The Terminator
1984, R, 108 min.
D: James Cameron; with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton.

Of all his film roles, this is the one that has come to define Arnold Schwarzenegger. As the cyborg from the future, the bodybuilding actor scores by combining his iconic physique with a compellingly told story that requires him to speak very little dialogue. Director James Cameron and producer Gale Anne Hurd (both of whom co-wrote the script) demonstrate their storytelling virtuosity.

This article appears in May 19 • 2000.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.