With its impressive action sequences, taut economic direction, and relentlessly fast pace, it's clear why The Terminator continues to be an influence on sci-fi and action flicks. Read critic reviews
The Terminator
1984, Sci-fi/Action, 1h 48m
67 Reviews 250,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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Movie Info
Disguised as a human, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust. Sarah is targeted because Skynet knows that her unborn son will lead the fight against them. With the virtually unstoppable Terminator in hot pursuit, she and Kyle attempt to escape.
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Rating: R
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Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Mystery & thriller
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Original Language: English
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Director: James Cameron
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Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
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Writer: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
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Release Date (Theaters): original
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Entertainment
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View the collection: Terminator
Cast & Crew
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Critic Reviews for The Terminator
Audience Reviews for The Terminator
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The Terminator is a very influential, smart, thrilling and important film. Arnold Schwarzenegger pulls off iconic lines as well as being perfect as the Terminator. A sci-fi classic!
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"The Terminator" is an incredible and fun Action/Sci-Fi movie of 1984. "The Terminator's" plot is that a cyborg a.k.a. "The Terminator" portrayed by "Arnold Schwarzenegger" time travels from 2029 back to 1984 to murder "Sarah Connor" portrayed by "Linda Hamilton". A savior named "Kyle Reece" portrayed by "Michael Biehn" also time travels back to 1984 to save "Sarah Connor". The plot is simple yet incredible. There is neither plot holes nor unanswered questions after watching "The Terminator". The acting in this movie is perfect "Arnold Schwarzenegger" was born to play the role of "The Terminator". And the one-liner that was repeated over and over again "I'll be back". "Michael Biehn" was amazing playing the role of "Kyle Reece". The music in this movie is thrilling to listen to; the climax of the film is incredible thanks to the stunning music composed by "Brad Fiedel". "James Cameron" did an amazing job at directing this movie, and he was great at filming the movie, there are one or two scenes that could've been shot better but only one or two. The special effects in this movie are superb for 1984 for example the scene where the terminator drives the car into the police station. There is one scene that is very bad, this is the scene where the terminator's eye is damaged and he cuts he eye out this scene is bad. If you are a person who enjoys 1980's Sci-Fi/Action films then you should definitely watch "The Terminator" as it is an exciting and incredible movie. The only issues are the eyeball cutting out scene, one or two scenes shot better and the dialogue been a little less of it repeating itself. I give "The Terminator" a 9.5/10.
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Still slaying audiences with as much dramatic precision and visual panache as it did 30 years ago, this classic piece of sci-fi-horror reveals to filmgoers from frame one why it's one of the most influential flicks of the last century. Terminator is, at its core processor, an expert level slasher movie. Think about it: Unstoppable killer pursues girl; ill-fated boy helps girl; girl renders killer stoppable. Better than even the best of this monstrous bunch without even technically being in the same genre (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween), the film also boasts a strong whipsmart heroine, instantly iconic villain, and (then) revolutionary time-traveling post-apocalyptic assassin hook. Tautly edited, the story itself is a heart-stopping killing machine of precision-a ridiculously efficient scaremaker. In this legendary R-rated flick, an indestructible cyborg - a Terminator (Schwarzenegger) - is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman whose unborn son will become humanity's only hope in a future war against machines. Even if he never made anything else, Schwarzenegger's laser-sighted steely cool in Terminator makes him a superstar monster for the ages on the level of Lugosi and Karloff. Even in an age when photo-realism has nearly been achieved via computers, look at Stan Winston's brilliant special effects (those are models, people, not all 1's and 0's). Nearly perfect, the wow factor of this film isn't going anywhere. Both star and SFX wizard got hired for their respective roles by writer/director James Cameron, however, which makes their inclusion all part and partial to this visionary's genius-level gamemanship. Bottom line: Pumping Iron Fists
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I know saying this puts me in the minority, but the first Terminator movie is actually my favourite of the franchise. That's not a knock on the second movie, Judgment Day is awesome. But I really dig the lower down, dark, sci-fi horror vibe of the original (it is a knock on every movie in the series that came after T2 though). Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator is inspired casting. Firstly, any restrictions he had in acting ability back in the 80s are brushed aside by the fact that he's playing a cold, unfeeling machine. And can you imagine someone who looks like that coming after you? Forget the fact he's got an arsenal in his back pocket, forget the fact that he's got a near unstoppable metal exoskeleton, Arnie is already a machine! Being hunted by that man would be terrifying, and you feel that in the performance of the leads. The Terminator is one of the best movies I've ever seen, and I have seen - a lot.
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