The Terminator: Revisiting the Movie That Made Schwarzenegger An Icon

There’s one line that will forever go down in movie history as one of the most iconic moments of dialogue ever, and it was almost never to be. While filming the 1984 sci-fi / action / horror classic The Terminator, director James Cameron had initially written the line for Arnold Schwarzenegger as “I’ll come back”. However, as seen in the recent Netflix documentary series on the Austrian Oak, Arnie and Cameron had a heated clash over the line. Schwarzenegger hadn’t said the line correctly so Cameron suggested he just say the now iconic “I’ll be back” instead, leading Arnie to questioning the director’s writing, and getting a suitably pissed-off response in return.
This is just one example of how The Terminator not only became one of the most beloved movie franchises in Hollywood history, well, it is if you stop at part two that is, but that’s a story for later. It also launched the career of an actor who, up until its release, had been an enormously successful bodybuilder, with roles in smaller features, plus an awesome turn as Conan the Barbarian in the John Miluis epic from 1982. So, get yourselves glammed up for a night at Tech Noir as we head out to party with The Terminator here on ARNIE REVISITED!
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#arnoldschwarzenegger #theterminator #jamescameron

[@jeremyshelton1079]

As far as Cameron's comment about Arnold no fitting as an infiltration unit goes, when I was a kid I just assumed that Terminators had to built like Arnold because of how big their metallic skeletons and all the tech inside are. It would take a large human to cover all of the internals.

[@trinaq]

I can't believe that this movie is almost 40 years old. The effects definitely hold up by today's standards.

[@benwasserman8223]

Ehhh that fake Arnie mask really doesn't. Nor do the stop motion Terminator movements - feels a bit too Jason and the Argonauts uncanny. Other than that, it's 88% timeless.

[@waverlyking6045]

@@benwasserman8223 It may sound strange but I actually enjoy the flawed practical effects. It’s like listening to a punk band mess up a chord in a song but the energy of the music makes up for it.

[@joshmciver4847]

They do NOT hold up by today's standards. They pale in comparison to the sequel... Thats part of the charm.

[@Locadel2003]

Its insane how this movie was basically an horror action movie with also parts of sci-fi and a bit of romantic moments. Overall was fucking amazing for 84, Michael Biehn role still remain my favourite underrated performance of the 80s action movies, he was great but he got overshadowed by Schwarzenegger & Linda Hamilton

[@grapeshot]

When he goes and takes out that whole police precinct and that one scene where she dreams about the future and that one Terminator comes in and just takes out the whole resistance. Those are my two favorite scenes of this very good movie.

[@thecunninlynguist]

Classic. That sense of dread was unnerving

[@benwasserman8223]

Given this film's legacy, it's hard to look at The Terminator as a low-budget film production. Even though from a Hollywood standpoint, it really was. James Cameron was just that good at working with all the resources available.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Despite dated effects, the film still holds up in terms of plot, character, and action

[@waverlyking6045]

I'll take dated practical effects anytime over shoddy CGI.

[@anubusx]

I still adore the practical ones used during the scenes in the future

[@jerichoasprec4455]

All effects/graphics will be dated at some point. It's the heart of the story that makes it stand the test of time🙏🙂Better than most cr*p M-SHE-U Disney pulls off nowadays😝👎

[@jamesmorant1406]

I know 90 percent of people say Terminator 2 is better, but for me, Terminator 1 is the best combination of horror and action, and to see Arnold Schwarzenegger play a villain was amazing

[@ramonvargas5928]

Amen brother! To me when I was a little kid back in 1984, the Terminator character was terrifying! T2 made the Terminator character friendly, destroying that suspense! What also made this movie great was the possibility that a computer like Skynet could happen! That's why the public loved it especially even more in the 90s at the rise of desktops and laptops, etc.

[@rodneycooperjr3223]

Amazing? 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@jamesmorant1406]

@@rodneycooperjr3223 What?

[@adampatino5372]

Wat¿

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

Agreed, Arnie sensing the potential was of course meant to play Kyle Reece, but that never could have worked as well.

[@filippos13]

A timeless classic!

[@seanbatiz6620]

I think the original was so well done that it oughta be ILLEGAL for anyone to attempt a redo…

[@MikeHernandezjett]

Alan Ritchson, who plays Jack Reacher in the Reacher series on Amazon, would be great as a new Terminator if they were to reboot or do yet another sequel.

[@triggeredcat120]

I didn’t know who you were talking about until I looked him up and you’re dead right.

[@Turbo5150]

​@triggeredcat120 reacher is a great show. You should check it out. He was good in blue mountain state also

[@zeusuk100]

Don't encourage them to make yet another Terminator, we've suffered enough

[@LukeLovesRose]

The Terminator is possibly the greatest "B-movie" ever made. By that i mean, it is the greatest low-budget sci-fi ever produced. The Terminator is a great inspiration for future filmmakers. Cameron showed us what can be possible on a small budget and its freaking amazing. Everything that makes James Cameron movies so good today is all there in The Terminator. For instance, just look at the arrival of the Terminator. A trash truck makes for a perfect visual transition to the appearance of a killer robot. And just look at the perfect direction. T2 on the other hand is the greatest action movie ever made. Cameron showed us whats possible once youve established yourself in the industry. And its freaking PHENOMENAL. I just wish we could get a new 5.1 remix for The Terminator. The .45 longslide should sound like a freaking cannon. The audience should be just as shocked and stunned by that weapon as the 35 year old Sarah Connors neighbors after the Terminator blew her head off. Theres an interesting deleted scene revealing the aftermath where Sarah Connors neighbors are running around in complete panic mode. But the newest 5.1 remix makes all of these bad**s weapons sound like squeaky toys, including the shotguns. You cant feel anything from a sound effect like that.

[@LeonardoKlotz]

Back when less was more

[@Vaporvice84]

Almost every sequel since T2 has tried to recapture the magic of T2 and failed. Meanwhile, the first film could easily be followed on a small budget and scale and feel like a true sequel by bringing back the core element of FEAR to the franchise. Most people say "they haven't made a good terminator film since 2". Meanwhile, fans like myself have been waiting for the damn future war film for almost 40 years.

[@justinsixx90]

Agree with everything you said. But personally I think Salvation was the only decent sequel after T2.

[@Vaporvice84]

@justinsixx90 it gets an "E" for effort for trying to do something different. However, it gets and "F" regarding everything else, lol.

[@varianbohling251]

I started writing one with this idea in mind. $50-70 million budget max. Maybe I’ll finish it. 🤔

[@joshmciver4847]

​@@varianbohling251wow I can't wait to never read your script!

[@varianbohling251]

@@joshmciver4847 ok 🤷‍♂️

[@TheRighttoArmBears2022]

Terminator was such a great story and the fact they didn't have tons of money I think helped to make it better because they had do do things that made more sense instead of over the top special effects that movies use today.

[@WilliamHaisch]

My Mom took us kids to see “Oh God, You Devil” in the theater! There was only 1 movie theater within 40 miles, so the Supreme Court litmus test established in _Beggars v. Choosers_ was definitely in effect. The Terminator would have to wait until I got a VCR in college. 😂

[@JounLord1]

Kinda wish you shouted out the late great Paul Winfield in touching on the cast, he role as Lt Traxler was very memorable. While I grew up more preferring T2 over T1 as an adult I definitely appreciate The Terminator more. A dark, gritty movie that is still hopeful. A great cast, great effects, and one of the most memorable villains in cinema. Sucks none of the other Terminator movies ever came close to being as good as Terminator 1 or 2 especially Dark Fate with Cameron himself involved with that one. I swear every movie since T3 seemed to go out of their way to hate on John Connor for some reason.

[@jplonsdale7242]

Modern entertainment hates men

[@startswithdee3425]

As a kid, I used to have repeated nightmares about the Terminator. I look back fondly on those xD

[@mangodango1733]

I still remember the way I felt seeing this movie for the first time

[@Zombiesnyder13]

James Cameron created everything when he wrote this movie And then ruined everything when he wrote DARK FATE

[@triggeredcat120]

You mean Woke Fate

[@varianbohling251]

Yeah he really lost it. Idk wtf he was thinking. He bitched about Alien 3, then endorsed the same thing.

