The Terminator

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• 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 Pawn Shop Clerk
• Shawn Schepps as Nancy
• Bruce M. Kerner as Desk Sergeant
• Franco Columbu as Future Terminator
• Bill Paxton as Punk Leader
• Brad Rearden as Punk (scenes deleted)
• Brian Thompson as Punk
• William Wisher as Policeman
• Ken Fritz as Policeman
• Tom Oberhaus as Policeman
• Ed Dogans as Cop in Alley
• Joe Farago as TV Anchorman
• Hettie Lynne Hurtes as TV Anchorwoman
• Tony Mirelez as Station Attendant
• Philip Gordon as Mexican Boy
• Anthony Trujillo as Mexican Boy
• Stan Yale as Derelict

Storyline:

Sent back from a dystopian 2029–where the cold machines have conquered the entire world–to 1984 Los Angeles, the indestructible cyborg-assassin known as the “Terminator” commences his deadly mission to kill humankind’s most important woman: the unsuspecting Sarah Connor. However, from the same war-torn post-apocalyptic future comes a battle-scarred defender–Kyle Reese, a brave soldier of the human Resistance Army–bent on stopping the cybernetic killer from eliminating the world’s last hope. But, the Terminator has no feelings, he doesn’t sleep, and above all, he won’t stop until he carries out his grim task. Does our future lie in our past?

About Movie:

The Terminator is a 1984 American science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, written by Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, and produced by Hurd. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator, alongside Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, and Paul Winfield. William Wisher Jr. contributed additional dialogue to the screenplay.

The film’s concept originated from a fever dream Cameron had during the release of his first film, Piranha II: The Spawning (1982). Collaborating with Wisher, Cameron developed the story and sold the rights to Hurd on the condition that he would direct. Hurd secured distribution with Orion Pictures, while Hemdale Film Corporation’s John Daly and Derek Gibson arranged financing and production. Schwarzenegger, initially approached for the role of Reese, ultimately agreed to portray the Terminator after befriending Cameron.

Filming took place primarily at night in Los Angeles, delayed due to Schwarzenegger’s commitment to Conan the Destroyer (1984). During this time, Cameron worked on the scripts for Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Aliens (1986). Special effects, including miniatures and stop-motion animation, were crafted by a team led by Stan Winston and Gene Warren Jr.

The Terminator exceeded expectations, topping the U.S. box office for two weeks and grossing $78.3 million against a $6.4 million budget. The film launched Cameron’s career and cemented Schwarzenegger’s status as a leading actor. Its success spawned a franchise of sequels, a TV series, comics, novels, and video games. In 2008, the film was preserved by the Library of Congress in the U.S. National Film Registry.

Budget & Box Office Collection: