View source for James Cameron

{{short description|Canadian filmmaker and deep-sea explorer (born 1954)}}
{{about|the Canadian filmmaker|other people}}
{{good article}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific-suffix   = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|size=100%}}
| image              = James Cameron at 53rd Saturn Awards 2026-01.jpg
| caption            = Cameron in 2026
| birth_name         = James Francis Cameron
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1954|08|16}}
| birth_place        = [[Kapuskasing]], Ontario, Canada
| citizenship        = {{ubl|Canada ([[Jus soli|by birth]])|New Zealand ([[New Zealand nationality law#Voluntary acquisition|acquired]], since 2025)}}
| alma mater         = <!-- Per MOS:INFOEDU, for graduates of post-secondary schools only -->
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|film producer|screenwriter|editor|artist|philanthropist|[[Deep-sea exploration|deep-sea explorer]]}}
| years_active       = 1978–present
| works              = [[James Cameron filmography|Full list]]
| spouses            = {{ubil|
* {{marriage|Sharon Williams |1978|1984|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Gale Anne Hurd]]|1985|1989|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Kathryn Bigelow]]|1989|1991|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Linda Hamilton]]|1997|1999|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Suzy Amis Cameron|Suzy Amis]]|2000}}
}}
| children           = 5<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=James Cameron admits his kids are 'not big fans' of the first Avatar film (exclusive) |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/james-cameron-children-not-fans-avatar-131501054.html |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=uk.movies.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by James Cameron|Full list]]
| signature          = James Cameron Signature.svg
}}
'''James Francis Cameron''' (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian<!--See talk page before updating citizenship. The current consensus is that his New Zealand citizenship is too new to be relevant to his notability.--> filmmaker and [[Deep-sea exploration|deep-sea explorer]].<!--Keep most notable occupations in lead per MOS:ROLEBIO--> [[James Cameron filmography|His films]] combine cutting-edge [[History of film technology|film technology]] with [[Classical Hollywood cinema|classical filmmaking]] techniques and have grossed over $10&nbsp;billion worldwide, making him the [[List of highest-grossing film directors|second-highest-grossing film director]] of all time. A major figure in the post-[[New Hollywood]] era, Cameron has received [[List of awards and nominations received by James Cameron|numerous accolades]], including three [[Academy Awards]], two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], and four [[Golden Globe Awards]], as well as nominations for six [[British Academy Film Awards]].

Born and raised in [[Ontario]], Cameron moved to California aged 17 and enrolled at [[Fullerton Community College]]. Beginning his career with the short film ''[[Xenogenesis (film)|Xenogenesis]]'' (1978), he first gained recognition for writing and directing the science fiction action film ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984). He had further success with ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986), ''[[The Abyss]]'' (1989), ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1991), and ''[[True Lies]]'' (1994), as well as the [[Avatar (franchise)|''Avatar'' franchise]] (2009–present). He directed, wrote, co-produced, and co-edited the historical romance epic ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' (1997), winning [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], and [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]].

Three of Cameron's films—''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009), ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'' (2022) and ''Titanic''—are amongst the top four [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing films of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Lifetime Grosses |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/ww_top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=BoxOfficeMojo}}</ref><!--The following text does not align with the source provided: with ''Avatar'' and ''Titanic'' amongst the three highest adjusting for inflation (''Avatar'' being the highest and second-highest grossing film worldwide respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Lifetime Adjusted Grosses |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross_adjusted/?adjust_gross_to=2019 |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>{{fv|date=February 2026}}--> He directed the first film to gross over $1&nbsp;billion, the first two films to gross over $2&nbsp;billion each, is the only director to have had three films gross over $2 billion each, and is the first director to have four consecutive feature films gross over $1 billion each.<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Cameron becomes first director in history to have three films reach $1.5 billion at the box office |url=https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/james-cameron-becomes-first-director-in-history-to-have-three-films-re-858200-20230106 |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=UNILAD |date=January 6, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrow |first=Brendan |date=2023-01-22 |title=James Cameron becomes 1st filmmaker to direct 3 movies that grossed $2 billion |url=https://theweek.com/culture/1020279/james-cameron-avatar-1st-director-3-films-that-grossed-2-billion |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ace |first=Shannen |date=2025-12-16 |title=Disney Legend James Cameron's Net Worth Surpasses $1 Billion |url=https://wdwnt.com/2025/12/disney-legend-james-camerons-net-worth-1-billion/ |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=WDW News Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Migliardo |first=Clara |date=2026-01-03 |title=James Cameron Becomes the First Director with Four Consecutive $1 Billion Films |url=https://spoiler.bolavip.com/en/celebrities/james-cameron-becomes-the-first-director-with-four-consecutive-1-billion-films |access-date=2026-01-03 |website=Spoiler US |language=en}}</ref> ''The Terminator'', ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day'', and ''Titanic'' have been selected for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]]. Cameron also co-founded the production companies [[Lightstorm Entertainment]], [[Digital Domain]], and Earthship Productions. In 2010, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named Cameron one of the [[Time 100#2010s|100 most influential people in the world]].

