In a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by war between humans and sentient machines, the artificial intelligence Skynet, facing defeat against human resistance, sends a cyborg assassin, known as a Terminator, back in time. Its mission is to eliminate Sarah Connor, a waitress in 1984 Los Angeles, whose future son will grow to become a key leader in the human fight against the machines. With her son's existence at stake, Sarah's survival is crucial, but she is blissfully unaware of the looming threat and her significant role in the world to come.

Unbeknownst to Sarah, the human resistance has also sent a protector back through time, a soldier named Kyle Reese. His task is to find and safeguard Sarah against the relentless pursuit of the virtually unstoppable Terminator. As the cyborg initiates its search, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, Sarah encounters Reese. Initially bewildered by his incredible story, she must quickly come to terms with the harrowing reality of her situation and the pivotal part she must play in the future of humanity. Together, Sarah and Reese must navigate the dangers of the present to avert a grim future while being relentlessly pursued by the technologically superior and seemingly indestructible adversary.