NEVER bet against James Cameron.

It took the biggest media conglomerate on the planet over a decade to wretch the highest grossing film spot from this man, and there is no question why if you've seen any of his films. The director has a craft and an eye for this art form that no other filmmaker has. From his worlds, to his stories, to the characters that make up those worlds and stories, there's no question that James Cameron has cemented his place in history.

Which is why we've decided to count down the best films he's made so far. But one quick ground rule: we're only counting down movies that he directed, wrote - ideally both. While he's produced a ton more than that, financing a film is very different from actually being involved hands-on with the making of one.

When you filter his filmography with this rule, you're left with nine movies. Not that many when you consider how long he's been making them. But most of the time, quality over quantity is the way to go.

So, from the worst to the best, here are the films that have made James Cameron a household name in modern geekdom.