The Terminator franchise has had a rough go ever since T2: Judgment Day. Terminator 3 had its moments like the crane chase, but Salvation and Genysis did virtually nothing to enhance the flailing series. So what about Dark Fate? That at least reunited Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton! Well, if you ask James Cameron, Terminator: Dark Fate is the only standout outside of his own movies.

Speaking with Empire as the original Terminator turns 40 this year, James Cameron leant his defense to Dark Fate, which he called “cracking” although couldn’t help but note that it still doesn’t match the first two movies. Even still, he does put it in an easy third place. Still, he knows there are issues with Dark Fate – which he served as producer on – that may not have been anticipated going in. “We achieved our goal. We made a legit sequel to a...