James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way Of The Water‘ is the fourth highest-grossing movie worldwide. Currently nominated for 4 Academy Awards, the Canadian filmmaker is having the time of his life. But none would exist had it not been ‘The Terminator.’

Cameron’s dystopian science fiction film put him on the map. The critical and commercial success of ‘The Terminator‘ was the starting point of the 68-year-old director’s success. But what lead to James Cameron creating ‘The Terminator‘?

Related: How Did James Cameron Get The Idea For ‘Avatar’?

‘The Terminator’ Was Birthed From A Fever Dream

After working as a production assistant for Roger Corman, James Cameron was hired as the special effects director for the ‘Piranha‘ sequel ‘Piranha II: The Spawning.’ James Cameron was asked to replace the original director Miller Drake.

James Cameron would butt heads with producer Ovidio Assonitis who gave the then-young filmmaker little control over the project. All alone in a room in Rome, Cameron had a fever dream. He talked to BFI in 2021 about this nightmare serving as an artistic inspiration.

“The Terminator came from a dream that I had while I was sick with a fever in a cheap pension in Rome in 1981. It was the image of a chrome skeleton emerging from a fire. When I woke up, I began sketching on the hotel stationery.“

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James Cameron’s Blockbuster Career

‘The Terminator‘ was instrumental in James Cameron’s success. Made against a measly $6.4 million, it earned $78.3 million at the box office. Soon, it spawned a film franchise and various television spin-offs.

The critical success of ‘The Terminator‘ led him to make hits like ‘The Abyss,’ ‘Aliens,’ and ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day‘. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director for ‘Titanic‘ in 1998.

A decade later, he returned with the immersive cinematic experience of ‘Avatar.’ It became a phenomenal success and is the highest-grossing movie of all time. The sequel, ‘The Way Of The Water,’ is now the fourth highest-grossing movie.

‘Avatar: The Way Of The Water‘ is currently playing in theatres. ‘Avatar 3 & 4‘ have release dates of December 20, 2024, and December 18, 2026, respectively.

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