In the original "Terminator" (1984), directed by James Cameron, a cyborg assassin known as the Terminator (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is sent back in time from a post-apocalyptic future to kill Sarah Connor (portrayed by Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son will lead the human resistance against the machines. In response, the human resistance sends Kyle Reese (played by Michael Biehn) back in time to protect Sarah. The film is a tense sci-fi thriller as Sarah and Kyle must evade the relentless pursuit of the Terminator while trying to prevent a future where machines dominate humanity.