The Terminator (1984)

James Cameron’s 1984 film Terminator is one of the most iconic movies of the 1980's and one of the most popular movies of all time. The 1980's saw an increasing interest in the action and science fiction genre mainly due to the Star Wars franchise which introduced an advancement in cinematic effects.

The Terminator received praise specifically for the fast pace action scenes which included Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character using advanced technology to achieve his mission. Audiences praised these scenes as it showed an improved portrayal of the sci-fi genre. Time magazine noted that the film had ‘Plenty of tech-noir savvy to keep infidels and action fans satisfied.’ 1980's America had many examples of influential technology ranging from the space shuttle to the home computer. The audience at the time were witnessing first hand these new pieces of technology being released throughout the nation and movies such as Terminator allowed the public’s imagination to go wild. Schwarzenegger’s character is a cyborg that is sent back from the future and this meant that viewers could see the potential of futuristic technological achievements such as a robot. Due to the technological aspects of the film the Terminator has left a legacy as it has influenced not just sci-fi films but also the action genre. The success of this film allowed for the franchise to grow and four more sequels were released.

Linda Hamilton’s character Sarah Conor represents women in a positive light, during the beginning of the film she is portrayed as an ordinary woman in 1980's America but throughout the film you see a more relentless and strong side to the character. Keegan notes that ‘Her vulnerable quality masks a strength even she doesn't know exists.’ The character eventually turns in to a strong independent female protagonist that is able to keep up with the stereotypical masculine character of Schwarzenegger. This can be seen as a portrayal of the growing independence of women in the film industry as you have a lead female character in an action packed film. You can compare Hamilton’s character to that of Bruce Willis’s character in Die Hard as they are both in constant danger, both are willing to do what is necessary to survive and both evade death in every scenario.

Corliss, Richard (November 26, 1984). "Time review": 105.

Keegan, 2009. p. 44