The Terminator 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 81
from 9 reviewers
Review Date:
The Terminator's 4K UHD Blu-ray release delivers outstanding visuals with a Dolby Vision HDR upgrade and impressive Dolby Atmos sound, although it retains some minor digital flaws and limited extras.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
DTS-HD MA
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 85
The 4K UHD release of "The Terminator" delivers an impressive visual upgrade, combining enhanced detail and refined grain with vibrant HDR colors, maintaining the gritty 1984 aesthetic. While AI enhancements sometimes introduce a slightly artificial look, overall clarity and depth achieve Cameron's intended modernized presentation, offering fans a satisfying if not flawless viewing experience.
Audio: 91
The audio presentation of "The Terminator" 4K UHD Blu-Ray is a stellar mix of nostalgia and modern enhancement, offering both a bombastic Dolby Atmos upgrade and the original DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track. The Atmos mix delivers a dynamic and immersive sound experience, while the mono track provides purists with an authentic 1980s sonic feel. Overall, this dual offering satisfies a broad audience with rich details, precise directionality, and robust low-end effects.
Extra: 52
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Terminator" presents an exceptional audio experience, featuring a modern Atmos track alongside the original mono soundtrack, delighting audiophiles and preserving the film's historical sound. The special features revisited some legacy extras like "Creating the Terminator" and "Unstoppable Force," though some key documentaries from past releases are omitted, leaving fans enthusiastic yet mindful of what's still missing.
Movie: 88
The Terminator remains a landmark sci-fi thriller, praised for its gripping narrative and elegant time-travel mechanics. James Cameron's masterful direction blends cutting-edge practical effects, suspenseful action, and vivid character portrayals within a streamlined 2160p HDR10 transfer, enhancing its status as a timeless classic in both the sci-fi and action genres.
Video: 85
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Terminator," supervised by James Cameron and processed at Park Road Post, presents a visually engaging experience that honors the film’s legacy. The disc utilizes an HEVC/H.265 codec and is offered in Dolby Vision HDR, providing a significant upgrade in detail and color depth over previous Blu-ray editions. The classic 1.85:1 format maintains an impressive depth of field, with the remastered visuals displaying exceptional sharpness and clarity. While enhancements are noticeable, notably in the textures of clothing and intricate set details, the application of AI algorithms has led to some debate regarding naturalism. Fortunately, this release avoids the plasticky finish seen in past remasters like "True Lies."
The updated transfer boasts richer blacks and improved contrast, offering clearer visibility in darker scenes. The well-managed HDR grading softens the previously dominant teal and blue hues, lending a more balanced color palette while preserving the iconic aesthetic of the original film. Despite fears of excessive smoothing, a respectable amount of film grain remains, maintaining a cinematic quality without overwhelming digital intervention. However, AI-related issues occasionally arise, particularly in medium and wide shots, leading to slight edginess or reduced texture fidelity.
Ultimately, while it is not entirely free from minor imperfections, this release surpasses its predecessors in most aspects, offering fans of "The Terminator" a commendable visual upgrade. The 4K presentation excels in dimensionality and vividness, capturing both the era's authentic feel and enhanced modern visuals. Although not as pristine as a brand-new scan from the original negatives, this remaster stands as a testament to advancements in film preservation technology, pleasing cinephiles with its finer detail and nuanced improvements.
Audio: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Terminator" brings a substantial upgrade to the film’s audio, catering to both purists and modern audiophiles. This edition presents a meticulously crafted Dolby Atmos soundtrack that revitalizes the movie with a dynamic and immersive experience. The Atmos mix impresses with its robust use of overhead channels and surround sound, adding depth and spatial awareness to key scenes such as the nightclub sequence and futuristic battle flashbacks. It maintains clarity in dialogue and balances it well against the powerful low-end effects, ensuring an engaging audio experience.
