James Cameron Created $78.3 Million Arnold Schwarzenegger Blockbuster Out of the Blue, Put Action Hero on the Map

When Arnold Schwarzenegger signed ‘The Terminator,’ he would never have thought in his wildest dreams that it’ll turn out to be a career-defining movie for him. But ideas strike like lightning and disappear the same way. If you are lucky, it strikes you right, and Arnold was indeed the luckiest. However, did you know ‘The Terminator’ is just an extension of a dream James Cameron once had when he was sick?

The bodybuilding legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has led an incredibly fascinating life and had a successful career. From being a farm boy in Austria to snatching seven Mr. Olympia and five Mr. Universe titles, Arnold made it big in America. However, he didn’t stop at bodybuilding. He followed his heart wherever it took him. Today, he is a successful entrepreneur, a Hollywood superstar, and the former governor of California, which makes you wonder: Is there anything this guy can’t do?

How Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer ‘The Terminator’ came into being?

If the legendary director James Cameron can transform a fever dream into one of the biggest box office hits, perhaps the sky is the limit for him. In an interview, Cameron revealed that “nightmares are a business asset.”

The idea for The Terminator came to him in a fever dream while the director was in Rome.

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He described what he saw as a “metal death figure coming out of a fire.” Hence, it became an inspiration for Arnold’s character from the future in the movie.

The producers wanted O. J. Simpson instead of Schwarzenegger for the movie

According to a report, producers and directors had a conflict of opinion on the lead role for ‘The Terminator.’ While Mike Medavoy, the co-founder of the Orion Studio, strongly suggested O. J. Simpson as the protagonist, director James Cameron was always in favor of Schwarzenegger. In his defense, Cameron didn’t consider Simpson because he thought “Simpson came off as too nice of a guy.”

In the end, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the ultimate choice for the role and it paid off quite well. The movie did wonders at the box office by grossing $78.3 million against a miniature budget of $6.4 million, and thus, Schwarzenegger set a milestone that is still remembered as a classic to this day.

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