[@mikegwillis]

Great work ... but 2 things, at it's heart it is a love story, "I came across time for you Sarah". Also Cameron denied he was consciously influenced by the 2 Outer Limits episodes written by Harlan Ellison, it was Hemdale and Orion who settled the copyright case out of court against his wishes.

[@asifkhan4822]

It is quite interesting to note that The Terminator unlike all the other entries plays as a proper slasher horror movie. This & the sequel T2 are the greatest movies ever made and one that can never ever be replicated again.

[@thedarknightmedic6187]

I was 10 years old when it came out on VHS. It scared the crap out of me.

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

FUN FACT: Arnold has only played a villain twice in his career, once in arguably his best performance and the other was arguably his worst performance....

[@anubusx]

The only time he played a human character who dies is in End Of Days.

[@gustavoalmanza2673]

Nah he was having a fun time in that role and embraced the absurdity of everything around him. Arnold made the right call hamming it up as Mr Freeze

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

@@gustavoalmanza2673 exactly he was hamming it up, which leads to a terrible a performance...

[@gustavoalmanza2673]

@@thumpyloudfoot864 he’s arguably the most entertaining part of that movie

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

@@gustavoalmanza2673 dude are you seriously trying to convince me that was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's best acting jobs?

[@triggeredcat120]

The T800 endo is more terrifying than it being CGI.

[@codymr1974]

12:25 I don't believe ILM did the VFX on The Terminator. If I recall Fantasy II Film Effects was credited with the stop motion/go motion work with Stan Winston's crew doing the life-sized T800. However, ILM did do the VFX for T2, notably the liquid metal T1000.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Putting all special effects aside, The Terminator was a far better movie than Terminator 2 in story, action, and character development.

[@damiensteele7663]

I'm so glad someone said this. These are my thoughts exactly.

[@Prawnsacrifice]

Oh hands down mate

[@dylanhal]

Terminator 2 kinda ruins the perfect loop of the original. In some ways I wish the sequels didn't exist.

[@LukeLovesRose]

How do you figure that?? I don't understand how you people can have such a beef with T2. It's like blindly loving A New Hope while hating on The Empire Strikes Back. It's like hating The Godfather Part II while blindly loving The Godfather

[@alswearengine4867]

@@LukeLovesRoseT2 rules, but I also prefer the first one. It had more horror elements, and I like that it truly was man vs. machine, instead of machine vs. deadlier machine.

[@Dylantomasi]

I've heard this story a lot over the years. And it's nothing like you say it is. I'm pretty sure it was written. I'll be back and arnold wanted it to be I will be back.

[@Merylstreep1949]

Only 7 years from Judgement Day....perhaps before then we will finally get one more good Terminator film....maybe a documentary style one would be the magic formula for success

[@ToddAdams1234]

I like the “weird Al” version. Conan, the LIBRARIAN! 😂

[@mickemack5699]

Actually, the line "I'll be back" was always written that way but Arnold thought "I will be back" sounded more robotic so he argued with James Cameron until he said I don't tell you how to act you don't tell me how to write Turns out he was right🤷‍♂️😎

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

I'll be back ...Okay. I'm back. What did I miss?

[@Morgil27]

With the exception of the opening scene when he's naked, I never really saw the Terminator as that much of a beefcake in this movie, mainly cuz of how loose fitting and baggy that leather jacket is on him. It hides his muscles well.

[@dmac7128]

There were quite a few B=movies from that period like it that were terrible. The Terminator could have very easily ended up as one of them. The difference is that the characters are well written and one protagonists are written in way the one wants to care about what happens to them. Linda Hamilton did a great job with the character in this movie and its sequel. She showed versatility in presenting a different version of Sarah Connor in T2. Its too bad that she didn't get bigger roles over that time. She is underrated as an actor.

[@omar174th6]

While T2 took it to the next level and is regarded as the best one. Part 1 is still a classic.