For those seeking an authentic 1980s audio experience, the inclusion of the original mono track in DTS-HD MA 2.0 is a significant highlight. This track delivers an unadulterated version of the film's sound, maintaining the gritty, raw essence that fans of the original theatrical release cherish. The mono channel’s presentation offers excellent fidelity and warmth, particularly during quieter moments and high-intensity sequences such as the police station shootout.
Overall, this release provides something for everyone—whether you favor the booming, modernized Dolby Atmos retooling or the nostalgic authenticity of the mono DTS-HD MA 2.0 track. The audio options enrich the film’s iconic status, providing flexibility for diverse listener preferences while showcasing advancements in audio technology and preservation.
Extras: 52
The 4K UHD release of "The Terminator" offers a compelling selection of extras that delve into the film’s enduring appeal and technological craftsmanship. With an emphasis on archival content, viewers can explore a range of special features previously available across various formats. Notably, the disc includes seven deleted scenes with optional commentary by director James Cameron, offering unique insights into the deleted content. The featurettes "Creating the Terminator: Visual Effects and Music," "The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing," and "Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of the Terminator" provide comprehensive discussions on the film's visual effect techniques, music composition, robotics relevance circa 2003, and its franchise impact. Though some legacy extras from past editions are absent, the collection remains an engaging exploration of "The Terminator" universe.
Extras included in this disc:
- Deleted Scenes: Seven clips with optional commentary by James Cameron.
- Creating the Terminator: Visual Effects and Music: Examines miniatures and music.
- The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing: Discusses early 2000s robot technology.
- Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of the Terminator: Reflects on the franchise's impact.
Movie: 88
James Cameron's "The Terminator" remains an influential sci-fi classic, standing the test of time with a strikingly simple yet effective plot. The narrative's brilliance lies in its elegant portrayal of a cyborg assassin, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, sent back from a future dominated by machines to prevent the birth of humanity's leader. The intersection of a taut sci-fi storyline with the dynamic relationship between Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) enhances its human core. This tight-knit script juxtaposes the indomitable mechanical aura of Schwarzenegger's character against the vulnerable yet resilient portrayal of Connor and Reese, crafting a compelling emotional journey through the narrative's gripping chase sequences and thematic exploration of fate versus free will.
Visually, "The Terminator" is a triumph in practical effects, achieving remarkable feats on a limited budget that continue to captivate audiences. The special effects, particularly the scenes where the T-800's endoskeleton is revealed, are iconic, showcasing the ingenuity and resourcefulness that defined Cameron's early directorial endeavors. These elements create an immersive atmosphere of dread and anticipation, engaging viewers in the perilous stakes without being overshadowed by the subsequent technological advancements seen in modern blockbusters. Cameron’s direction maximizes narrative impact through its blend of horror motifs and action, establishing "The Terminator" as a pioneering mixture of technology-driven storytelling and cinematic spectacle.
This film’s lasting impact on cinema and pop culture is profound. It not only launched the careers of Schwarzenegger and Cameron but also redefined genre standards, leading to groundbreaking innovations in visual effects and storytelling. "The Terminator," with its gripping suspense and groundbreaking effects, persists as a cornerstone in the sci-fi landscape, embodying an enduring narrative that resonates with contemporary audiences amid ongoing discussions about AI and its implications for humanity.
Total: 81
James Cameron's The Terminator remains an undisputed classic in the sci-fi genre, seamlessly merging elements of horror and science fiction. This 4K UHD release by Warner Bros. offers a significant visual and auditory upgrade, with the Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos enhancements delivering an impressive presentation that surpasses all previous formats. The return of the original mono soundtrack is a notable highlight, adding authenticity to the experience. However, there are some criticisms concerning the Park Road Post digital interventions, which some purists may find intrusive. While not all special features from previous editions have been included, the release still offers an engaging collection of supplements.
