James Cameron: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 60
- as director
- 14
- on screen
- 1978–2026
- box office
- $10.3B
- award wins
- 10
- average score
- 77
- Born
- August 16, 1954 (age 72)
- Birthplace
- Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada
- Full name
- James Francis Cameron
- Citizenship
- Canada
- Occupations
- Film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, philanthropist, sea explorer
- Years active
- 1978-present
- Spouses
- Sharon Williams, Gale Anne Hurd, Kathryn Bigelow, Linda Hamilton, Suzy Amis
- Children
- 4
The Best James Cameron Movies
The films of James Cameron that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Avatar (2009) leads with $2.92B. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $2.92B Avatar 2009 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $2.34B Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $2.26B Titanic 1997 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $1.49B Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $518M Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991 · Action -
Worldwide box office: $379M True Lies 1994 · Action
James Cameron's Career in Numbers
James Cameron's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres James Cameron works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Xenogenesis (1978) to Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), and the 1980s were the busiest decade.
James Cameron Movies by Decade
- 1970s 1
- 1980s 5
- 1990s 4
- 2000s 4
- 2020s 2
The 1980s were James Cameron's busiest decade, with 5 films.
James Cameron Movies by Genre
- Action 9
- Documentary 2
- Family 1
- Drama 1
- Comedy 1
- Sci-Fi 1
- Horror 1
Action is the genre James Cameron has worked in most, with 9 films, ahead of documentary (2).
James Cameron Career Milestones
- First film
- Xenogenesis 1978
- Biggest box office hit
- Avatar $2.92B worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Avatar: Fire and Ash Movie Echo Score 78
- Newest film
- Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025
James Cameron Filmography: Every Movie
Every film James Cameron is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 14 as director and 2 as actor. Rated films average a score of 77. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by James Cameron
14- 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash Action Worldwide box office: $1.49B Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2022
Avatar: The Way of Water Action Worldwide box office: $2.34B Movie Echo Score: 66 - 2009
Avatar Action Worldwide box office: $2.92B - 2005
Aliens of the Deep Documentary Worldwide box office: $12.8M - 2003
Ghosts of the Abyss Family Worldwide box office: $27.6M - 1997
Titanic Drama Worldwide box office: $2.26B - 1994
True Lies Action Worldwide box office: $379M - 1991
Terminator 2: Judgment Day Action Worldwide box office: $518M - 1989
The Abyss Action Worldwide box office: $90.5M - 1986
Aliens Action Worldwide box office: $131M - 1984
The Terminator Action Worldwide box office: $78.4M - 1982
Piranha Part Two: The Spawning Sci-Fi - 1982
Piranha II: The Spawning Horror - 1978
Xenogenesis Action
James Cameron Movies as an Actor
2James Cameron in Documentaries & Specials
44- 2026
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $26.7M Movie Echo Score: 87 - 2025
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story as Self · Documentary Movie Echo Score: 78 - 2025
Alien, Terror in Space as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2024
Fatal Dive to the Titanic: Truth and Lies as Self · Documentary - 2024
The Titan Sub Disaster: Minute by Minute as Self · Documentary - 2023
Titanic: Stories from the Heart as Self · Documentary - 2023
Inside Pandora’s Box as Self · Documentary - 2023
Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron as Self · Documentary - 2022
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 as Self · Documentary - 2021
The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World as Self · Music - 2020
Titanic: Into the Heart of the Wreck as Self · Documentary - 2019
Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy as Self · Documentary - 2018
James Cameron’s Story of Science Fiction as Self - Host · Documentary - 2017
Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron as Self · History - 2017
T2: Reprogramming The Terminator as Self · Documentary - 2017
Atlantis Rising as Self · Documentary - 2016
Eating You Alive as Self · Documentary - 2013
Amazon Unknown as Self · Documentary - 2013
From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking as Self - Filmmaker · Adventure - 2012
Reflections on Titanic as Self · Documentary - 2012
Titanic: 100 Years On as Self · Documentary - 2012
Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron as Self · Documentary - 2012
James Cameron: Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth as Self · Documentary - 2011
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $2.57K - 2011
Hollywood between Paranoia and Sci-Fi: The Power of Myth as Self · Tv movie - 2010
Capturing Avatar as Self · Documentary - 2010
Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora as Self · Documentary - 2005
Last Mysteries Of The Titanic as Self · Documentary - 2005
Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us as Self · Documentary - 2005
George Lucas: Creating an Empire as Self · Documentary - 2004
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing as Self · Documentary - 2003
Superior Firepower: Making ‘Aliens’ as Self · Documentary - 2002
Expedition: Bismarck as Self · Documentary - 2002
Iron and Beyond as Self - Director · Documentary - 2002
The Alien Saga as Self (archive footage) · Documentary - 2001
Alien Evolution as Self · Documentary - 2001
Other Voices: Creating ‘The Terminator’ as Self · Documentary - 2001
2001: The Making of a Myth as Self · Documentary - 1998
Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs as Self · Documentary - 1997
Heart of the Ocean: The Making of Titanic as Self · Documentary - 1993
Under Pressure: Making ‘The Abyss’ as Self · Documentary - 1993
T2: More Than Meets the Eye as Self · Documentary - 1992
The Making of ‘The Terminator’: A Retrospective as Self · Documentary - 1991
The Making of ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ as Self · Documentary
James Cameron: Awards & Nominations
10 wins from 18 nominations across 6 award bodies, from 1985 to 2024. That includes an Oscar: Best Director for Titanic. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
