The Terminator
“Your future is in its hands.”
Synopsis
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
Part of the The Terminator Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-05-06
Top Cast
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Terminator
Michael Biehn
Kyle Reese
Linda Hamilton
Sarah Connor
Paul Winfield
Traxler
Lance Henriksen
Vukovich
Rick Rossovich
Matt
Bess Motta
Ginger
Earl Boen
Silberman
Dick Miller
Pawnshop Clerk
Shawn Schepps
Nancy
Bruce M. Kerner
Desk Sergeant
Franco Columbu
Future Terminator
Bill Paxton
Punk Leader
Brad Rearden
Punk
Brian Thompson
Punk
William Wisher
Policeman
Ken Fritz
Policeman
Tom Oberhaus
Policeman
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 26, 1984
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 10, 1985
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6.4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$78.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
12.25x
+$72M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- James Cameron
- Screenplay & Story
- James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
- Original Score
- Brad Fiedel
- Original Title
- The Terminator
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 48m
- Production Budget
- $6.4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $78.4M
- Production Studios
- Hemdale, Pacific Western
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
James Cameron
James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
Brad Fiedel
Adam Greenberg, Chuck Colwell
Mark Goldblatt
Gale Anne Hurd, John Daly, Derek Gibson
Department Leadership Roster
James Cameron
Writer
Gale Anne Hurd
Producer
Adam Greenberg
Director of Photography
Brad Fiedel
Original Music Composer
Gale Anne Hurd
Writer
James Cameron
Director
Mark Goldblatt
Editor
Hilary Wright
Costume Design
Ken Fritz
Stunt Coordinator
Gene Warren Jr.
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Terminator.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Terminator
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Terminator about?
In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?
Who directed The Terminator?
The Terminator was directed by James Cameron.
Who stars in The Terminator?
The principal cast of The Terminator includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen.
When was The Terminator released and how long is it?
The Terminator was released in 1984 with a total runtime of 1h 48m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Terminator?
The Terminator had a reported production budget of $6.4M and grossed $78.4M at the worldwide box office (12.25 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Terminator?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Terminator was composed by Brad Fiedel.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Terminator?
The Terminator holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).