In terms of technical delivery, the 4K disc showcases a fine balance between enhanced detail and filmic texture, maintaining the original's nostalgic charm. The aspect ratio is preserved at 1.85:1 HEVC, ensuring a wide field of view for viewers. Audio options are diverse, featuring an English Dolby Atmos mix alongside several language tracks in DTS-HD and DD 2.0 formats. Subtitles are available in multiple languages to cater to a global audience. Despite a few framing issues at 24 frames per second, the overall package is highly regarded, demonstrating significant advancements over previous editions.
Conclusively, Warner Bros.' 4K UHD release of The Terminator is an essential pickup for fans and collectors alike. It encapsulates James Cameron's groundbreaking vision with superior audio-visual fidelity, highlighting the film's timeless narrative and iconic performances. While there is space for improvement in supplemental content, the package represents a robust enhancement of a pivotal piece of cinematic history, offering a near-perfect blend of nostalgia and modern technology. Highly recommended for those seeking to experience this seminal film in the best quality currently available.
avforums review by Mark CostelloRead review here
Video: 90
Note that this review was based on the US SteelBook which by all accounts is the same 4K disc as the UK disc....
Audio: 100
Blacks remain nice and deep, skin tones retain a healthy naturalness and pallor and the highlights, such as the lightning bolts of the time travelling arrivals and hazy glow of the streetlamps that puncture...
Extras: 40
Even the dialogue, the most obvious vintage element, sounds like a near-perfect tonal match to the rest of the track....
Movie: 100
Despite barely knowing each other for a handful of hours, their relationship feels honest and brilliantly, it feels ‘real’, the actors creating such an intense connection that as the end credits roll,...
Total: 80
Hardly the Rogue One of the Terminator universe, Salvation isn't half bad for a McG movie, enjoys some gritty diversions into the future war against the machines, and impresses on 4K Blu-ray. 8...
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 80
Everything has been sharpened a bit too much, with eyeballs looking unnaturally white, and even a few AI based quirks that are kinda laughable (there is a scene with Linda Hamilton with her sunglasses...
Audio: 90
While I may not have been excited about the video encode, having the 2.0 split mono track available in lossless is a HUGE deal, and the one I'm giving the 4.5/5 score to....
Extras: 50
Optional Commentary with James Cameron • Creating the Terminator: Visual Effects and Music • Resurrected!:...
Movie: 90
Which also plays into the idea that this is a self contained story, with the very last of the machine’s terminators engaged in a one on one battle between the only human soldier to travel back in time...
Total: 80
The 4K UHD disc is a bit of give and take, with some definite wins (more defined picture, the original theatrical audio mix) and just as many steps back (the problematic use of AI tinkering for the remaster)....
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 70
The main reason is that it now runs at a healthier bit rate that hovers right around the 70Mbps mark, which is plenty given the amount of on-disc content here, and this helps to tie together what's essentially...
Audio: 100
This will be my default choice from here on out, though: as die-hard fans of The Terminator can tell you, this mono option offers a substantially more authentic 1980s sonic experience than the surround...
Extras: 50
The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing (11:56) - This charmingly dated DVD-era featurette, produced by MGM, includes short interview clips with James Cameron, MIT postdoctoral associate Russ Tedrake,...
Movie: 100
James Cameron's absolutely iconic sci-fi classic The Terminator has finally arrived on UHD... but given the hit-or-miss of his other films on the format as of late -- The Abyss, Aliens, and True Lies,...
Total: 80
Previous home video editions like MGM's Special Edition DVD and remastered Blu-ray have earned good to great marks for their video, audio, and extras, with none completely excelling in all departments....
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt BrightonRead review here
Video: 100
But I digress…Right off the bat, the film seemed to have more depth, due in no small part to the increased amount of detail in the image....
Audio: 80
For years, this movie only contained a mono track but Cameron, as he so often does, has remixed this movie into a very impressive surround mix....
Extras: 50
James Cameron, Russ Tedrake (who, I’m sure has his PhD by now), and Terminator 3 director Jonathan Mostow, all give us their insight on the current* state of robotics (*current is around the year 2003)...
Movie: 0
But Skynet has a new plan, in which a cyborg with immense powers of all kinds is sent back to find Sarah, then terminate her....
Total: 80
Warner’s new 4K disc is nothing short of amazing giving us improved visuals, a new 2.0 mix as well as a new Dolby Atmos mix and throw in some supplements that are a bit different than the standard offerings....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 60
And yet, there’s something just amiss, notable in medium shots that appear slightly edgy, with an even slighter touch of filtering....
Audio: 80
A spectacular Atmos mix (in addition to the original theatrical audio as well) does incredible work in bringing The Terminator into the modern day....
Extras: 60
Closer to the Real Thing runs 11-minutes and explores the dangers of technology, then Legacy of the Terminator runs just under 10-minutes, a celebratory retrospective....
Movie: 80
Controversial at the time for a sequence in which the imposing T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) rampages through a police station, Terminator feels less controversial now than it does unsettling in this era...
Total: 70
The Terminator’s blend of dark sci-fi and slasher genre norms forms a distinct spectacle that remains engaging....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Meanwhile, black levels are deeper and richer than their BD counterpart with stronger, more penetrating shadows and better visibility of the finer details within the darkest, murkiest corners, providing...
Audio: 80
Thankfully, the mono design retains the original gunshot effects while exhibiting outstanding definition throughout and superb clarity in the action sequences, like the police station shootout, the climactic...
Extras: 40
Creating the Terminator: Visual Effects and Music (1080i/60, 13 min) The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing (1080i/60, 12 min) Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of the Terminator (1080i/60, 10 min) Deleted...
Movie: 80
Instead of relying solely on flashy visuals, he creatively uses limited resources to enhance the story and add a sense of dread, making the machine seem both futuristic and a terrifying threat....
Total: 80
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment commemorates the film's 40th Anniversary on 4K Ultra HD with a shockingly impressive Dolby Vision HDR presentation and an awesome Dolby Atmos soundtrack, delivering a remarkable...
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 90
The film’s current rights holder, MGM, allowed James Cameron and Park Road Post in New Zealand to create a new 4K digital intermediate by upscaling the most recent 2K master, using their proprietary AI...
Audio: 100
Die-hard purists should be happy with the audio options provided on Warner’s new 4K disc, and that is the fact that the film’s original mono soundtrack has been included and is available in DTS-HD MA 2.0...
Extras: 60
This is another single 4K disc release from Warner, including a few select special features from previous releases, so if you have one of the older Blu-ray or DVD releases, you may want to hold on to them,...
Movie: 80
Co-writer and director James Cameron, a former visual effects supervisor for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, used many of the tricks he learned on those films, and what not to do after being fired from...
Total: 80
The original theatrical mono mix has returned along with a new Dolby Atmos mix, but no all of the special features have been caried over, and those that have were upscaled and encoded at the wrong frame...
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 100
The Terminator character has an iconic status that is recognizable the world over which speaks volumes....
Audio: 88
Extras: 70
Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects& Music The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of The Terminator 7 Deleted Scenes Digital Code...
Movie: 80
Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust....
Total: 85
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Why So Blu? review by Adam Toroni-ByrneRead review here
Video: 100
The film is the most filmic of their work and fans should certainly be pleased with the clarity that comes through without compromising the sharpness we all want out of the preferred physical media format....
Audio: 100
Extras: 50
As has become customary with Warner Bros. releases of late, the studio is forgoing releasing new 4K editions with Blu-ray’s bundled, so there seems to be a pick and choose process for what special features...
Movie: 100
The freshness of the film’s storytelling continues to be incredibly interesting, fresh, and for new viewers maybe even surprising....
Total: 90
If I had to choose, I’d easily choose T2 over the original, but there’s not denying that The Terminator is a thrilling, non-stop action masterpiece that was written and created to stand the test of time....
Director: James Cameron
Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn
PlotIn 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.
Writers: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, William Wisher
Release Date: 26 Oct 1984
Runtime: 107 min
Rating: R
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English, Spanish