In addition to filmmaking, he is a [[National Geographic]] explorer-in-residence and has produced many documentaries on deep-ocean exploration, including ''[[Ghosts of the Abyss]]'' (2003) and ''[[Aliens of the Deep]]'' (2005). Cameron has also contributed to [[Underwater videography|underwater filming]] and [[Remotely operated underwater vehicle|remote vehicle]] technologies, and helped create the new [[digital 3D]] [[Fusion Camera System]]. In 2012, he became the first person to complete a solo descent to the bottom of the [[Mariana Trench]], the deepest part of Earth's ocean, in the ''[[Deepsea Challenger]]'' submersible. He is also an environmentalist and runs several sustainability businesses.

== Early life and education ==
James Francis Cameron<ref>[[Space Foundation]]. (n.d.). [https://astro.cornell.edu/~randerson/TheCaseForSpace.pdf America's vision: The case for space exploration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221194549/http://astro.cornell.edu/~randerson/TheCaseForSpace.pdf |date=February 21, 2011}}, p. 42. Retrieved December 12, 2009.</ref> was born on August 16, 1954, in [[Kapuskasing]], Ontario, to Philip Cameron, an [[electrical engineer]], and Shirley ({{nee|Lowe}}), an artist and nurse.<ref name="nytimesref">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/books/excerpt-the-futurist.html|title=The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron|last=Keegan|first=Rebecca|date=January 15, 2010|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018082849/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/books/excerpt-the-futurist.html|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He is the first of five children, with two brothers and two sisters.<ref name="nytimesref"/> His paternal great-great-great-grandfather emigrated from [[Balquhidder]], Scotland, in 1825.<ref name="nytimesref"/> Cameron spent summers on his grandfather's farm in [[Southern Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 16, 2013|title=James Cameron compares upcoming Avatar sequels to The Godfather from his walnut farm in New Zealand|newspaper=[[National Post]]|url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/james-cameron-compares-three-part-avatar-film-series-to-the-godfather-from-his-walnut-farm-in-new-zealand|access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref> He attended Stamford Collegiate in [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]]. At age 17, Cameron and his family moved from [[Chippawa, Ontario]] to [[Brea, California]].<ref>{{Cite magazine | last = Goodyear | first = Dana | title = Man of Extremes: The Return of James Cameron | magazine = [[The New Yorker]] | date = October 26, 2009 | url = https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/10/26/091026fa_fact_goodyear | access-date = January 29, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190913233059/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/10/26/man-of-extremes | archive-date = September 13, 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref> He attended [[Sonora High School (La Habra, California)|Sonora High School]] and then moved to [[Brea Olinda High School]]. Classmates recalled that he was not a sportsman but instead enjoyed building things that "either went up into the air or into the deep".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-impossible-reality-of-james-cameron-56560/|title=The Impossible Reality of James Cameron|last1=Hedegaard|first1=Erik|date=December 24, 2009|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018193534/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-impossible-reality-of-james-cameron-56560/|archive-date=October 18, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref>

After high school, Cameron enrolled at [[Fullerton College]], a community college, in 1973 to study physics. He switched subjects to English, but left the college at the end of 1974.<ref>{{cite book | last=Shaprio | first=M. | title=James Cameron: An Unauthorized Biography Of The Filmmaker | publisher=St. Martin's Press | year=2000 | isbn=978-1-58063-124-2 | pages=44–47}}</ref> Cameron worked odd jobs, including as a truck driver and a high school janitor. He drank beer, frequently consumed [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] and [[LSD]], and wrote in his free time.<ref>[https://rollingstoneindia.com/james-cameron/ The Impossible Reality of James Cameron - Rolling Stone India]</ref><ref name="filmmakers.com">{{cite web|author=Media Pro Tech Inc. |url=http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/cameron/biography/page2.htm |title=James Cameron Biography by FilmMakers Magazine |publisher=Filmmakers.com |access-date=August 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617162554/http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/cameron/biography/page2.htm |archive-date=June 17, 2010}}</ref> During this period, he learned about special effects by reading other students' work on "[[Optical printer|optical printing]], or [[Front projection effect|front screen projection]], or [[Dye-transfer process|dye transfers]], anything that related to [[History of film technology|film technology]]" at the [[University of Southern California]] library.<ref name="Syd Field">{{cite web|url=http://www.sydfield.com/interviews/james-cameron/|title=Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Part I)|author=Field, Syd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418090751/https://sydfield.com/syd_resources/james-cameron/|archive-date=April 18, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref> After the excitement of seeing ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' in 1977, Cameron quit his job as a truck driver to enter the [[film industry]].<ref>''The Force Is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars'', 2004.</ref>

