Career Timeline of James Cameron: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of James Cameron, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
James Cameron is a highly successful Canadian filmmaker known for his visually stunning and technologically innovative movies. He is the second highest-grossing film director of all time, with his films grossing over $8 billion worldwide. Cameron is a major figure in the post-New Hollywood era, often blending classical filmmaking with novel technologies. He's also the co-founder of production companies like Lightstorm Entertainment and Digital Domain. Three of his films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
1977: Inspiration from Star Wars
In 1977, after seeing 'Star Wars', James Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to pursue a career in the film industry.
1978: Xenogenesis Short Film
In 1978, James Cameron began his film career with the short film 'Xenogenesis'.
1978: Piranha Sequel
In 1978, James Cameron was hired as the special effects director for the sequel to 'Piranha'.
1978: Directing Career Begins
In 1978, James Cameron's directing career began. He borrowed money to direct, write, and produce his first short film, 'Xenogenesis'.
1979: Production Assistant for Rock 'n' Roll High School
In 1979, James Cameron served as a production assistant for 'Rock 'n' Roll High School'.
1979: Hired to write and direct Alien sequel
In 1979, James Cameron was hired to write and direct the sequel to Alien.
1980: Art Director for Battle Beyond the Stars
In 1980, James Cameron was employed as an art director for the science-fiction film 'Battle Beyond the Stars'.
1981: Special Effects for Escape from New York
In 1981, James Cameron carried out the special effects for John Carpenter's 'Escape from New York'.
1982: Directed Piranha II: The Spawning
In 1982, James Cameron directed 'Piranha II: The Spawning', shot in Rome and Grand Cayman Island, marking his first time directing a major film, despite power struggles during production.
1982: Production Designer for Galaxy of Terror
In 1982, James Cameron served as production designer for 'Galaxy of Terror' and consulted on the design for 'Android'.
1982: Writing The Terminator
In 1982, James Cameron wrote the script for 'The Terminator', inspired by John Carpenter's 'Halloween' from 1978 and a nightmare about an invincible robot assassin.
1984: Release of The Terminator
In 1984, 'The Terminator', directed by James Cameron, was released and became a box office success, earning over $78 million worldwide.
1984: The Terminator Release
In 1984, James Cameron gained recognition for writing and directing 'The Terminator', an action drama film.
1984: Hired for First Blood Sequel
In 1984, James Cameron was hired to write a sequel to 'First Blood', which was later rewritten by Sylvester Stallone and released as 'Rambo: First Blood Part II'.
1986: Aliens Release
In 1986, James Cameron directed 'Aliens', a science-fiction action film that achieved further success for him.
1989: The Abyss Release
In 1989, James Cameron directed 'The Abyss', another science-fiction action film.
1990: Co-founded Lightstorm Entertainment
In 1990, James Cameron co-founded Lightstorm Entertainment with Lawrence Kasanoff.
July 3, 1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day Release
On July 3, 1991, 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' was released, breaking box office records and becoming a major success.
1991: Terminator 2: Judgment Day Release
In 1991, James Cameron directed 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day', which became another successful science-fiction action film.
1993: Co-founded Digital Domain
In 1993, James Cameron co-founded Digital Domain, a visual effects production company.
1994: True Lies Release and Production
In 1994, James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger reunited for 'True Lies', a remake of the French comedy 'La Totale!', produced by Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment in a deal with 20th Century Fox.
1994: True Lies Release
In 1994, James Cameron directed 'True Lies', continuing his success in science-fiction action films.
1995: Co-produced Strange Days
In 1995, James Cameron co-produced 'Strange Days', a science fiction thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
1995: Early Development of Avatar
In 1995, James Cameron wrote an 80-page treatment for Avatar, but waited for technology to improve before starting production.
1995: CGI Animation of the Sinking
In 1995, the CGI animation of the sinking was conceived. In 2012, Cameron re-investigated the sinking of RMS Titanic with eight experts in a TV documentary special, Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron, which premiered on April 8 on the National Geographic channel. In the feature, the experts revised the CGI animation of the sinking conceived in 1995.
1995: Titanic Footage
Starting in 1995, James Cameron took several dives to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to capture footage of the wreck of the Titanic.
1996: Reconciliation with James Horner
In 1996, James Cameron and composer James Horner reconciled their friendship and Horner produced the soundtracks for Titanic and Avatar.
1996: T2 3-D: Battle Across Time Attraction
In 1996, James Cameron reunited with the cast of 'Terminator 2' to film 'T2 3-D: Battle Across Time', an attraction at Universal Studios Florida and other parks.
