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The Terminator
Available in 4KUS ↗CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by James Cameron. With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton.
7.7/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S 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?
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7.7/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTIn the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn…
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Terminator.
MoviHero lists October 26, 1984 as the release date for The Terminator. James Cameron is the listed director. The listed cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator, Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, Paul Winfield as Traxler. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateOctober 26, 1984
GenresScience Fiction · Thriller · Action
Runtime1h 48m
DirectorJames Cameron
CastArnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator, Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, Paul Winfield as Traxler
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Terminator right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Terminator runs 1h 48m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 8/10: a faster-moving watch.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 6/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Terminator. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
But shorterBackpay2026 · 1h 26m
22 minutes shorter (1h 26m). Shared genre: thriller, action.
But less emotionally intenseBad Day at the Office2026 · 1h 52mEstimated emotional impact: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: thriller, action.
But less demandingWanderer2026 · Runtime unavailableEstimated attention required: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: thriller, action.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.7/10 from 15,374 votes. Updated Nov 3, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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Available quality United States
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The Roku ChannelFree with ads
More quality options (13)
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4K ↗Dolby Vision
Checked Nov 9, 2026. Quality can depend on your plan and device. HD does not necessarily mean 1080p.
OPTION 2
Other ways to watch The Terminator
Compare reported U.S. streaming, free, rental and purchase options in one place.
United States
AMC Plus Apple TV channel
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Price varies by providerVisit Apple TV
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Price varies by providerWatch on Prime Video
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Price varies by providerVisit AMC+
WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing8/10
Emotional Impact6/10
Mind-Bending7/10
Scary2/10
Violence8/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Terminator
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“I can't. Nobody goes home. Nobody else comes through. It's just him - and me. It's funny really, writing a review for The Terminator these…”
Viewer reaction
“Good watch, might watch again, and can recommend.”
Viewer reaction
“Writing a review for a movie this old does indeed seem pointless, but since this is one of my favorite films I thought I would…”
More reactions (2)
Viewer reaction
“I know saying this puts me in the minority, but the first Terminator movie is actually my favourite of the franchise.”
Viewer reaction
“Here we go, the movie that started it all and wasn't Arnold believable as a robot?”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Come with me if you want to live.”
“I'll be back.”
A short promise that captures the character's relentless determination.
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherVukovichVukovich appears in The Terminator (1984).Open character guide otherTraxlerTraxler appears in The Terminator (1984).Open character guide otherGingerGinger appears in The Terminator (1984).Open character guide otherSarah ConnorSarah Connor runs from The Terminator to Terminator: Dark Fate with Linda Hamilton carrying the role across 3 films. This guide also includes Emilia Clarke portraying Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys.Open character guide otherTerminatorTerminator appears across 2 MoviHero films from 1984-2026, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Start with the first appearance, then follow the screen path in release order.Open character guide otherKyle ReeseKyle Reese appears in The Terminator (1984).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
10.0/10
MOVIHERO RATINGBackpay
2026·Thriller · Action
7.2/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEThe Cryonicist
2026·Science Fiction · Crime · Thriller
7.1/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEBad Day at the Office
2026·Thriller · Action