James Cameronis a filmmaker who has pushed the medium forward in new and exciting ways,as there are few artists in history whose work has been quite as influential within the realms of visual effects and digital storytelling. Havingdirected many of the highest-grossing films ever made, including the current leaderAvatar, Cameron can be counted among the few directors whose name alone is enough to generate interest in a project. Even if he’s best known for his technical precision and somewhat infamous attention-to-detail, there’s a remarkable humanism within Cameron’s films, as they all revolve around relatable stories about love, family, and connection. Considering how many blockbusters try to sand off their idiosyncrasies in hopes of appealing to the broadest possible audience, it remains incredibly impressive that every single one of Cameron’s films feels like the work of a true artist with a valuable perspective. Despite earning a reputation of being meticulous and occasionally combative, Cameron’s valiant efforts to raise awareness and research about the climate crisis prove that he is every bit as heroic as the characters that he has helped to lionize within his many action-packed masterpieces.
Cameron may have been at his peak in the 1990s, as it was the decade in which he was most active and popularly recognized. Although Cameron found early success in the 1980s whenThe TerminatorandAlienswere hailed as being among the greatest blockbusters ever made,the critical and commercial pushbackto his ambitious science fiction odysseyThe Abyssmay have temporarily thwarted his progress, even if the film is now remembered more fondly. Although Cameron reached new box office heights withAvatarand its sequels, he no longer works with the same speed as he did during the 1990s. This is perhaps why his name is so highly coveted; while he does not have nearly as many films within his canon as other masters of cinema likeSteven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott,orClint Eastwood, Cameron’s specificity in choosing projects that he can become completely dedicated to helps to make every one of his releases feel like a tremendous moment. Here is every James Cameron film of the 1990s, ranked from worst to best.
3‘True Lies’ (1994)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis
True Liesis perhaps the closest thing that Cameron willever get to making a James Bond film, as this polished, romantic spy thriller contains all the hallmarks of a great 007 adventure. Although it was at the time of its release one of the most expensive films ever made,True Liesis also among Cameron’s most personal films, as it’s easy to see why he would relate to the character played byArnold Schwarzenegger, who is a workaholic in a dangerous field who struggles to show the same affection and dedication to his family. Although there are many ways thatTrue Liescould have felt regressive, Cameron does a good job at empowering the greatJamie Lee Curtisto give a performance of real agency, as she holds her own against Schwarzenegger when they go head-to-head. The only drawback toTrue Liesis that it somehow never earned a sequel, as a continuation of the story in which Schwarzenneger and Curtis teamed up would have been very exciting.
True Lieswas ‘90s blockbuster maximalism at its best, as Cameron spared no expense with the level of practical filmmaking he was doing. AlthoughAliensandThe Terminatorhad succeeded because he had the freedom to create his own mythology,True Lieswas grounded with a sense of reality, which created different challenges. Even in a film that never lets the viewer catch their breath,True Liesis arguably the funniest that Cameron has ever been, especially when considering the standout supporting turns fromTom ArnoldandBill Paxton. In no way did Cameron’s obsessions get the better of him, asTrue Liesis a blast from start to finish. The only reason that it ranks so low is that the films above it genuinely changed the course of cinematic history.
2‘Titanic’ (1997)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
Titanicis one of the most groundbreaking achievements in cinematic history, and certainly became one of its biggest success stories. In addition to surpassingStar WarsandJurassic Parkto become the highest-grossing film of all-time,Titanicwon the Academy Award for Best Picture, and tied the all time record of winning eleven Oscars (an honor previously held only byBen-Hur, and would be achieved once more withThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). Although some early skeptics thought thatTitanicwould be the first film in which Cameron’s ambitions would sink him, the film proved to be far more clever in its construction than anyone could have imagined. The old-fashioned, accessible romance that begins the film is so wondrous that the cacophony of disaster and special effects that top it off become some of the most thrilling sequences in cinematic history.
Cameron is often a better writer than he is given credit for, as the romance between Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) is surprisingly thoughtful, and manages to offer compelling commentary on both gender roles andills within the class system. While their chemistry is the reason to see the film,Titanicis well-acted by its entire cast, including PAxton and a scene-stealing performance fromBilly Zane.Even in a film that features elaborately crafted sets, costumes, and an all-time great score fromJames Horner, the romance still feels grounded in legitimate intimacy, and does not become stodgy in the way that some historical epics can often feel. It’s remarkable thatTitanicruns for over three hours long without feeling the weight of its running time, and that the visual effects that are now nearly three decades old still hold up so well; those who got to see the film re-released in 3D know that it still feels cutting edge and modern. PerhapsTitanicdid not deserve to win Best Picture over more deserving nominees likeGood Will HuntingandL.A. Confidential, but it is a classic for a reason, and certainly would have never been made by anyone other than Cameron.
1‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton
Terminator 2: Judgment Dayis on a rare list of sequels to legitimate classics that somehow manage to outdo their predecessors, which also includesStar Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather: Part II, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, The Dark Knight, and ironically enough, Cameron’s own work onAliens. WhileThe Terminatorwas an excruciatingly tense tech noir thriller,Terminator 2: Judgment Dayis a bombastic, epic adventure that beats with what may be the strongest emotional pulse of any film within Cameron’s entire canon. With his mother Sarah (Linda Hamilton) deemed mentally incompetent due to her fears about the upcoming revolution by the machines, John Connor (Edward Furlong)is without a father figureto give him inspiration. It is ironically Schwarzengger as the T-1000, reprogrammed by a future John to be a hero, who fills that gap in his life. Although it was genius to get Schwarzenegger, then known as the hero of films likeCommandoandPredator, to be revamped as the hero, Cameron certainly did not skimp out when it came to his villain, asRobert Patrick’s role as the new, adaptive Terminator is among the scariest in film history.
Cameron understood that special effects should be used to augment a story, not tell it, as the leaps in visual spectacle are necessary for showing how the Terminators’science fiction components could be applied to reality. Time travel is a challenging topic to describe in a way that makes sense without endless exposition, but Cameron found a simple, efficient way to communicate the stakes of the story without opening himself up to unneeded exposition. It’s remarkable thatTerminator 2: Judgment Dayis free of the cynicism, obnoxious humor, and sequel baiting that is common in today’s blockbusters, as many have tried and failed to replicate what Cameron achieved. In fact, the excellence ofTerminator 2: Judgment Daydoomed each of its own sequels to failure;Terminator 3: Rise of the Machinesfailed to come up with a new and exciting villain,Terminator Salvationdidn’t properly depict the future aesthetic,Terminator: Genisyswas a confusing attempt of a reboot, andTerminator: Dark Fatediscredited its predecessors with a highly unusual plot twist. Even when looking at the broader scope of Cameron’s career, it’s highly unlikely that he would have had the capacity to createAvatarhad he not already masteredTerminator 2: Judgment Day. The film undeniably set a standard for what spectacle could look like, as its influence is apparent within many modern blockbusters. Cameron has so many highlights within his career that choosing his apex is by no means an easy task, but in the instance thatTerminator 2: Judgment Daydefied the odds and gave him the opportunity to top himself, Cameron simply seemed like the coolest director alive.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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