James Cameron names his favourite 21st-century sci-fi movies
Some movie directors will forever be linked to one specific genre. Just look at John Ford and the great American western, Wes Craven and his innovation in the horror genre or James Cameron and his influential contributions to the world of sci-fi. Elevating the careers of Sigourney Weaver, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron has crafted some of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time.
Although he is known for creating a vast number of sci-fi classics, Cameron started off with a certified dud, helming Piranha Part Two: The Spawning in 1982, just two years before he made a name for Schwarzenegger with The Terminator. Shortly afterwards, he followed up Ridley Scott’s Alien masterpiece with an action-fuelled sequel that many call even better than the original.
As if he hadn’t already changed cinema enough in 1980, Cameron changed how cinema would be digested in the new millennium thanks to Titanic in 1997. Making a staggering $2.2 billion, Titanic remains one of the highest-grossing movies of all time and went on to earn 11 Academy Awards, including ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Cinematography’ and much more.
Yet, despite changing cinema and the world of sci-fi time and time again, he doesn’t often share his opinion regarding the state of contemporary cinema, once naming his favourite genre flicks of the 21st century so far.
First up is the 2010 Christopher Nolan epic Inception, starring Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio, among many others. A time-bending brain-spinner of an action movie, Inception tells the story of a dream heist in which a team of thieves go into someone’s subconscious to steal information. Despite its high concept, the film received eight Oscar nominations and four wins.
“I loved Inception, and I wish that it had gotten more,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in regards to its Oscar success, “I wish Chris Nolan had gotten nominated for directing that film because I think that it’s the most astounding piece of film creation and direction of the year, hands down … but now it’s not even in the running. So I diverge from the Academy’s taste in a lot of ways”.
Whilst Inception is a favourite of many, his other selection is a little more unusual, picking the movie adaptation of the video game Resident Evil. “One of my guilty-pleasure films that I actually think is quite beautifully made is Resident Evil,” he stated back in 2020, “Watching Michelle Rodriguez in that film, moving like this feral creature, is joyful”.
James Cameron’s favourite sci-fi films:
- Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010)
- Resident Evil (Paul W. S. Anderson, 2002)
