Terminator 1

The Terminator

by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd, directed by James Cameron

Release: 26 October 1984
Format: Feature Film
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

Artificially intelligent machines from 2029 send a killer cyborg back to 1984 to kill Sara Connor because, in 2029, her son John will lead the resistance against the machines’ rule.

The story has a classic self-defeating act: The Terminator goes back in time to kill Sara Connor, causing Kyle Reese to follow and become romantic with Sara Connor, causing John Connor to be born and eventually lead the revolution, causing the Terminator to go back in time to kill Sara Connor,. . .

— Michael Main

Kyle: [to Sarah at the Tech-Noir Club] Come with me if you want to live.

DEBUT

The Terminator (at movie theaters, USA, 26 October 1984).

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Time Travel Methods

Time Portal: The Time Displacement Equipment seems more like a fixed time gate than a time machine per se..

Themes

Fictional Tags

Groupings

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From unspecified place, 2029 ⋙ to Los Angeles, 1984. Note: The T-800 Terminator nude travels using Skynet’s Time Displacement Equipment.
From the Resistance-occupied Skynet base, 2029 ⋙ to Los Angeles, 1984. Note: Kyle Reese soon follows.