50 Things You Didn’t Know About The Terminator
James Cameron dreamed the idea of The Terminator during a fever in Rome while sick with food poisoning.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally considered to play Kyle Reese, not the Terminator.
O.J. Simpson was first suggested for the role of the Terminator—but was deemed “too nice” to be a killer.
Lance Henriksen was a strong early contender for the Terminator role; he even auditioned in full costume.
The studio didn't have much faith in the project—it was a low-budget film, costing around $6.4 million.
Gale Anne Hurd, Cameron’s future wife, produced the film.
Arnold only has 14 lines in the entire movie.
“I’ll be back” was originally scripted as “I’ll come back.”
Schwarzenegger wanted to say “I will be back,” but Cameron insisted on “I’ll.”
Cameron sold the rights to the script for just $1, on the condition that he could direct the movie.
Stan Winston created the Terminator's robotic endoskeleton, becoming a legend in special effects.
The movie was shot mostly at night, due to budget constraints.
Linda Hamilton injured her ankle before filming and wore a cast off-screen.
Michael Biehn almost didn’t get the role of Kyle Reese because of his Southern accent during the audition.
Arnold practiced gun movements for weeks, to make them look robotic and efficient.
The T-800 endoskeleton was a real-life puppet, not CGI.
Brad Fiedel composed the iconic score using a synthesizer in his garage.
The film features stop-motion animation in several Terminator scenes.
Many extras in the movie were actual passersby, due to the film’s guerrilla-style shooting.
The club in the movie is called Tech Noir, a term Cameron coined for the genre.
Cameron reused several cast members in Aliens, including Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn.
The dog barking at the Terminator is named Max, and he's also in Terminator 2.
Arnold Schwarzenegger trained with guns extensively so he could reload without looking.
The original poster for the film was designed before Arnold's wardrobe was finalized.
Linda Hamilton trained in martial arts before filming began.
James Cameron did the sketches of the Terminator seen in Reese’s flashback.
The Terminator was shot in 6 weeks.
Cameron and Schwarzenegger clashed early on, but gained mutual respect quickly.
The film draws heavy inspiration from Halloween in its pacing and tension.
The character of Sarah Connor becomes more complex in the sequels, but her arc started here.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was nervous about how people would perceive his role.
Cameron snuck in a reference to his ex-wife, who shares the name Sarah.
The film's explosions were real, not enhanced with special effects.
Some of the crew worked for free, believing in Cameron’s vision.
The film was originally scheduled to be filmed earlier, but Conan the Destroyer delayed Schwarzenegger.
Arnold’s jacket and glasses were chosen to make him look both menacing and anonymous.
The T-800's vision scenes were shot using an infrared camera.
Cameron was inspired by The Outer Limits and Harlan Ellison’s work.
Harlan Ellison later sued the producers, claiming it was too similar to his stories.
The film originally had a different ending, with a more hopeful tone.
The police station scene used over 30 stuntmen.
A real biker gang was used in the opening scene where the Terminator steals clothes.
The movie opened at #1 at the box office, despite limited promotion.
It became a cult hit through home video and word of mouth.
Arnold’s delivery of lines became legendary, even the ones he wanted to change.
There was little confidence in a sequel, until the film’s surprising success.
The Terminator’s look inspired numerous parodies and Halloween costumes.
The film was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2008 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The skeleton puppet weighed over 100 pounds and needed several people to operate.
The success of The Terminator launched James Cameron's career, leading to blockbusters like Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar.
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