[@judsongaiden9878]

1:28 "Reese visited." 5:11 Ironically, Michael Biehn had already played at least two villains by this point, and here he was playing the ultimate hero, Kyle Reese (aka "the father of the future"). Mike went on to play even more villains, all of them as realistically human as his heroes. 8:09 Why 19? Why not, say, 22-ish? 9:05 Hal Vukovich 15:06 1984 was the mid '80s. The "mid" part of a decade ends with 4, 5, or 6.

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

I wonder (dare I say it) how the surgery/repair scene would look, using today's CGI? I can't see it harming the rest of the film, if done professionally. the de-aged Arnie looked very good in GENESIS I thought one of the few things that did.

[@barbiquearea]

I didn't know Sylvester Stallone was actually considered for the role of the T-800. I thought that was a cheeky joke from The Last Action Hero.

[@Kthomasritchie]

A big budget 'John Connor' streaming show is the only way ahead. Retcon (again) everything after T2. Bring back the look and feel of the first 2 movies.

[@coreyc5982]

Two Things: 1.) Industrial Light & Magic did not work on the stop motion (or any other effects) animation on the first "Terminator." 2.) The narrator should have mentioned Paul Winfield, who at the time of "The Terminator's" filming was the most accomplished actor on the set. Seriously, the man was just in another sci-fi classic only two years prior, "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan." Paul Winfield even played Martin Luther King Jr. in a movie.

[@Merylstreep1949]

Honestly the only movie from 1984 I still watch Definitely up there with the likes of Citizen Kane and 2001

[@retrodude5891]

I'm conflicted on which I love more. I grew up with T2 as my favorite movie but overtime I've grown to have a soft spot for T1. I was born in 1990 but I always have felt like I should of been born in the 80s. Hence, I love the first one cause I love the cultural vibe or the 80s. Movie has more of a horror vibe. This movie also influenced the look of one of my favorite game character, Solid Snake in Metal Gear. This is why it makes hard to decide which is top 1 for me. I'll give my take on T2 during next episode. Tune in.

[@parkerpshebnisky1051]

Celebrating 40 years of the terminator!😁👍👍

[@Dr_1212]

"I.ll be Back."

[@VidiotOverride]

Love the Terminator! It may seem dated at times, but it still is solid with what it did accomplish, and let alone what it created or inspired afterwards. I did a series called Reversed Reviews, where i watxh movies backwards to come up with new plots. First 2 episodes are on t1 and t2. What do you think the story would be played in reverse? 😏

[@grimmer2005]

In later installements, the T800 jumps from a Helicopter.... He should have been completely wrecked by this.

[@synexthebarbarian8006]

The next Terminator movie should be about John Conner and Reese, his time loop daddy.

[@barbiquearea]

Instead of making another Terminator film, what if they made a crossover event with Robocop? Since there is already source material of Robocop and Terminator existing in the same universe (though non-canon) in comic books and a video game. I don't think it would be completely out of the question for them to let these two beloved dark and gritty sci-fi films about killer cyborgs converge into a "Robocop vs The Terminator" movie. Especially now that both IP are down in the dumps with very little public interest or goodwill left in either franchise, a crossover event might be able to reignite excitement for both.

[@ThellysTheOddBod]

Couldn't see OJ as a killer. Huh. That aged well didn't it?

[@Myersmad316]

This has to be one of the greatest movies ever made? Behind Predator, this is Arnies greatest movie. What a fucking absolute monster of a movie. Arnie is like Michael Myers in this, absolute machine.

[@trenchy1990]

Michael Biehn is what made this movie great imo. Just so likeable.

[@StroggKingu]

As far as I remember (from dvd special) they got Arnie before Michel Bean, as he was famous already after Conan films, so they wanted him at first as Reese, but with his bulk it wouldn't make sense for supply short resistance, so they thought he wouldn't better fit for Terminator, and be bit more believable to have machine inside. And his first shots in character were driving police car in the car park scanning for good guys, that convinced the for good it's a good choice. So get your facts straight people especially if you say you watched it many times.

