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About this movie

Genres:
Science Fiction, Action & Adventure
Language:
English
Running time:
1:47:14
Partner rating:
R
Released:

Cast & Crew

Cast

  1. Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator
  2. Michael Biehn Kyle Reese
  3. Linda Hamilton Sarah Connor
  4. Paul Winfield Traxler
  5. Lance Henriksen Vukovich
  6. Rick Rossovich Matt
  7. Bess Motta Ginger
  8. Earl Boen Silberman
  9. Franco Columbu Future Terminator
  10. Hugh Farrington Customer

Directors

  1. James Cameron

Producers

  1. Gale Anne Hurd

Writers

  1. Gale Anne Hurd
  2. James Cameron

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The Terminator

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Trailer for The Terminator

Endlessly imitated, The Terminator made the reputation of cowriter/director James Cameron -- who would go on to make 1997's titanic Titanic -- and solidified the stardom of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie begins in a post-apocalyptic 2029, when Los Angeles has been largely reduced to rubble and is under the thumb of all-powerful ruling machines. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a member of the human resistance movement, is teleported back to 1984.... Endlessly imitated, The Terminator made the reputation of cowriter/director James Cameron -- who would go on to make 1997's titanic Titanic -- and solidified the stardom of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie begins in a post-apocalyptic 2029, when Los Angeles has been largely reduced to rubble and is under the thumb of all-powerful ruling machines. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a member of the human resistance movement, is teleported back to 1984. His purpose: to rescue Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of the man who will lead the 21st-century rebels against the tyrannical machines, from being assassinated before she can give birth. Likewise thrust back to 1984 is The Terminator (Schwarzenegger), a grim, well-armed, virtually indestructable cyborg who has been programmed to eliminate Sarah Connor. After killing two "Sarah Connors" who turn out to be the wrong women, he finally aims his gunsights at the genuine article. This is the film in which Schwarzenegger declared "I'll be baaaack" -- and back he was, in "kinder and gentler" form, in the even more successful Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

Trailer for The Terminator

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Reviews by Rotten Tomatoes

Scored 'fresh' by Rotten Tomatoes

100%Tomatometer score: 100% positive reviews from professional critics.

percent positive reviews

  1. Positive review
    Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine As for Schwarzenegger, he nicely fleshes out the convention of a soulless gun for hire. With his choppy hair, cryptic shades and state-of-the-'80s leather ensemble, he looks like the Incredible... – Full review External link
  2. Positive review
    Jay Scott, Globe and Mail An efficient, cold-blooded sci-fi splatter movie that never makes the mistake of forgetting that on some level it is deeply ridiculous. – Full review External link
  3. Positive review
    Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader As a souvenir of a kind of B-grade action cinema that has all but vanished, The Terminator should find a small place in the heart of every movie addict. – Full review External link
  4. Positive review
    Geoff Andrew, Time Out More than enough violence to make it a profoundly moral film; and Arnold's a whizz. – Full review External link
  5. Positive review
    Janet Maslin, New York Times This is a monster movie, and the monster's role fits Mr. Schwarzenegger just fine. – Full review External link

Read more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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