, as the idiot punk leader that really gets the hell beat out of him, he has some great lines.

    A great film.
    helpful•298
    74
    • baumer
    • Jul 15, 1999

    FAQ46

    • 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
      • October 26, 1984 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Terminator
    • Filming locations
      • 720 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • 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

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