James Cameron’s 'The Terminator' began as a low-budget ($6.4 million) sci-fi film but grew into a massive blockbuster franchise. It succeeded through innovative practical effects, such as the stop-motion endoskeleton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic performance. The film’s success allowed Cameron to direct 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' seven years later with a budget of $100 million—the most expensive film ever at that time. 'T2' was a pioneer in 'liquid metal' CGI effects (the T-1000). The franchise proved that a strong, original sci-fi concept could scale from a small cult hit to a multi-billion dollar global blockbuster property.