The Terminator (1984)
Kernel Score: 90% · 14,343 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 1984-10-26
Runtime: 108 minutes
Is The Terminator worth watching?
Must-watch. A relentless killer robot hunts a waitress through 1984 Los Angeles. It's lean, tense and cheaply made, but still one of the best sci-fi action films ever.
Watch it if you
- love lean, tense sci-fi
- want the origin of the franchise
- enjoy 80s action
Skip it if you
- dislike violence
- want polish and big-budget effects
Best for: Action night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Terminator
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, YouTube TV
- Free with ads: Fawesome, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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 parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Terminator is an R-rated sci-fi thriller with intense violence from a relentless killer cyborg.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Rated R with a killer cyborg using guns and force in relentless pursuit, including shootouts.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Terminator
If you liked The Terminator, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — 95%: The bigger, brilliant sequel
- Aliens (1986) — 94%: Same director's sci-fi action classic
- Blade Runner (1982) — 94%: Classic dark sci-fi about artificial beings
- The Matrix (1999) — 96%: Landmark sci-fi action
- Ghost in the Shell (1995) — 92%: Cyberpunk classic on identity and machines
- Predator (1987) — 85%: Lean, intense hunter-versus-prey film
Director
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
The Terminator FAQ
Is The Terminator worth watching?
Must-watch. A relentless killer robot hunts a waitress through 1984 Los Angeles. It's lean, tense and cheaply made, but still one of the best sci-fi action films ever.
Where can I watch The Terminator?
In the US you can stream The Terminator on Prime Video, Fubo and YouTube TV, watch it free with ads on Fawesome, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Terminator OK for kids?
The Terminator is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Terminator is an R-rated sci-fi thriller with intense violence from a relentless killer cyborg.
What movies are like The Terminator?
If you liked The Terminator, try Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Aliens, Blade Runner and The Matrix.