James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the single greatest sci-fi action movies ever made. It has been the gold standard for the genre for decades since its initial release, and it has never been topped by any of the later entries in its franchise.
However, there are a select few sci-fi action movies that have, over the years, topped the quality of Cameron’s 1991 masterpiece. These five spectacular science fiction action flicks stand out as not just being superior to Terminator 2: Judgement Day, but as being some of the very best movies in the genre’s entire history.
Aliens Is An Even Better James Cameron Sci-Fi Action Hit
Though Terminator 2: Judgment Day might be James Cameron’s most famous action movie, he has arguably made a few others that are superior. Most notably, his 1986 tour de force, Aliens, stands as an early example of his mastery of the science fiction and action genres. A perfectly paced follow-up to Ridley Scott’s seminal 1979 masterpiece, Alien, Cameron’s Aliens brings over-the-top action, sublime character work, and some of the finest practical effects ever conceived for the big screen.
Aliens is the perfect sequel, as it takes what was great about the original Alien and pushes it even further. Sigourney Weaver is second-to-none as the iconic Ellen Ripley, and the entire supporting cast is utterly unforgettable. James Cameron is no stranger to spectacle, and Aliens is one of his finest achievements in the worlds of sci-fi and action.
The Matrix Is A Genre-Defining Masterpiece
A film that truly lives up to all the hype that surrounds it, Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s The Matrix is the kind of sci-fi action masterpiece that comes along once in a lifetime. The film changed the landscape of action filmmaking forever, and it has influenced countless sci-fi movies in the years since its initial 1999 release. The film’s story of identity, freedom, and revolution is absolutely magnificent, and, even though the sequels didn’t quite live up to the original, The Matrix has remained an essential sci-fi franchise for years.
Keanu Reeves is nothing short of brilliant in the lead role of Neo, the chosen one destined to help humanity fight back against their terrifying machine captors, and The Matrix absolutely oozes with style and substance in every frame. Each action set piece and each practical or visual effect serves the story perfectly, and it remains an all-timer in every sense of the word.
Robocop Is A Hilariously Bloody Delight
One of the best things about Terminator 2: Judgment Day is its action. It has some of the most impressive and exhilarating action set pieces in modern movie history, but it simply cannot compare to the no-holds-barred sci-fi violence of director Paul Verhoeven’s Robocop. The 1987 masterpiece is packed with unflinching violence, bloody shootouts, and incredibly brutal practical makeup and effects work.
Robocop is the kind of ’80s action movie that modern viewers might not expect to work as well as it does. It’s the kind of movie that might seem, at first glance, to be another cheesy and forgettable action flick, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, Robocop is one of the most bitingly political, socially aware sci-fi masterpieces of the 20th century, and its action is genuinely second-to-none.
The Terminator Is Better Than Its More Action-Packed Sequel
It is nearly universally believed by science fiction fans that James Cameron’s 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day is superior to its predecessor, 1984’s The Terminator, but that simply isn’t true. James Cameron’s original The Terminator is one of the most miraculous achievements in sci-fi history, and, despite not having the kind of high-budget effects work or set pieces that its sequel has, it’s a superior sci-fi action flick.
Perfectly paced, incredibly written, and truly groundbreaking for the sci-fi genre, The Terminator changed the world of big screen genre filmmaking in the modern age. A smartly conceived, masterfully produced epic, The Terminator has never been topped by any of James Cameron’s other action pictures, including his more iconic sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Mad Max: Fury Road Is The Greatest Sci-Fi Action Movie In Decades
The modern landscape of sci-fi action isn’t nearly as consistent as it was in the 1980s and ’90s, but that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t produced some truly era-defining masterpieces. In fact, George Miller’s 2015 masterpiece, Mad Max: Fury Road might just be the single best action movie of the last 50 years. Featuring jaw-dropping action, impeccable stuntwork, and some of the finest and most efficient world-building in movie history, Fury Road is a sight to behold.
Nothing quite compares to experiencing Miller’s masterpiece for the first time, and it beats out pretty much any other science fiction action film that it’s compared to. Terminator 2: Judgment Day changed the way people view sci-fi action, but Mad Max: Fury Road redefined what was even possible in the genre. It’s one of the single most important movies of the 21st century, and it is a truly perfect film.
- Release Date
-
July 3, 1991
- Runtime
-
137 minutes
- Director
-
James Cameron