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Saturn Awards 5 wins from 6 nominations -
Golden Globes 2 wins from 3 nominations -
Critics' Choice 1 win from 3 nominations -
Oscars 1 win from 2 nominations -
DGA Awards 1 win from 2 nominations -
BAFTA 2 nominations
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51st Saturn Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Film Direction Avatar: The Way of Water
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28th Critics' Choice Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Avatar: The Way of Water
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80th Golden Globe Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Avatar: The Way of Water
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82nd Academy Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Avatar
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63rd British Academy Film Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Avatar
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36th Saturn Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Writing Avatar
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15th Critics' Choice Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Avatar
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62nd Directors Guild of America Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Avatar
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67th Golden Globe Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Director Avatar
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70th Academy Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Director Titanic
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55th Golden Globe Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Director Titanic
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50th Directors Guild of America Awards- James Cameron: Win Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Titanic
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3rd Critics' Choice Movie Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Director Titanic
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51st British Academy Film Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director Titanic
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18th Saturn Awards- James Cameron: Win Best Director Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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12th Saturn Awards- James Cameron: Nominated Best Director The Terminator
Who Is James Cameron?
James Cameron was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada in 1954 and is 72 years old. Credited on films since 1978, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a esteemed Canadian filmmaker known for his distinct approach of integrating high-impact special effects with the art of storytelling. Rising to prominence for his work on The Terminator in 1984, Cameron found immense success with hits like Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and True Lies (1994). His mastery in merging technology and classical filmmaking was showcased in two of the highest-grossing movies of all time, Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). A key figure in the post-New Hollywood era, his films have a significant influence on popular culture. Deriving from his deep interest in the deep sea and space science, Cameron co-established several production companies like Lightstorm Entertainment and Earthship Productions. His exploration of unknown realms extends to the production of underwater exploration documentaries and development of cutting-edge filming technologies. Considered an industry stalwart, his movies show sublime command over craft and innovative use of technology, alongside multiple path-breaking endeavors like three films being honored by the National Film Registry and record-breaking commercial success.
Cameron's work is not limited to movies. He is impressive in the field of sea exploration too. His expedition to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth's ocean, was remarkable, and he became the first person to perform a solo descent to its bottom in the Deepsea Challenger submersible. Cameron's work in the arena of space science is equally commendable. His collaboration with NASA for building cameras for Mars rovers and the new filmmaker’s position as the member of NASA Advisory Council elaborates his commitment to space exploration. Cameron has been acknowledged and honored globally for his significant contributions to cinematics and exploration.
Who James Cameron Makes Movies With
The actors and directors James Cameron shares the most films with. Sigourney Weaver comes first, with 12 films together, followed by Arnold Schwarzenegger (9).
James Cameron: Questions & Answers
How many movies James Cameron has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has James Cameron been in?
James Cameron is credited on 60 films, from 1978 to 2026. 2 of them as an actor and 14 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is James Cameron's highest-grossing movie?
Avatar (2009) is James Cameron's biggest box office hit, with $2.92B worldwide, ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) ($2.34B). Across every film with box office figures, James Cameron's movies have made $10.3B.
James Cameron's biggest hits What is the best James Cameron movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, James Cameron's best-rated film is Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026) with a score of 87, followed by Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) (78).
Best James Cameron movies, ranked Has James Cameron won an Oscar?
James Cameron has won an Oscar: Best Director for Titanic at the 1998 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, James Cameron has 10 wins from 18 nominations.
How old is James Cameron?
James Cameron is 72 years old, born on August 16, 1954 in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada.
What is James Cameron's newest movie?
The most recent film on James Cameron's filmography is Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026), in the role of Self.
Who does James Cameron work with most often?
James Cameron shares the most films with Sigourney Weaver (12 films), Arnold Schwarzenegger (9 films) and Michael Biehn (8 films).
The Best James Cameron Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 60 directing credits.
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