December 19, 1997: Titanic Premieres to Critical Acclaim
On December 19, 1997, Titanic premiered after months of delay. The film garnered strong critical acclaim and became the highest-grossing film of all time.
1997: Titanic Success
As of 1997, James Cameron's film 'Titanic' is one of the top four highest-grossing films of all time.
1998: Formation of Earthship Productions and Abandoned Film Projects
In 1998, James Cameron and his brother, John, formed Earthship Productions to stream documentaries about the deep sea. Also in 1998, Cameron considered a large-scale technological/religious film and planned a Spider-Man film, but both projects were abandoned due to various disagreements.
2000: Dark Angel Television Debut
In 2000, James Cameron made his television debut as co-creator of Dark Angel with Charles H. Eglee, a television series influenced by cyberpunk, biopunk, contemporary superheroes and third-wave feminism.
2002: Cameron Produces Solaris
In 2002, James Cameron served as a producer on the film Solaris, a science fiction drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, which gained mixed reviews and failed at the box office. Also in 2002, Cameron directed Expedition: Bismarck, a documentary about the German Battleship Bismarck.
2002: Release of Spider-Man Film
In 2002, the Spider-Man film was released with the screenplay credited solely to David Koepp, after James Cameron abandoned the project due to disagreements.
2003: Ghosts of the Abyss Documentary Release
In 2003, James Cameron directed Ghosts of the Abyss, a documentary about RMS Titanic, released by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media, and designed for 3D theaters. Cameron expressed his intention for filming everything in 3D.
July 2004: Honorary Degree from University of Southampton
In July 2004, University of Southampton awarded James Cameron the honorary degree of doctor of the university in recognition of his contributions to underwater filming and remote vehicle technology.
June 2005: Interest in Avatar and Alita: Battle Angel
As early as June 2005, James Cameron displayed interest in making Avatar (2009) and Alita: Battle Angel (2019), both of which were planned to be shot using 3D technology.
2005: Aliens of the Deep Co-Direction
In 2005, James Cameron co-directed Aliens of the Deep, a documentary about various forms of life in the ocean. He also starred in Titanic Adventure with Tony Robinson, another documentary about the Titanic shipwreck.
February 2006: Switch in Film Production Order
In February 2006, James Cameron switched the production order of his films, deciding to make Avatar before Alita: Battle Angel.
2006: The Exodus Decoded Co-Creation and Narration
In 2006, James Cameron co-created and narrated The Exodus Decoded, a documentary exploring the Biblical account of the Exodus.
March 4, 2007: The Lost Tomb of Jesus Documentary Broadcast
On March 4, 2007, The Lost Tomb of Jesus, a documentary produced by James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici, was broadcast on the Discovery Channel and sparked controversy for suggesting the Talpiot Tomb was the burial place of Jesus of Nazareth.
December 18, 2009: Avatar Premieres and Breaks Box Office Records
On December 18, 2009, Avatar premiered after being delayed, breaking several box office records during its initial theatrical run and becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in the United States and Canada, surpassing Titanic.
2009: Avatar Success
As of 2009, James Cameron's film 'Avatar' is one of the top four highest-grossing films of all time, holding the top spot.
2009: Upcoming Avatar Film
James Cameron had interest in making Avatar (2009).
February 28, 2010: VES Lifetime Achievement Award
On February 28, 2010, James Cameron was honored with a Visual Effects Society (VES) Lifetime Achievement Award.
March 2010: Titanic 3D Re-Release Announcement
In March 2010, James Cameron announced that Titanic would be converted and re-released in 3D to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the tragedy.
June 2010: Cameron Offers Assistance for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
In June 2010, James Cameron met with officials of the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss possible solutions to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He offered his assistance to help stop the oil well from leaking.
July 2010: Avatar Re-Release
In July 2010, an extended theatrical re-release of Avatar generated an additional $33.2 million worldwide.
2010: Plans for Adapting The Last Train from Hiroshima
In 2010, James Cameron indicated he would adapt Charles R. Pellegrino's book The Last Train from Hiroshima, about the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Cameron also met with survivor Tsutomu Yamaguchi before his death in 2010.
2010: Avatar Breaks Titanic's Box Office Record
In 2010, James Cameron's film Avatar surpassed Titanic as the highest-grossing film of all time, a position Titanic held for twelve years.
2011: Executive Producer for Sanctum
In 2011, James Cameron served as an executive producer for Sanctum, a disaster-survival film about a cave diving expedition which turns deadly.
