Every James Cameron Movie Ranked, Including Avatar: Fire and Ash

James Cameron has now directed ten feature films with the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. While that might not seem like many over a 40-year career, Cameron is known for his careful and detailed approach to filmmaking. He’s also an adventurer, demonstrated by his documentaries Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep. However, this article focuses solely on his feature films. From his beginnings with a low-budget sequel to his long-term dedication to the world of Pandora, Cameron has created some truly memorable movies.

James Cameron’s movies aren’t always perfect, but they usually stand out as major cinematic events – either by breaking new ground in filmmaking, or simply being incredibly entertaining. Let’s see which of his films are both the most significant and the most enjoyable.

10) Piranha II: The Spawning

Though Piranha II: The Spawning marked James Cameron’s first time directing a full-length film, it doesn’t really feel like one of his—except for the presence of Lance Henriksen, a frequent collaborator. This is understandable, as Cameron was removed from the project early on, and producer Ovidio G. Assonitis finished directing it.

Despite its flaws, The Spawning was co-written and at least partially directed by Cameron, making it a project he was involved in, and that’s why it’s included. However, unlike the original Piranha (which Roger Corman directed), this film isn’t very good, though Scream Factory’s Blu-ray version does look decent.

Stream Piranha II: The Spawning for free with ads on The Roku Channel.

9) True Lies

James Cameron’s films generally hold up well over time, both in terms of how they look and the ideas they explore. However, True Lies is an exception. Certain aspects of the movie – particularly its portrayal of Middle Eastern cultures and the way it treats the character played by Jamie Lee Curtis – haven’t aged gracefully.

While True Lies has some entertaining action scenes, it hasn’t aged particularly well and feels a little lengthy. It was a big success for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis when it came out, but it’s not essential viewing today.

Stream True Lies on YouTube TV.

8) The Abyss

Some people believe The Abyss is better than the Avatar movies, and that’s a reasonable opinion. Like Avatar, it was also a groundbreaking film in terms of its special effects, really showing what CGI was capable of at the time.

Despite its generally suspenseful mood, The Abyss can feel slow at times. While James Cameron clearly loves the ocean and wants to portray its wonder, the film repeats this idea so much that viewers eventually become restless. Once it’s clear the alien creatures aren’t dangerous, the tension relies heavily on Michael Biehn’s increasingly frantic performance, reminiscent of Jack Nicholson in The Shining. It’s a strong film to watch once, but most people won’t feel compelled to watch it again.

Stream The Abyss on Disney+.

7) Avatar: The Way of Water

It’s impressive how much detail went into creating the world of Avatar: The Way of Water. The new characters, like Kiri—born from the avatar of the late Dr. Grace Augustine—and Spider, the son of Col. Miles Quaritch, are well-developed and fit seamlessly into the story. They even allow Sigourney Weaver to return and give the character of Quaritch—now in a new avatar—a bit more complexity.

Despite trying to develop the world of Pandora further, the film unfortunately feels repetitive. While it’s certainly engaging – it even manages to make you empathize with a computer-generated whale – it doesn’t quite capture the same innovative spirit as Fire and Ash.

Stream Avatar: The Way of Water on Disney+.

6) Avatar

Despite being a film about understanding a different culture, Avatar feels surprisingly simplistic. The plot essentially revolves around a conflict over natural resources: greedy outsiders want what the native population has, and attempt to destroy them to get it. While the movie creates a visually impressive, nature-centered world, it sometimes feels overly sentimental and contrived.

Despite its flaws, the film has some strong points, particularly Zoe Saldaña’s moving performance. She’s the only actor who truly makes you connect with the CGI characters, though it’s understandable that computer-generated people will always feel different from real ones. The movie also effectively portrays the villains as genuinely unlikeable. However, even they highlight a larger issue: the story itself is somewhat shallow, and their dialogue often relies on tired clichés like “Get some” and predictable phrases. Ultimately, Avatar feels like a mix of better films, but it undeniably pushed the boundaries of visual effects in cinema.

Stream Avatar on Disney+.

5) Avatar: Fire and Ash

Even though it’s the newest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash truly stands out as the best of the three. It delves into deeper and more complex emotions, particularly through Jake and Neytiri’s grief over their son, Neteyam. The film also explores the tension created by Neytiri’s strong anger towards humans, and how that impacts her relationship with Sully, who remains fundamentally human despite his Na’vi form.

Similar to the previous film, there’s some repetition in this one, but it’s ultimately a more impactful and memorable experience. The new villain, Varang, leader of the Ash People, is a fantastic addition – a much-needed replacement for the now-tired character of Quaritch. Oona Chaplin delivers an unforgettable performance as Varang, rivaled only by Zoe Saldaña’s, and is arguably the best performance in the entire series.

4) Titanic

Titanic, the defining pop culture phenomenon of the 1990s, faced enormous challenges during production. Considering the grueling nighttime filming and the sheer scale of building the ship itself, it’s remarkable that the movie not only finished, but became the coherent and visually stunning film we know today.

This is a truly memorable romance film, largely thanks to the incredible connection between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The beautiful music and a constant feeling of impending tragedy actually make you want the couple to succeed even more. While some criticize it for being overly dramatic, it’s a masterclass compared to the truly over-the-top melodrama of Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor.

Stream Titanic on Hulu.

3) The Terminator

Cameron is skilled at creating impressive worlds and compelling threats, even when working with a small budget. His early success with The Terminator demonstrates this ability.

The success of The Terminator comes from its core simplicity: it’s a gripping survival story about two people desperately trying to escape a relentless pursuer who wants them dead. From the very beginning, the audience feels the terrifying presence of the T-800, a feeling created by James Cameron’s skillful directing, a powerful soundtrack, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic performance.

Stream The Terminator on Netflix.

2) Aliens

James Cameron’s Aliens was the first of his six films made with 20th Century Studios, and it clearly demonstrated his ability to take a popular movie and create an equally impressive sequel. He would repeat this success later, but we’ll discuss that later on.

Even if we were ranking Alien movies, the original Ridley Scott film would still be number one, though Aliens would be a very close second. It’s hard to compare the two because, despite sharing characters, they’re fundamentally different movies. Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley is at her best here, especially in her protective role towards Newt. James Cameron expanded on the terrifying Xenomorphs by revealing their full life cycle and introducing the Queen. And when it comes to practical effects from the 80s, the Queen Xenomorph still looks incredible forty years later.

Stream Aliens on Hulu.

1) Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Widely considered the most impressive and captivating action movie ever made, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was a landmark achievement in filmmaking. It’s a prime example of blockbuster entertainment and definitively demonstrated the potential of computer-generated imagery, showing how it could surpass traditional practical effects.

Although CGI isn’t perfect, it opens up possibilities for new and imaginative stories. It’s true that it’s used too much these days, but director James Cameron skillfully used it to his advantage in this film. However, the film’s enduring visual appeal isn’t the only reason it stands out. Cameron also managed to take a beloved and seemingly flawless movie and reimagine it into another masterpiece – a truly remarkable achievement.

Stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Netflix.

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2026-01-04 02:18