The Terminator
Movie, 1984, Skynet, Set in 1984
The Terminator is #1 of 8 in release order and #1 of 8 in chronological order in the Terminator.
The story
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?
The Terminator recap
In 1984 Los Angeles, two time travellers arrive from 2029: the Terminator, a cyborg assassin with living tissue over a metal skeleton, and Kyle Reese, a soldier of the human resistance. The Terminator starts killing every woman named Sarah Connor in the phone book. Kyle finds the right one, a waitress, and saves her at a nightclub. He tells her that machines will start a nuclear war and nearly wipe out humanity, and that her future son John will lead the fight back; the machines sent the Terminator to stop John from ever being born, and John sent Kyle to protect her. The police think Kyle is mad, and the Terminator attacks the station and kills dozens of officers. On the run, Sarah and Kyle fall in love and sleep together.
The Terminator ending explained
Kyle blows up the Terminator's tanker with a pipe bomb, but its metal skeleton rises from the flames and chases them into a factory. Kyle dies blowing it in half, and Sarah crushes what is left of it in a hydraulic press. Months later, Sarah, pregnant with Kyle's son John, drives into Mexico as a storm comes in, recording tapes for her son.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Terminator
The Terminator is streaming on Prime Video, YouTube TV, YouTube (free), Fawesome, and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 90%
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
- Chronological order: first, before Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
What to watch before The Terminator
Nothing. The Terminator is the first of the Terminator essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator
- Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese
- Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor
- Paul Winfield as Traxler
- Lance Henriksen as Vukovich
- Rick Rossovich as Matt
- Bess Motta as Ginger
- Earl Boen as Silberman
- Dick Miller as Pawnshop Clerk
- Shawn Schepps as Nancy
- Bruce M. Kerner as Desk Sergeant
- Franco Columbu as Future Terminator
Directed by James Cameron.