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The Terminator

  • 1984
  • R
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
964K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
364
106
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The 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.
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Artificial IntelligenceCyberpunkDystopian Sci-FiTime TravelUrban AdventureActionAdventureSci-Fi

A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill a young woman who is destined to give birth to a warrior that will lead a resistance to save humankind from extinction.A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill a young woman who is destined to give birth to a warrior that will lead a resistance to save humankind from extinction.A cyborg assassin from the future attempts to find and kill a young woman who is destined to give birth to a warrior that will lead a resistance to 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
    964K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    364
    106
    • Director
      • James Cameron
    • Writers
      • James Cameron
      • Gale Anne Hurd
      • William Wisher
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Linda Hamilton
      • Michael Biehn
    • 1.1KUser reviews
    • 229Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #218
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos17

    The Terminator
    Trailer 1:04
    The Terminator
    Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    Clip 2:20
    Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    Clip 2:20
    Why Tech Journalist Kara Swisher Titled Her Book After 'Mean Girls'
    '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

    Photos416

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    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

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    8.6
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    8.1
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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. 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' Deleted 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

    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.
    • Gypsy-11
    • Jan 30, 1999
    • Permalink

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    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.
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    Photos

    FAQ43

    • 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
      • 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(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

    Tech specs

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

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