[@carmelosgro6413]

The fans want a future war movie similar to Saving Private Ryan, with horror elements & lots of action. Keep comedy down to a minimum

[@ScarysReviews]

Halloween II inspired James Cameron, not the original. the T-1000 could have been done with stop motion, use mercury for the puddle, ( a risky effect, but, easy to do) film that, then have the plasticine painted silver, and do the effect, up until a maquette of the T1000, then, cut, place the actor in silver paint, then remove it after the shot for transition. there you go. but what happened and what we got, CLASSIC, and the ideas moved on for T2, legendary

[@JezaLoki]

A bodybuilder with a heavy Austrian accent playing a time traveling robot assassin should have failed in embarrassingly hilarious style.

[@edvaira6891]

Could we PLEASE remember that Terminator ONLY COST $5.6 Million! It looked WONDERFUL considering its low budget!

[@neiltaylor6645]

Resurrection of the daleks had a higher body count than the terminator

[@barbiquearea]

I have to disagree with Cameron on Arnie not being a believable terminator. Because the I saw it, even though the T-800 is meant to be an infiltration unit, judging by one of Kyle Reese's flashbacks, they seem to only need to blend in enough to get inside the Resistance's base and unleash hell upon the people inside. At that point, it is their intimidating presence that matters more than being unrecognisable.

[@totallypreposterous]

Hahahaha. They didn’t feel OJ Simpson could play a convincing killer. Hahahaha. Best irony ever.

[@teethonthecurb161]

Wahey I'll be back pet! Lets gan doon the toon.

[@MisterSouji]

Terminator 2 worked because it turned the first movie on its head. The terminator was now the hero, and the focus was on as much about changing the future. The problem with most of the sequels is they keep doing what the first two movies did over again. Two people come from the future to kill/protect a person, while they try and change the future. Do something NEW, like what the Resistance game did.

[@jamesstutz6907]

Love Terminator 1 and 2. They should have stopped at 2. Arnold Schwarzenegger was also in the movie Red Sonja.

[@anubusx]

Its funny how This film and the original Halloween are so similar.

[@allnamesaretakenful]

I had an argument with an idiot on KZbin about 2 years ago who was telling me I was wrong for saying The Terminator is a Sci-fi Horror Movie. He said it was a Sci-fi Thriller.

[@KapitanPisoar1]

Terminator 3 is still an enjoyable flick and it rounds up the trilogy nicely... If anything the ending of the movie is perfect.

[@teethonthecurb161]

Nah it makes zero sense and they retcon Connor's age in T2 to 13 😂 It's an abomination.

[@ASmartassInHis40s]

The fx are dates, but I'll take those any day over the way the t2 effects look

[@gkrstini]

you know that this movie is suspiciously identical to the outer limits soldier, story by harlan ellison

[@jacobwest7]

I think the bulky arnold look makes sense, in sarah connor chronicles we see t-888s, which are successors to the 800s and they mostly are housed within a human sized body. Even though cameron said what he said and tscc isnt cannon the logic there could be. The logic being the 800 is the first terminator built that can fit inside a human body, albiet large body, without looking inhumanly large, i know arnold was mr universe but his size is still within human ability even if on the extreme end. Something like the 600s size in terminator salvation is inhuman

[@aranerem5569]

Great movie

[@Booty_Crum]

Yall be revisting this one at least once a month i stg

[@RexBanner_]

Hey buddy, is that a dead cat in there or what?

[@deeskillz2000]

Should have casted OJ Simpson as The Terminator instead. He had that "killer" vibe. Would've really "cut up" his victims.

[@High_Key]

Shoot revisit this movie once a year if you have to!

[@MrJeffcoley1]

Honestly, I thought the most iconic line in The Terminator is "F*** you, ass****" chosen from the list of possible responses to the man complaining about the smell of rotting flesh coming from the T-800, "You got a dead cat in there?"

[@alexfeliciano5609]

They could publish the Japanese Spiderman and also publish it on joblo in Spanish.

