Is The Terminator appropriate for children?

# The Terminator - Parental Guide A cyborg assassin travels back in time to kill a woman whose future son will lead a rebellion against machines. The film contains strong violence and language, plus some sexual content and intense scenes that make it unsuitable for children under 17. Only mature teens should watch with parental awareness.

What age is The Terminator suitable for?

Our verdict for The Terminator is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is The Terminator safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

Strong

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

Moderate

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

1984

Rating

Genre

Action, Thriller, Science Fiction

Synopsis

In the post-apocalyptic future, reigning tyrannical supercomputers teleport a cyborg assassin known as the "Terminator" back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son is destined to lead insurgents against 21st century mechanical hegemony. Meanwhile, the human-resistance movement dispatches a lone warrior to safeguard Sarah. Can he stop the virtually indestructible killing machine?

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Terminator

Michael Biehn

Kyle Reese

Linda Hamilton

Sarah Connor

Paul Winfield

Traxler

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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