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When you hear James Cameron, chances are your mind instantly jumps to the big stuff –Titanic,Avatar, or evenThe Terminator. Perhaps, it is the other end of the spectrum, and you’re thinking of ‘sciency’inventions like theDeepSea Challenger. Either way, the man’s no joke and knows his stuff, both in film-making and what it takes to make a film. Tucked away in his filmography, however, are a few underrated projects that don’t get nearly the attention they deserve.
These are the films that don’t usually get splashy anniversary re-releases or theme park rides, but they’re just as interesting – a scrapbook of someone before they got famous, you see the seeds of what’s to come. What makes these lesser-known projects so fascinating is how much of Cameron’s DNA you can find in them. Let’s take a stroll down the side streets of Cameron’s career and check out five underrated projects that deserve their time in the spotlight.
5Piranha II: The Spawning(1981)
Okay, let’s get this out of the way quickly—Piranha II: The Spawningis not a masterpiece by any means of the imagination. In fact, it’s a trainwreck. But forJames Cameronfans, it’s a sweet piece of trivia. It was his first feature film as a director… sort of.
BeforeThe Terminator, Cameron was brought in to direct this B-movie about genetically modified flying piranhas (yes, flying) after the original director left. It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds—and it’s kind of amazing.
Things on set, however, went sideways almost immediately. The producers clashed with Cameron and took over the project, leaving him with little creative control. Still, there are glimpses of his style in the film—especially in the creature design and underwater sequences.
One of the most emblematic stories from this production is that Cameron had a fever dream while staying in a dingy hotel during filming. In his dream, he saw a metallic skeleton crawling out of the fire—an image that would later inspireThe Terminator. So, whilePiranha IImight not be worth watching for its quality, it’s a fun footnote in the journey of a Hollywood heavyweight.
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Cameron still holds a sense of humor about the experience. In a2010 interview, he jokingly called it“the best flying piranha movie ever made.”And hey, if you’re a fan of cheesy ’80s horror, this one has its charms.
Check outPiranha II: The Spawningon Prime
4. Strange Days (1995)
Imagine a world where you can literally live someone else’s experiences by plugging into their memories. That’s the concept behindStrange Days, a futuristic thriller written by James Cameron and directed by his ex-wife,Kathryn Bigelow.
Set in a crime-ridden Los Angeles on the cusp of the millennium, the film follows Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), an ex-cop turned dealer of illegal“memory discs.”These gadgets let people re-live other people’s experiences—everything from mundane activities to the extreme thrills of hedonism. It’s an idea that feels eerily relevant today, with our obsession with VR, AR, Metaverse, and immersive tech.
Strange Daysis packed with Cameron trademarks of big ideas about technology and society, a strong female lead (played byAngela Bassett), and intense, well-choreographed action scenes.
While Cameron wrote the original script, he handed it off to Jay Cocks for the final version. And even though the movie flopped at the box office, it’s gained a cult following over the years. The themes of tech addiction, racial tension, and surveillance feel just as relevant today as they did in the ’90s.
3Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Here’s a more recent entry on the list. While Cameron didn’t directAlita: Battle Angel, he co-wrote the screenplay and served as a producer. The film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is based on a Japanese manga and tells the story of a cyborg namedAlita.
Set in a dystopian future,Alitafollows a cyborg warrior (played by Rosa Salazar through stunning motion capture) who’s rediscovered and rebuilt by a kind-hearted doctor. It has its fair share of inventive action too, including a brutal gladiatorial sport calledMotorball.
WhileAlitadidn’t crush it at the box office, it earned a cult following thanks to its gorgeous visuals and world-building. And if you’re a fan of Cameron’s strong, complex female leads, Alita fits right in alongside Ripley and Sarah Connor.
The movie explores big questions about identity, humanity, and the ethics of technology, and is if a sequel ever gets made, it might just giveAlitathe conclusion it deserves.
Check outAlita: Battle Angelon Prime
2.Xenogenesis (1978)
Before Cameron became the blockbuster master we know today, he was making short films on a shoestring budget. Back in 1978, Cameron was working as a truck driver, tinkering with movie ideas on the side.Xenogenesis, his first 12-minute short film, was born out of that scrappy DIY spirit.
Funded by a local dentist (yes, really), the film tells the story of two humans—Raj and Laurie—exploring space to find a new home for humanity. Along the way, they face off against a giant robotic cleaner. The giant robot strangely looks like an early version of the Hunter-Killers fromThe Terminator.
The real charm ofXenogenesis, however, is in its miniature effects and Cameron’s ability to make a tiny budget look like a million bucks. He transformed his living room into an alien environment, using lighting and practical effects cleverly to create something truly otherworldly.
The short also caught the eye of Roger Corman, the legendary low-budget filmmaker, who gave Cameron his first professional gig in Hollywood (He’s the producer behindPiranha II). If you’re a die-hard Cameron fan,Xenogenesisis a fun piece of history to check out.
1.Rambo: First Blood Part II(1985)
Bet you didn’t know James Cameron had a hand in writing aRambomovie, huh? Yep,Rambo: First Blood Part IIhas Cameron’s fingerprints all over its script. ThoughSylvester Stallonerewrote parts of it, adding more emotional depth and political commentary, Cameron’s original draft laid the groundwork for the jungle warfare and explosive set pieces.
The film follows Vietnam veteran John Rambo as he’s sent back to Vietnam on a mission to rescue American POWs. Of course, things go sideways, and Rambo ends up single-handedly taking on an army. Cameron himself admitted he focused on the action, leaving Stallone to handle the more serious dialogue. And boy, does the action deliver.
The movie was filmed in the jungles of Mexico, where the cast and crew had to contend with relentless heat, mud, and even a typhoon. There are also hilarious anecdotes from production like Stallone getting pranked by co-star Richard Crenna or extras being recruited straight out of local Chinese restaurants to play soldiers.
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John Travoltawas also almost cast as Rambo’s partner, but Stallone nixed the idea, thinking it would cheapen the film. Even though it’s not as deep as the firstRambofilm,First Blood Part IIis pure action gold. And while it’s Stallone’s name on the marquee, you can thank James Cameron for the film’s over-the-top stunts.
Check outRambo: First Blood Part IIon Prime
Jayant Chhabra
Articles Published :123
Jayant Chhabra is a long-form writer and Creative Producer, who has worked with several renowned publications and production houses. Yet, there’s more to Jayant than meets the word count. You’ll find him cheering for the Red Devils, trying to produce music, or yet again being enamoured by the countless films, essays, and books that he holds close to his heart.
