This Page is dedicated to the four films James Cameron wrote and/or directed in the 80's.
After a terrible directing experience on the B-horror flick PIRANHA II: THE SPAWNING, Cameron set out to prove himself in the genre of science fiction. Thus, he created the sci-fi classic THE TERMINATOR (1984), notable for its unrelenting suspense, situational intrigue, and engaging characters. Though fantastic in its scenario, the film was gritty and realistic in its presentation. This Sci-Fi-Noir approach he would also apply to his next film, ALIENS (1986), the sequel to the Ridley Scott classic. Cameron put his own stamp on the sequel by transforming it into a non-stop action suspense thriller headed by a powerful ensemble cast. Sigourney Weaver recieved an Oscar nomination for her performance as Ripley, a rarity for actors in this genre, and Cameron would continue to write and direct powerful female roles. Cameron continued his string of masterpieces this decade with the underwater sci-fi suspense epic THE ABYSS (1989), again making excellent use of an ensemble cast, as well as crafting one of the most emotionally powerful no-win scenarios ever committed to film — the Lindsey drowning sequence. Cameron’s ability to meld action, suspense, human drama, and an engaging love story was nowhere more evident, and into that mix he also injected pure science-fiction wonder.