The Terminator

R

Released Oct 26, 1984

1h 48m

Sci-Fi

Action

Mystery & Thriller

List

100%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

89%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

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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Critics Consensus

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.

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Forget that the premise is silly and the acting second-rate because director James Cameron has the action formula down pat.

Apr 27, 2018

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

"The Terminator" brings film violence into the realm of the surreal.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Much of Terminator's greatness is due to its low-budget aesthetic and lo-fi energy; perhaps out of necessity, Cameron's sense of storytelling has a lean efficiency that both he and the series have long since abandoned.

May 28, 2016

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

While Cameron would make better, more ambitious, and certainly more successful projects in the decades to come, none would feel so foundational to Cameron’s auteurism as The Terminator

Rated: 4/4

Mar 1, 2024

Full Review

Brian Bisesi

Horror Movie Club Podcast

Despite its simple plot and uninspired dialogue, The Terminator is an otherwise well-oiled machine propelled forward by the strength of James Cameron’s direction, Stan Winston’s special effects, and Schwarzenegger’s terrifying performance.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 7, 2024

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

Perhaps no other villain of the 80s is as iconic as Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator.

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

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R. Baxter S

Originally released in 1984, this now classic science-fiction thriller has stood the test of time and is a true masterpiece of a movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

carlos

amazing experience to wach a classic in the big screen

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

Ed E

Classic James Cameron 1984 first time I saw it! Great storyline.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/21

Full Review

Susan D

One of the best of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/24

Full Review

Jay T

T2 is one of the best action movie ever made in my opinion, but the original film is great in it’s own way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie, top 10 1980s movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/24

Full Review

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James Cameron

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Terminator

Linda Hamilton

Sarah Connor

Michael Biehn

Kyle Reese

Paul Winfield

Lieutenant Ed Traxler

Lance Henriksen

Detective Vukovich

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Synopsis

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.

Director: James Cameron
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Pacific Western
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 5, 2015
Runtime: 1h 48m

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