No matter how many directors have dipped their toes into multiple franchises,James Cameronis the only one who’s managed to master the meticulous art of movie sequels. And, sure, plenty of film fans may be wondering off the bat: What aboutPiranha II(1982), his directorial debut? Well, Cameron largely disowns the product today, with some sources even saying that he was fired two weeks into production.
Either way — whether you countPiranha IIas a bona fide Cameron feature, or discount it as a production rife with complications — there’s no denying that the Canadian director has rebounded in the most valiant of fashions throughout the years when it comes to directing high-quality sequels. His next movie in this regard wasAliens(1986), the follow-up toAlien(1979) by Ridley Scott. And a few years after that, Cameron added another critically acclaimed sequel to his filmography, calledTerminator 2: Judgment Day(1991).
While his output has diminished in the 21st Century, Cameron took the box office by absolute storm by releasingAvatar(2009) at the turn of the decade. It remains thehighest-grossing movie of all time, and even then,Avatar: The Way of Water(2022) came close to beating its record. If that doesn’t speak to the caliber of Cameron, nothing will. But before delving into the quality of his individual films, it’s worth noting his many contemporaries that are known for directing fan-favorite sequels.
Other Directors Known for Their Sequels
Robert Rodriguez has made three franchises: theMexicotrilogy,Spy Kids, andSin City. But with each subsequent entry in the respective franchise, Rodriguez’s sequels get worse.Desperado(1995),Sin City: A Dame to Kill For(2014) — both are fantastic films, though they pale a bit in comparison to their original counterparts:El Mariachi(1992) andSin City(2005).
Related:These Are the Best Robert Rodriguez Movies, RankedWithout a doubt,Spy Kidspeaked with the original. That’s hardly up for discussion. But several contemporaries of Rodriguez have proved capable of making high-quality sequels: take Wes Craven and James Wan, for instance. They’ve both made successfulsequels to famous horror films, likeScream 2(1997) andScream 4(2011) for Craven, andThe Conjuring 2(2016) for Wan. There’s also Guillermo del Toro, and, of course, Steven Spielberg. But perhaps the most noteworthy competitor to be called the master of movie sequels is Sam Raimi.
Evil Dead II(1987),Army of Darkness(1992), andSpider-Man 2(2004) — these Raimi sequels are all of notable quality. However, he also madeSpider-Man 3(2007). Bad look there. WithDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness(2022), he proved capable of taking over a franchise and making a high-quality entry therein. Still, his movies in this regard can run the gamut of quality. Meanwhile, one director’s sequels manage to always surpass expectations.
James Cameron — The Master of Movie Sequels
On critical consensus website Rotten Tomatoes, the first entry in theAlienfranchise holds a 93% approval rating, with a slightly higher 94% from audiences. Admirable numbers by Ridley Scott. Meanwhile,Aliensby Cameron boasts a whopping 98% rating, with 94% of fans once again approving the product. Critics hold the sequel in high regard, even when it came to the Academy Awards.
At the 52nd ceremony, Scott’s original garnered two nominations: Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects. It won for the latter. In the following decade, Cameron raised the bar —Aliensreceived seven nominations in total,winning golden statuettesfor Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects Editing. Impressive stats, resulting in one of the most successful movies from the 59th ceremony. Even if most fans prefer Scott’s original, there’s no denying thatAliensgave it a valiant run for its money.
Related:James Cameron’s Filmography to Be Released in 4K UHD From DisneyIn the following decade, Cameron made his first sequel to a film that he created. Among the highest-rated films of the 1990s as a whole,Terminator 2: Judgment Dayshocked fans and critics alike by outshining its original counterpart. It won four golden statuettes out of six nominations at the 64th Academy Awards, and in 2023, the Library of Congress selectedJudgment Dayfor preservation in the National Film Registry.
In exactly a decade, Cameron had corrected the mistake that wasPiranha IIby providing film fans with two of the greatest sequels the medium’s ever seen. Andin the 21st Century, this famous filmmaker pumped out yet another high-quality sequel. At the worldwide box office,Avatarmade a staggering, record-breaking $2.9 billion. It’s still the highest-grossing movie ever made, whileAvatar 2: The Way of Watersits comfortably as the third highest.
The sequel once again took film-goers by storm, accruing $2.3 billion in movie theaters. And of course, the project received widespread praise along the way. That’s the thing about Cameron’s sequels: they aren’t just high-grossing projects with household name value.Aliens,Terminator 2, andThe Way of Waterare all among the finest films of their respective years, and they render James Cameron the undisputed master of movie sequels.