[@johnortiz1964]

Watch the ending credits and you'll see the results of the lawsuit that Harlan Ellison won for "borrowing" ideas from his award winning episode of The Outer Limits

[@varianbohling251]

Cameron had nothing to do with that. That was the producers. There’s little to no similarities with anything Harlan wrote. It’s a stretch at best.

[@johnortiz1964]

@@varianbohling251 I'm sure James Cameron had something to do with the movie... he wrote the script he was the director his wife Gail Anne Hurd was a co-writer and producer. Having just re-watched that episode of The outer limits "The Soldier " I see a lot of similarities in the openings to enough to justify the ending credit . Harlan was extremely litigious !!

[@varianbohling251]

@@johnortiz1964 I’m aware he wrote and directed the film silly goose 🪿. My point, he stated from his own lips he vehemently opposed paying Harlan or giving him credit for something he had nothing to do with. The producers paid up, probably cheaper. Soldier is nothing like Terminator. That’s like saying any movie with a bank robbery scene is the same movie. Harlan was simply a twat shaking everyone down.

[@johnortiz1964]

What a surprise ! He loses the lawsuit has to put the credit at the end of the movie and denied it has anything to do with the Outer Limits episode. Usually these claims go nowhere.I don't think it was a stretch to acknowledge the "works of Harlan Ellison" as part of the ending credits. Oh well I love both 😁

[@varianbohling251]

@@johnortiz1964 we’re going in circles here. Cameron said that he had nothing to do with giving him credit. The producers (whoever owned the film at that time) made the decision, he wasn’t involved. I think it royally pisses him off it’s there. It would to me too in the same situation.

[@jerryschramm4399]

They should have left the series after #2. That they keep on dragging it out shows desperation, a dearth of creativity, and, in the last release (or did that thing escape?), a turn toward this new idea of somehow morphing everything into a "girl power" fiasco. Look at the growth arc of Sarah Conner from the original to #2, and you have a heroine you can believe in and admire. Instead of a shrimp who is given a title, and suddenly becomes a leader/badass off screen.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Same with the Alien saga after Aliens

[@accutronitisthe2nd95]

AAA+ !

[@MrWiggsy4]

Chuffing brilliant film. Give me practical effexts over cgi where possible any day. They have a physical presence to at least look like they exist instead of films with so much cgi, that look like who framed roger rabbit nowerdays

[@joshmciver4847]

"one whole dollar" shows a graphic of a Hundred dollar bill.... 😑

[@model101t800]

The movie that made my avatar

[@fletchershepherd7039]

While the first two Terminator films are the best I think the ones that followed aren't bad films at all. I would say the original Terminator is my favorite then Terminator 2. They didn't see OJ Simpson as a killer?!. Wow were they wrong.

[@laurenced2916]

Arnold 'screw your freedom' Schwarzzeroids

[@mrwog82]

While I understand everyone's entitled to their opinion, that New York Times take on The Terminator was ridiculous! NYT: I cannot abide by the sheer audacity to put fisticuffs into the theatre going experience as my highly developed cerebellum requires constant intellectual stimulation!!! Good day sir! I said good day!!!

[@makatron]

T1 showed that with right director, script, and casting, the movie can make a small budget work. Everything after T2 went downhill and such wasted potential with Salvation.

[@tafsir5780]

Should have stopped after the 2nd film , as the 1st is a classic & the 2nd is more of a classic

[@AgentMoray]

No more Terminator movies please, we've had enough.

[@deBebbler]

Movie exec "can't envision" OJ as a killer. Not the sharpest, apparently.

[@hezekiahramirez6965]

I like the part where The Terminator said "It's terminatin time" and terminated all over those guys

[@danthsmith]

Tragic that Cameron is seeing out his career with bloated cartoons

[@surrealist1976]

The New York Times is so tasteless

[@sattercaster1]

I watch 70s, 80s, and 90s movies over and over. Why? Because the newer movies are absolute garbage. Id rather see primative sp effects with a good story ANY DAY!!!

[@anubusx]

OJ Simpson could never play a convincing killer.

[@whoog74]

Wonderful! Such a precise analysis A.I could have made this! 🤍🤍🤍🤍