It didn't have the box office impact of Cameron's big-hitters, but it's still worth submerging yourself into. Cameron's love of diving and his environmental side are on full display here, laying the groundwork for much of what he's gone on to since – from the waterworks of Titanic, to Avatar's bioluminescent planet, and the long-promised oceans of Pandora in the upcoming Avatar sequels.

At the heart of it is a team of expert divers who are hired to look for a missing nuclear submarine and find something much more fascinating. With its sub-aquatic entities (rendered with then-cutting-edge VFX that still looks good today) and a Jules Verne-ian sense of deep-sea exploration, The Abyss feels distinct from the usual space-bound sci-fi.

Trust James Cameron, then – long before Avatar – to look to the other inky-black instead, the mysterious ocean depths. Director: James Cameron Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael BiehnMost sci-fi films look to the cosmos for signs of new life.

Space opera concept art