Every James Cameron Movie Ranked Worst To Best

"I'll be back." It's hard to compare the first two Terminator films, because whilst they were both written and directed by Cameron, they both do radically different things. Whilst its sequel is a big, explosive action extravaganza, The Terminator is much more small scale, steeped in horror and patient thrills.

Following a murderous cyborg (played by a monosyllabic and intimidating Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose career would never be the same) who's sent back in time to kill the mother of a future resistance leader in a war fought between robots and man, the sci-fi hit is a gritty, moody exploration of survival and fate.

Boosted to greatness by its ambiguity and Cameron's knack for crafting exquistite action scenes around quiet human relationships, The Terminator's noir tone and iconic, often frightening imagery makes it a thriller for the ages, and a defining sci-fi classic that made Cameron a welcome household name.