March 7, 2012: Deepsea Challenger Dive
On March 7, 2012, James Cameron, in his role as a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, piloted the Deepsea Challenger five miles deep to the bottom of the New Britain Trench.
June 2012: Induction to Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In June 2012, James Cameron was inducted to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame at the Museum of Pop Culture for his contribution to the science fiction and fantasy field.
2012: Deepest Solo Dive
In 2012, James Cameron became the first person to complete a solo descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Deepsea Challenger submersible, reaching the deepest part of the Earth's ocean.
2012: Cameron's Response to Reputation
In 2012, when asked about his reputation, James Cameron dryly responded: "I don't have to shout any more, because the word is out there already".
August 2013: Announcement of Avatar Sequels
In August 2013, James Cameron announced plans to direct three sequels to Avatar simultaneously, with release dates initially set for December 2016, 2017, and 2018.
2014: Deepsea Challenge 3D Executive Producer
In 2014, James Cameron served as executive producer of Deepsea Challenge 3D.
2015: Praise from Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis
In 2015, Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis both applauded James Cameron in an interview, praising his perfectionism and attention to detail.
May 27, 2017: Pandora – The World of Avatar Opening
On May 27, 2017, Pandora – The World of Avatar, an Avatar-themed land at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida opened to the public where James Cameron served as a creative consultant.
August 15, 2017: Production of Avatar Sequels Begins
On August 15, 2017, simultaneous production of Avatar 2 (The Way of Water) and Avatar 3 (Fire and Ash) began in Manhattan Beach, California.
September 25, 2017: Principal Photography Begins in New Zealand
On September 25, 2017, principal photography for the Avatar sequels began in New Zealand, with parts of Avatar 4 also being filmed during this time.
2017: Atlantis Rising Documentary
In 2017, James Cameron starred in the documentary Atlantis Rising with Simcha Jacobovici, which aired on January 29 on National Geographic. The documentary follows the pair's adventure to explore the existence of the city of Atlantis.
2018: James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Series
In 2018, James Cameron produced and appeared in the six-episode documentary series James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction, which was broadcast on AMC and featured interviews with various directors.
January 31, 2019: Alita: Battle Angel Premieres
On January 31, 2019, Alita: Battle Angel, written by James Cameron and Jon Landau, directed by Robert Rodriguez, and produced by Cameron, premiered to generally positive reviews.
2019: Upcoming Alita: Battle Angel Film
James Cameron had interest in making Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
2021: Cameron Acknowledges Past Demanding Behavior
In 2021, while giving a MasterClass during a break from his work on the Avatar sequels, James Cameron acknowledged his past demanding behavior, opining that if he could go back in time, he would improve the working relationship with his cast and crew members by being less autocratic.
December 6, 2022: Avatar: The Way of Water World Premiere
On December 6, 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water had its world premiere in London. It became the highest-grossing film released in 2022.
2022: Achievement of Avatar and Titanic
As of 2022, James Cameron's films Avatar and Titanic hold the achievement for being the first two of the six films in history to gross over $2 billion worldwide.
2022: Avatar: The Way of Water Release
In 2022, James Cameron's film 'Avatar: The Way of Water' was released, becoming one of the top four highest-grossing films of all time.
July 2024: Jon Landau joins Lightstorm
In July 2024, James Cameron stated that he "lured" Jon Landau away from Fox to Lightstorm.
September 2024: Joins Stability AI Board
In September 2024, James Cameron joined the board of directors of AI company Stability AI.
December 20, 2024: Upcoming Avatar 3 Release
James Cameron plans to release Avatar 3 on December 20, 2024.
2024: Confirmation of Last Train From Hiroshima Film
In 2024, Deadline Hollywood confirmed that James Cameron had purchased the rights to both The Last Train from Hiroshima and Pellegrino's forthcoming Ghosts of Hiroshima. He will make an "uncompromising theatrical epic motion picture" titled Last Train From Hiroshima about a Japanese man who survives Hiroshima's bombing at the height of World War II only to then take a train to Nagasaki's bombing.
2025: Acquisition of The Devils Novel Rights
In 2025, James Cameron announced that Lightstorm Entertainment had acquired the rights to Joe Abercrombie's novel The Devils and that he would begin working on a screenplay for a film based on the novel after completion of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
December 18, 2026: Upcoming Avatar 4 Release
James Cameron plans to release Avatar 4 on December 18, 2026.
December 22, 2028: Upcoming Avatar 5 Release
James Cameron plans to release Avatar 5 on December 22, 2028.
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