Common Sense Media Review
Action-packed sci-fi has sex, violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Terminator
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 38 parent reviews
Based on 214 kid reviews
Kids say that this film is a thrilling blend of action and science fiction, showcasing both intense violence and moments of suspense that keep viewers engaged. Many reviews note the presence of nudity and strong language, with some advocating for parental guidance due to these elements, but overall, most agree that it is a classic worth watching for older teens.
- intense violence
- strong language
- parental guidance
- classic recommendation
- engaging plot
- nudity presence
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE TERMINATOR, a cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from the post-apocalyptic future where machines have taken over the world is sent back in time to 1984 Los Angeles. His mission is to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the woman who will eventually become the mother of the leader of the future resistance. Soldier Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is sent back, too; in this case to prevent the Terminator from carrying out his mission. Reese must protect Sarah long enough for her to give birth to her son, who will lead the fight against the machines.
Is It Any Good?
Co-written and directed by James Cameron, this is an excellent vehicle for his talent with sci-fi action and spectacle. The Terminator also highlights themes like humans vs. machines, the destructiveness of war, and capitalism. It also sets up the questioning of traditional gender roles that are common in Cameron's films through the character of Sarah, though for this particular film she remains mostly a damsel in distress.
The Terminator is more serious than the second two movies in the series. Schwarzenegger's character here bears none of the playful ambiguity of the sequels; he simply kills. True, he does utter the infamous phrase, "I'll be back," a promise that the character utterly fulfills, but the effect is less ironic than horrifying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the conventions of action movies like The Terminator and director James Cameron's statements regarding corporate culture, unchecked technological development, and nuclear war. What messages did you notice? Can you think of other movies that approach similar themes? How do they compare?
What do you think of the way Sarah's portrayed in this first movie of the franchise? Although she's known to later become a strong female lead, she spends much of her time here as a damsel in distress. Why is it important to challenge gender stereotypes on screen?
The franchise has gone on to include many sequels and a TV show. What about this story makes people keep going back for more? Have you seen any of the other Terminator movies or Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles? How do they compare? Do you think they stand on their own and expand the world in a good way, or are they unnecessary?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 26, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : February 21, 2001
- Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger , Linda Hamilton , Michael Biehn
- Director : James Cameron
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Orion
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Robots
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate