After her date cancels, waitress Sarah Connor prepares for a lonely night on the town. That proves to be anything but when she is targeted by The Terminator, a cybernetic android disguised as a human that is sent back in time to kill her, ensuring AI defense network Skynet's victory over eliminating mankind. To add fuel to the fire, she finds out she will give birth to the leader of the resistance from fellow member Kyle Reese, who is also sent back in time to protect Sarah and ensure that she lives. Thus begins an endless chase throughout dirty Downtown Los Angeles and ends at a Cyberdyne Systems factory where Kyle sacrifices himself to destroy The Terminator while Sarah finishes it off in a hydraulic press. Several months later, Sarah is pregnant after a tryst with Kyle at the No-Tell Tiki Motel and travels through Mexico recording audio tapes for her soon-to-be son John.
The Terminator was inspired by director James Cameron's fever dream where he imagined a chrome skeleton emerging from flames. Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally considered for the role of Kyle Reese before assuming the titular role. Filming was initially to take place in Toronto, but was later changed to Los Angeles. Expectations for the movie were not high but it terminated the competition and held the top box office spot for two weeks. Brad Fiedel delivers an incredible score while special effects house Fantasy II created amazing futuristic scenes. The Terminator's famous line "I'll be back" was a promise kept in the movie and to Hollywood, although it would be seven years until we got the greatest sequel of all time - Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991).
Location: The Terminator Arrives
Address: 2800 Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA
Griffith Park Observatory
The area where the punks were hanging out no longer has the metal fencing...
The Griffith Park Observatory is a popular LA destination and a popular filming location. Rebel Without A Cause (1955), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000), Paula Abdul's Rush Rush (1991) music video and La La Land (2016) are among the productions featuring the landmark.
Location: Kyle Reese's Arrival Alley (Establishing)
Address: Between 212 and 214 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Reese's Arrival Alley
Address: Between 316 & 320 W 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA
It's here that Reese actually touches down and encounters the homeless man...
Location: Police & Terminator Chase Alley
Address: Between 215 & 219 W 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA
You can get somewhat decent shots of the alley from Joe's Auto Parks parking lot at 633 S Spring Street...
During the chase, Reese turns down another alley within this alley....
After the Tech Noir shootout, they return to this alley...
It is also seen when Reese puts the sawed-off shotgun under his coat...
Location: Department Store Alley Entrance
Address: 734 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA
The door and alley is at the back of City Center Parking Lot.
Location: Department Store Interior
Address: 445 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Big Jeff's Restaurant
Address: 815 S Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena, CA
Location: Stealing the Station Wagon
Address: Council Street & Occidental Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Alamo Sport Shop
Address: 14329 Victory Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA
Car Planet
This is also where the payphone was...
Location: The Wrong Sarah Connor's House
Address: Formerly at 14239 Gilmore Street, Van Nuys, CA
Location: Construction Site
Address: 123 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA
What is now The Promenade Towers is what was being built during filming. You can see Promenade West behind Kyle while he's sitting in the car...
Location: Sarah Connor's Apartment Building Interior
Address: 11844 Hamlin Street Apt. 225, North Hollywood, CA
Another location was used for the parking garage, yet to be discovered.
Location: The Pizza Place
Address: 1646 N Las Palmas Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Miceli's
A fake wall may have been put up where the payphone was, though this whole area has changed a bit since filming. The bar you see near Sarah's table has been pushed farther back today to create more seating...
Location: Sarah Connor's Apartment Building Exterior
Address: 420 S Lafayette Park, Los Angeles, CA
Location: Tech Noir
Address: 720 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA
Hilltop Coffee & Kitchen
Location: The Car Chase
Address: starting at 752 S Main Street, Los Angeles, CA
Kyle passes the Huntington Hotel...
He then turns left off of 4th Street onto Hill Street...
Kyle continues along Hill Street to 5th Street, passing the Hotel Clark...
He then heads north on S Figueroa Street to 1st Street...
A police car pulls up to him at Hill Street & 7th Street...
Location: The Parking Garage
Address: Across from 800 W 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Location: The Tunnel Chase
Address: Lower Grand Avenue & 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA
At the time of filming, the wall that The Terminator crashes into stood where the current intersection of Lower Grand and Kosciuszko Way now is...
Location: The Police Station
Address: formerly at 6000 S Boyle Avenue, Vernon, CA
Thanks to Paul at Halloween Filming Locations for finding this spot.
Location: The Terminator's Motel
Address: 403 E 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA
The Terminator's room is at the rear of the motel, looking out to 327 Winston Street. The Tai Yick Toys sign is still visible across the street...
Location: The Drainage Culvert
Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA
34.134801,-118.286207
The location of the drainage culvert has been debated for some time but thanks to terminator1984fan and additionally Paul at Halloween Filming Locations for confirming the spot (and Paul from Then & Now Movie Locations for steering me in the right direction while at Griffith Park). It was the entrance/exit tunnel for the Old LA Zoo. The power lines are all that remains...
Location: Rest Stop (Deleted Scene)
Address: 34415 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA
This area was used in Friday the 13th Part III (1982) and Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)
Location: The Tiki Motel
Address: 7301 Santa Fe Avenue, Huntington Park, CA
The Tiki Motel was converted to an apartment complex in 2016...
Location: The Tunnel
Address: 2nd Street & S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA
Location: The Crash
Address: 255 S Grand Street, Los Angeles, CA
Location: The Cyberdyne Factory
Address: 555 Ramirez Street, Los Angeles, CA
The interior of the factory was filmed at 13000 E Temple Avenue in the City of Industry, which is now a business complex.
Location: The Gas Station
Address: 37202 90th Street E, Littlerock, CA
Locations Visited: June 2021, June 2023, June 2024, September 2024
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