All 9 James Cameron movies ranked from worst to best

6. The Abyss

The Abyss was a pivotal moment in James Cameron’s career as it was the first time that he leaned so heavily on CGI in a movie. And if you know Cameron’s filmography, you’ll know that he became a force in the world of computer generated imagery after this. And yes, this is where it all started.

Starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn, the movie follows a search and recovery team on a mission to recover a US submarine that sunk. Deep underwater they encounter what appears to be extra-terrestrial life. That extra-terrestrial life manifests itself in the form of water tentacles that can evolve into shapes such as human faces, and this produced some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history, revolutionizing what was capable with CGI.

The truth is that The Abyss is remembered fondly because of its incredible CGI, and so it should be. But it’s often easy to forget just how stunning the movie itself is. A compelling thriller that makes use of its claustrophobic setting, it’s a movie that has the ability to make you uncomfortable and break your heart at the same time. It’s a captivating watch, and even though it struggles with its pacing from time-to-time, it’s a nice one to revisit because it reminds you that there is more to this movie than its special effects.