10 Images That Prove James Cameron Is Totally Insane

4. The Terminator

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.