The Terminator

The Terminator is a 1984 sci-fi action film which became the break-through role for former body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger. Directed by James Cameron, the premise of the movie is that a "cybernetic organism" (living tissue over an android skeleton) the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 800 Series Terminator (played by Schwarzenegger), has been transported back in time from 2029 A.D. to May 12, 1984 to assassinate a woman named Sarah Connor (played by Linda Hamilton). At the same time a man, Kyle Reese (played by Michael Biehn), is sent back to protect Connor from the cyborg. Issues raised by the film include time travel, causal loops, and artificial intelligence.

Legacy

The "first" feature film for director Cameron (he had been replaced on the unsuccessful Piranha II: The Spawning), this low-budget movie was a surprise box-office hit, earning $38,371,200 (the film cost roughly $6.5 million) in 1984. It established Cameron as a talented action director. He would then go on to produce a string of successful action movies, continuing with Aliens in 1986. Schwarzenegger had already starred in the hit film Conan the Barbarian and its successor, Conan the Destroyer, but The Terminator solidified his position as a movie star. It is still considered to be one of his best roles.

Related Topics:
Box-office - Aliens - 1986 - Conan the Barbarian - Conan the Destroyer

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