There’s no questionJames Cameronis one of the most important film directors in history. Not only his films are commercial leviathans that have the ability to reshape the course of studios being massive entertainment vehicles that drive hordes of people to theaters. His filmmaking style and his filmsmaintain a wondrous sense of accessible spectacle. He makes sure his films appear like results of magic, one that’s thoroughly planned by a visionary director who has a keen eye for details. We will never give him enough credit for his films.
Perhaps the first thing you think of when hearing his name is the “special effects” guy, but Cameron’s much more than that. Let’s just take a look at how his (too) short career is doing on the Rotten Tomatoes scoreboards. You’ll probably change your mind about the special effects wiz that changed how we see water, space, and killer robots.
8True Lies (1994) - 70%
One of the most fun action experiences you’ll ever have, Cameron’sTrue Liesproved once again in 1994 the director’s talent for entertaining pieces where the laws of physics were secondary to what heroes would do to fight the bad guys. Starring one of his favorites Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis as a couple fighting terrorists,True Liessits with a score of 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, which will surely go up when a decent Blu-ray or 4K version is released in the future. We know the guy’s busy but come on James, people will pay big bucks to see this one again.
7Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) - 76%
Cameron’s latest film has a score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. Considering how good the film is, and how great it looks, that’s just way too low. WithAvatar: The Way of Waterwe went back to Pandora and rekindled with the imaginary beings whose relationship with nature is admirable and essential. If you think underwater scenes have finally been tackled with the realism they deserve, you have to see this sequel. It was the safest bestin this year’s Academy Awards, as Cameron’s film took home the Best Visual Effects award and confirmed again why he’s a big boss in this kind of experience.
Related:13 Movies James Cameron Almost Directed
6Avatar (2009) - 82%
12 years passed before Cameron released another Hollywood film. But after Titanic won every award possible, we can’t imagine Cameron taking a break. He was actually preparing the industry for what would become a mammoth of visual effects.Avatarwas released in 2009, but it didn’t change the landscape for franchises. Big studios were set on making superheroes the leaders of this part of the industry.
Regardless, sitting with a solid score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes,Avataris the beginning of Cameron’s take on environmental films that go deeper than expected in regard to the story. Even in the future, with all the technology that will change the course of humankind, we are set on invading other worlds to make money. Cameron’s film is a stylish middle finger to huge corporations wreaking havoc on Earth.
5Titanic (1997) - 88%
Titanicis the most dramatic film of Cameron’s career. It’s also the only onebased on true facts. He was going to go all the way in blending his filmmaking talent with a grounded script framing a romantic story. With a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s hard to think of another film as challenging for the director as this one. You may criticize it and even hate it. But you can’t sayTitanicisn’t a huge piece of cinema that put Leonardo DiCaprio in the spotlight and gave James Cameron a title he deserves: the king of his own world.
4The Abyss (1989) - 88%
This is yet another film that isn’t easy to watch. Not because it isn’t friendly, but because it’s literally difficult to find a good version of it for sale.The Abyssis Cameron’s shift in how he viewed aliens having contact with humans. Those of us that were fortunate enough to see it back in the day on a huge screen have never forgotten the experience.
This is the director’s first full attempt at making special effects unique stars of the show, and he goes all the way in proving it. With a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, we can’t see this number going down once he takes the time to release the Director’s Cut in anything but a DVD version.
3Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) - 91%
you’re able to tell Cameron’s got a thing for making sequels bigger than what they’re supposed to be.Terminator 2: Judgment Daywas huge in the early ’90s. People were obsessed. You had Schwarzenegger reprising his role, the kid with a cool hairdo, Hamilton kicking ass, and a villain that gave audiences chills.Terminator 2had also the best special effects at the time and a Guns N' Roses soundtrack when they were the most famous band in the entire planet. This one sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, but we’re pretty sure it deserves to be higher as it’s an extraordinary piece of action/horror/sci-f/thriller that only a director of Cameron’s caliber could have made.
Related:James Cameron’s 8 Favorite Movies
Terminator 2had also the best special effects at the timeand a Guns N' Roses soundtrackwhen they were the most famous band in the entire planet. This one sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, but we’re pretty sure it deserves to be higher as it’s an extraordinary piece of action/horror/sci-f/thriller that only a director of Cameron’s caliber could have made. This could easily be Cameron’s best movie.
2Aliens (1986) - 98%
The film with the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes score of James Cameron’s career is the 1986 sequelAliens. Quite different from Ridley Scott’s predecessor,Aliensis more of an action sci-fi thriller that puts Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in the spot reserved for women in Cameron’s universe: they are in the center, they are badass, and they will fight to death. What’s peculiar about this one is that it’s only the third feature film made by Cameron, but it’s a great genre piece that never shows hints of a leader without control. On the contrary, few films in this franchise feel as well-directed as this one.
1The Terminator (1984) - 100%
The highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes for Cameron is his second feature,The Terminator. The first one… well, we’d rather not talk about it (Piranha II: The Spawningisn’t a good movie), considering its score is 5% and not even Cameron is keen on mentioning it.
The Terminatoris the first entryin the franchise of killer robotssent back from the future to prevent a human rebellion. As sci-fi and action as it sounds, this one is a full-on horror film that never loses authenticity, and, let’s be frank, it gave us a Schwarzenegger with a couple of acting classes in his pocket. Few films on this list could be called a “perfect feature.” We like to thinkThe Terminatoris one. It also seems like Cameron loves it: in his Masterclass he proudly talks about it.
IsThe Terminatoractually his best movie? We’ll let you guys decide on that one.
