The Terminator, released back in 1984, was the film that really propelled James Cameron into stardom. Today, The Terminator series is part of one of the biggest sci-fi franchises in Hollywood, soon to be revisited in the terribly-named Terminator Genisys. According to Cameron himself, the idea for the original film didn't come about through any conventional means. Rather, it was all the result of a fevered dream the director endured during the release of Piranha II: The Spawning. While ill in Rome, Cameron experienced a dream in which a metallic torso dragged itself from a huge explosion, while holding large kitchen knives in its hands. At the time, Cameron idolised directors like John Carpenter, and hoped to break in to the industry with a "stylish horror movie." Turns out, Cameron's crazy dream was exactly the launch pad he needed.