Every James Cameron Film Ranked Worst To Best

Much of cinema, gaming, television, and literature owes this film a debt that can never be repaid.

Cameron took the one nasty alien occupant of the movie's predecessor and turned it into hundreds, added some slick military grit, glossed it with a narrative of rescue and hope, and presto! Another sci-fi film of unrivalled influence.

One must consider the six billion Aliens copycats that have been made since, and that none of them are anywhere near as good as this movie. The magic touch comes from the natural flow of dialogue, the personalities of the Colonial Marines (the actors of which Cameron personally took the liberty of putting through military boot camp), and as always, the remarkable attention to detail throughout the entire film.

On another, equally important note, Cameron's ever-lasting reputation for creating strong lead female characters was never mightier than in this case. Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley remains one of sci-fi action's chief ass-kickers. If the franchise where to have laid to rest at this exact point, then no harm done.

Speaking of which...