James Cameron. His name alone stirs up big-screen images of aliens, robots, far-away planets, and the deepest depths of the oceans. He directed two consecutive films that became the biggest box office earners of all time. He’s won Oscars and every film he makes seems to advance filmmaking. He is one of the most heralded and ambitious filmmakers of all time, and last week released his AVATAR sequel, THE WAY OF WATER into theatres with box office and critical success. The release of the sci-fi epic has ignited debate over the best works of the self-proclaimed King of the World, which leads us to Reel Speak’s Ranking of the Films of James Cameron.
After seeing STAR WARS in 1977, a young James Cameron quit his job as a truck driver and dove into the film industry. With an eye on special effects, he worked on films such as BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS (1980), John Carpenter’s ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981), and GALAXY OF TERROR (1981). His big break would come in 1981 when he took over the troubled production of the sequel to the JAWS-ripoff PIRANAH (1978), and from there it’s been history. He has yet to make a bad movie on his own, and even a film that ranks low on this list is still worthwhile.
Blogger’s note: Cameron has done several documentaries in his career, and this list will focus on his nine narrative films.
9. PIRANAH II: THE SPAWNING (1981)
Most of us don’t consider this mess to be a true James Cameron film, as he was originally set as a special effects director before taking over from initial director Miller Drake…who left the project due to creative differences. Suffering from a low budget and a meddling studio, Cameron himself had little control and wasn’t even allowed to view the dailies. Cameron had disowned it for years, but has since acknowledged it as his directorial debut. If anything, the man learned a lot from this failure.
8. TRUE LIES (1994)
Cameron’s third film with mega-star Arnold Schwarzenegger, with Arnie playing a government spy struggling to hide his work from his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis). Labeled as an action-comedy, this Blogger always found it to be too hokey and silly, but the film has earned a huge cult-following over the years. It was the third-highest earner of 1994 with excellent visual effects, action sequences, and (sigh), plenty of laughs.
7. AVATAR (2009)
The epic sci-fi film that won Oscars and became Cameron’s second consecutive film to take the all-time box office crown. Set on the far-off world of Pandora where humans take on “avatars” of the natives, AVATAR took an old story and literally set it in an eye-popping new skin; a high concept in a simple plot that clicked. It’s a statement on colonialism, nature, and perhaps the crimes done against Native Americans; bold stuff that resonates and the exact type of work that good sci-fi should do. A rare sci-film that got nominated for Best Picture and a planet-sized step forward for visual effects.
6. THE TERMINATOR (1984)
During the troubled production of PIRANHA II, Cameron had a dream about a half-man, half-robot chasing him. That dream became the basis for THE TERMINATOR, with Schwarzenegger taking on the lead role. Arnie slips into the artificial skin of the robot sent back in time to kill the mother (Linda Hamilton), of the future resistance against the machines, in a plot that bends the mind in more ways than one. This film gets points deducted for some dated special effects, but the feeling of dread and fear is there, which can always make up for nearly anything.
5. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2022)
Only Cameron could take one of the biggest films of all time (AVATAR), and turn it into a stepping-stone for something even bigger. THE WAY OF WATER goes deeper and further into Pandora, while finding time to give each one of his alien characters time to grow. Another heavy-handed swipe at colonialism and the rape of Mother Earth, THE WAY OF WATER pulls no punches…and oh by the way, it’s one of the most visually stunning films of all time.
4. THE ABYSS (1989)
Cameron’s’ deep sea adventure which required his lead actors to take rigorous diving lessons in a production that was filmed mostly underwater. Centered around a deep-sea oil-rig crew that is stranded and visited by strange creatures, THE ABYSS is where Cameron’s ambitious nature really started to show, and it would begin his fascination with our oceans that still appears in his works today. It also takes credit for featuring the first CGI character. THE ABYSS was perfect on release, and a later director’s cut improves things here and there.
3. ALIENS (1986)
Leave it to Cameron to take one of the best horror films of all time (ALIEN from 1979), and sequel-ize it into one of the best action/sci-fi films of all time. Where the first ALIEN was a creeper, the second one was a thrill-a-minute…with very cool Space Marines, weapons, vehicles, and yes…more than one alien running around. The near-ensemble cast is excellent, and it turned Sigourney Weaver into an action hero overnight.
2. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
Special effects, specifically CGI, took a huge leap forward with this blockbuster sequel to THE TERMINATOR. Arnie returns as a robot, only this time as a protector against a shape-shifting liquid-metal Terminator that is convincing even by today’s CGI standards. Linda Hamilton owns most of the film, but this sci-fi romp really works thanks to a family dynamic that sneaks up on us…capped off with an unexpected emotional ending.
1. TITANIC (1997)
Sci-fi fans may groan at this pick, but the justifications are many. Cameron’s take on the 1912 disaster that claimed 1500 souls is given an emotional Romeo and Juliet treatment, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet playing young lovers separated by class onboard the doomed liner. Cameron’s ambition is at full-speed-ahead; not only recreating the ship right down to its original silverware, but also inventing new filming techniques to actually film the wreck of the ship. TITANIC changed the industry in the way movies were made, marketed, and put together via CGI…and Hollywood said thank-you-very-much by way of awarding it 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Cameron. Its success would open the door for future big-budgeted, VFX-driven films like THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the MCU. It would become the highest grossing film of all time and stay there for 12 years…an impressive feat with rising ticket prices. These are solid accomplishments, but TITANIC not only changed filmmaking but the world as well. The cultural impact can still be felt even after 25 years; everyone today knows the story of Jack and Rose, can quote the film, and can recognize the theme song. When a movie makes that type of impact, it is the clear choice for the King’s best work.
Ranking the Films of James Cameron
- TITANIC
- TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
- ALIENS
- THE ABYSS
- AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
- THE TERMINATOR
- AVATAR
- TRUE LIES
- PIRANAH II: THE SPAWNING
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