10 Movies Nobody Really Enjoyed Making
2. The Abyss (1989)
The champion of problematic filmmaking has got to be James Cameron. As well as being responsible for some of the most expensive, successful, and critically-acclaimed movies of all time, Cameron is also renowned for being a bit of a jerk to work with and an extreme perfectionist, willing to go to lengths that other directors wouldn't even dream of in order to get the shot he wants.
His 1989 film, The Abyss, was one of the most ambitious cinematic undertakings of all time, with much of the film set deep underwater. The cast and crew had to work inhuman hours, spending long periods in dark, cramped conditions, with Cameron even telling his cast to relieve themselves in the water rather than going for bathroom breaks because he didn't want any interruptions.
The shoot was horrible for most of the cast and crew and veritably traumatic for lead actors Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio and Ed Harris. Mastrontonio famously stormed off the set at one point and accused Cameron of treating his cast like animals, and Harris punched the director after nearly drowning during a scene. Harris also said that the cast were so frustrated they randomly started trashing their dressing rooms one day just to let their anger out.