The Terminator (1984)

A robotic assassin from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to eliminate a waitress, whose son will grow up and lead humanity in a war against machines.

Director:

James Cameron

Writers:

James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd,

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Top 250 #173 | 5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Terminator
Michael Biehn	...	Kyle Reese
Linda Hamilton	...	Sarah Connor
Paul Winfield	...	Lieutenant Ed Traxler
Lance Henriksen	...	Detective Hal Vukovich
Rick Rossovich	...	Matt Buchanan
Bess Motta	...	Ginger Ventura
Earl Boen	...	Dr. Peter Silberman
Dick Miller	...	Pawn Shop Clerk
Shawn Schepps	...	Nancy
Bruce M. Kerner	...	Desk Sergeant
Franco Columbu	...	Future Terminator
Bill Paxton	...	Punk Leader
Brad Rearden	...	Punk
Brian Thompson	...	Punk

Storyline

A cyborg is sent from the future on a deadly mission. He has to kill Sarah Connor, a young woman whose life will have a great significance in years to come. Sarah has only one protector - Kyle Reese - also sent from the future. The Terminator uses his exceptional intelligence and strength to find Sarah, but is there any way to stop the seemingly indestructible cyborg ?

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Plot Keywords:

The Terminator | Future | Skynet | Cyborg | Soldier | 

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Taglines:

In the Year of Darkness, 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by changing the Past. The plan required something that felt no pity. No pain. No fear. Something unstoppable. They created 'THE TERMINATOR'

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

26 October 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Terminator

Filming Locations:

14239 Gilmore Street, Van Nuys, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,400,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$38,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale Film, Pacific Western, Euro Film Funding

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original treatment by James Cameron included the detail that the Terminator needed to eat periodically in order for his human flesh to survive. A scene is included where the Terminator eats a candy bar, wrapper and all. This detail was incorporated into the script for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, with the Terminator selecting Arnold Schwarzenegger's favorite Austrian chocolate wafer. When fans learned that a scene had been shot where the Terminator ate chocolate, the reaction was overwhelmingly negative and the scene was omitted.

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Goofs

When the Terminator gets into the tanker truck, there is a close-up shot of his left hand grabbing onto the type of door handle that protrudes from the door, and pushing the button on the handle with his thumb. But when the Terminator is chasing Sarah and Kyle with the truck, the door handle is the rectangular type that is recessed into the bottom right corner of the door.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[the garbage truck's engine stops]
Truck Driver: What the hell? Goddamn son of a bitch...

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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.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood's Top Ten: Movie Villains (2010)
Arnold Schwarzenegger takes #4 top villain in movies

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Soundtracks

"You Can't Do That"
Performed by Tryanglz
Written by Ricky Phillips
Published by Ricky Lynn Phillips Music (BMI)

User Reviews

An excellent film, highly original

Terminator is an extremely low budget movie. In fact, just about everything used in it didn't cost much at all, but it is a very effective movie. Back in the '70's and 80's, movies could be very low budget, but still be great(think of John Carpenter's Halloween).

The Terminator is a story about how nuclear war causes the end to mankind and the end result could be the start of an even greater tragedy than the war its self. The entire message of The Terminator is an anti nuclear war message.

Many people think that a few parts in the beginning of the movie are just some random things thrown in. I can understand why, but these seemingly random scenes actually do have a lot to do with the story.

Arnold does a great job as the cyborg who is programmed to kill without mercy or remorse. For those who don't know, this is the movie where the line "I'll be back" was spoken. The other actors do a good job in this. Linda Hamilton made a great choice doing this movie and she really improved her career through it(the movie she made before this was the horrible Children Of The Corn).

This is better than Terminator 2(which is still great by the way), because this movie has more of a story and is more involved. I would recommend watching this movie at any time, it is very well paced and never gets boring, and if you have the time, watch T2 right after this.