James Cameron, one of cinema's most decorated and revered filmmakers, has ranked his own films, revealing that he is 'not the same' person he was when he made 'The Terminator.' The 71-year-old Canadian director, whose works include historic blockbusters like 'The Terminator' and 'Titanic,' has grossed over $11 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing director of all time. Despite the immense commercial success of his films, including the 'Avatar' franchise which spans merchandise from action figures to postage stamps, Cameron insists that commerciality is never his focus.
Cameron's Top Three Films
In an exclusive interview with Metro, Cameron reflected on his filmography when asked to name his top three movies. 'I like them all, but I see them through the lens of who I was and when they were made, so it's a fluid situation,' he said. 'I'm not the same person I was when I made 'The Terminator.' I was an angry, young, poor guy!' He added that he would 'probably go with 'Titanic' and 'Avatar,' for sure,' because 'those are the ones that move the needle the most in the zeitgeist.' He explained that 'Titanic' connects people around love and loss, while 'Avatar' connects them with nature and each other. 'I think they both had a big impact,' he said.
New Project: Billie Eilish Concert Film
Cameron's latest project veers into a different territory: directing Billie Eilish's concert film for her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' tour. The 3D documentary features performances from her seventh headline tour, recorded at Manchester's Co-op Arena last year. It offers an immersive live concert experience with a set list of Eilish's hits and newer tracks from her 2024 chart-topping album of the same name. Cameron discussed the film, noting that despite the inevitability of the tour film raking in big bucks thanks to Eilish's die-hard fanbase, he would rather make an impact in other ways. 'My goal is how many people can I reach? How many people can I impact without just completely becoming a commercial whore?' he declared. 'I think this film is gonna have an impact.'
Working with Billie Eilish
Cameron, who is a close friend of Eilish's mother, Maggie Baird, praised the 24-year-old Grammy-winning superstar. 'When I met you, I found you to be very natural, very comfortable in your skin, very authentic,' he said. 'As we got into it, I started to realise what a really particular and specific artist and visionary you are.' Now considering her his 'pal,' Cameron bestowed an almighty compliment on Eilish, branding her a 'demigoddess to so many people on this planet,' yet admiring how she's still 'so grounded' and 'not a diva at all.' He added, 'For somebody who's been in the public eye with the kind of scrutiny that you have, both celebrated and trolled so much over the last decade, you are surprisingly sane!' Eilish countered, 'It's hard to stay sane out here. I try!'
Eilish's Tour and Future Plans
The songwriting icon, whose brother and co-writer/producer Finneas O'Connell also features in the live film, expressed that she 'misses the tour' already, having wrapped up her mammoth run of 106 dates in November. Her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' gigs were hugely lucrative, spanning over a year with over 1.5 million ticket sales and grossing over $220 million. As for what fans can expect next, Eilish revealed that her next album is in the works but nowhere near finished. 'I'm just excited because it's coming along, but it is nowhere near finished,' she laughed. 'Just so everyone knows.' When asked about keeping a 'secret album' under wraps, she added, 'I don't even know yet. I'm keeping a secret from myself. People are like, 'So, what's the name?' No clue. 'What's the vibe?' No clue. We're gonna find out! And that's a really exciting place to be. It's gonna be a while still, because I got a lot to do before then, but don't worry – it will come.'
'Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)' is showing in cinemas from May 8.
