When Does "The Terminator" (1984) Take Place?
"The Terminator" is a science fiction film written by James Cameron with William Wisher Jr. that released October 26th, 1984. So when is "The Terminator" set?
It takes place in the year:
We know this because when Sarah Connor clocks-in to her job at Big Jeff's the time card reads "5/14/84" or "5/19/84" in ink in the section labeled "PAY PERIOD ENDING" with print. Most fast food restaurants would not maintain a pay period of more than 2 weeks so we can assume it’s sometime within the first 2 weeks of May in 1984 AD.
1984 AD
We know this because when Sarah Connor clocks-in to her job at Big Jeff's the time card reads "5/14/84" or "5/19/84" in ink in the section labeled "PAY PERIOD ENDING" with print. Most fast food restaurants would not maintain a pay period of more than 2 weeks so we can assume it’s sometime within the first 2 weeks of May in 1984 AD.
More specifically, when Kyle Reese assaults the police officer who is chasing him early in the main action of the movie he yells, "What day is it? The date!" and the cop responds, "Twelfth. May. Thursday." So it’s almost certainly May 12th, 1984 AD.
Additionally, there’s a very short prologue presenting a terrifying vision of a dystopian future. The very first shot of the film includes another title card reading "Los Angeles 2029 A.D." over the footage. Though this doesn’t seem to be confirmable with context. Later moments are flashbacks to this 2029 AD setting for the time-traveling character.
Furthermore, after the opening credits there is a a time and place setting title card that tells us it’s "Los Angeles 1984 1:52 a.m."
Additionally, there’s a very short prologue presenting a terrifying vision of a dystopian future. The very first shot of the film includes another title card reading "Los Angeles 2029 A.D." over the footage. Though this doesn’t seem to be confirmable with context. Later moments are flashbacks to this 2029 AD setting for the time-traveling character.
It is the first chronological film in the Terminator universe and can be watched at its timeline point. [Expanded elements enrich the experience: it can be watched after playing the video game “The Terminator: Dawn of Fate” (2002).]