==Career==
=== 1978–1989: Early career and breakthrough ===
[[File:James Cameron.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Cameron, September 1986|alt=Cameron in September 1986]]
Cameron's directing career began in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|title=James Cameron: "Simply do it. Simply pick up a camera and begin shooting something."|date=September 6, 2021|url=https://www.swagathamcanada.com/inspirational/james-cameron-simply-do-it-simply-pick-up-a-camera-and-begin-shooting-something/|access-date=November 19, 2021|language=en-GB}}</ref> After borrowing money from a consortium of dentists, he learned to direct, write and produce his first short film, ''[[Xenogenesis (film)|Xenogenesis]]'' (1978), with a friend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/james-cameron/33928/the-unmade-films-of-james-cameron|title=James Cameron and his unmade films|date=February 4, 2015|website=Den of Geek|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019133823/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/james-cameron/33928/james-cameron-and-his-unmade-films|archive-date=October 19, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> Learning as he went, Cameron said he felt like a doctor doing his first surgical procedure.<ref name="Syd Field" /> He then served as a production assistant for ''[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]]'' (1979). While educating himself about filmmaking techniques, Cameron started a job as a miniature [[model maker]] at [[Roger Corman]] Studios.<ref name="filmmakers.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-cameron/#interview|title=James Cameron Biography and Interview|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228102929/https://www.achievement.org/achiever/james-cameron/|archive-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> He was soon employed as an art director for the science-fiction film ''[[Battle Beyond the Stars]]'' (1980). He carried out the special effects for [[John Carpenter]]'s ''[[Escape from New York]]'' (1981), served as production designer for ''[[Galaxy of Terror]]'' (1981), and consulted on the design for ''[[Android (film)|Android]]'' (1982).

Cameron was hired as the visual effects director for the sequel to ''[[Piranha (1978 film)|Piranha]]'' (1978), titled ''[[Piranha II: The Spawning]]'' in 1982. The original director, Miller Drake, left the project due to creative differences with producer [[Ovidio Assonitis]]. Shot in Rome, Italy, and on [[Grand Cayman]] Island, the film gave Cameron the opportunity to become director for a major film for the first time. Cameron later said that it did not feel like his first film due to power-struggles with Assonitis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.terminatorfiles.com/media/articles/cameron_005.htm|title=US: James Cameron Interview|website=www.terminatorfiles.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809150400/http://www.terminatorfiles.com/media/articles/cameron_005.htm|archive-date=August 9, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> Upon release of ''Piranha II: The Spawning'', critics were not impressed; author Tim Healey called it "a marvellously bad movie which splices clichés from every conceivable source".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The world's worst movies|last=Healey, Tim.|date=1986|publisher=Octopus|isbn=0706425057|location=London|pages=7|oclc=59676875}}</ref>

In 1982, inspired by [[John Carpenter]]'s horror film ''[[Halloween (1978 film)|Halloween]]'' (1978),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-terminator/31391/why-the-terminator-is-a-horror-classic#ixzz38LjAc8Xn|title=Why The Terminator is a horror classic|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|work=[[Den of Geek]]|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=July 23, 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107155042/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-terminator/31391/why-the-terminator-is-a-horror-classic#ixzz38LjAc8Xn|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as a nightmare about an invincible robot hit-man sent from the future to assassinate him,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/james-cameron-came-up-terminator-during-dream-2015-6|title=James Cameron came up with the idea for 'Terminator' during a fever dream|last=Phillips|first=Ian|website=Business Insider|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717154023/https://www.businessinsider.com/james-cameron-came-up-terminator-during-dream-2015-6|archive-date=July 17, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> Cameron wrote the script for ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984), a sci-fi action film about a [[cyborg]] sent from the future to carry out a lethal mission. Cameron wanted to sell the script so that he could direct the film. While some film studios expressed interest in the project, many executives were unwilling to let a new and unfamiliar director make the film. [[Gale Anne Hurd]], a colleague and founder of [[Valhalla Entertainment|Pacific Western Productions]], agreed to buy Cameron's script for one dollar, on the condition that Cameron direct the film. He convinced the president of [[Hemdale Film Corporation|Hemdale Pictures]] to make the film, with Cameron as director and Hurd as a producer. [[Lance Henriksen]], who starred in ''Piranha II: The Spawning'', was considered for the lead role, but Cameron decided that [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] was more suitable as the cyborg villain due to his [[bodybuilder]] appearance.<ref name="Futurist">{{cite book|last=Keegan|first=Rebecca Winters|url={{Google books|g8hOUZ99h8cC|page=PA8|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}}|title=The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron|publisher=Crown Publishers|year=2009|isbn=978-0-307-46031-8|pages=8, 37, 53|access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> Henriksen was given a smaller role instead. [[Michael Biehn]] and [[Linda Hamilton]] also joined the cast. ''The Terminator'' was a box office success, exceeding expectations set by [[Orion Pictures]],<ref name="Futurist" /> and earning over $78&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=terminator.htm|title=The Terminator (1984)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018020109/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=terminator.htm|archive-date=October 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> George Perry of the [[BBC]] praised Cameron's direction, writing "Cameron laces the action with ironic jokes, but never lets up on hinting that the terror may strike at any moment".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/03/05/the_terminator_1984_review.shtml|title=BBC - Films - review - The Terminator|last=Perry|first=George|date=March 5, 2001|website=www.bbc.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530091149/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/03/05/the_terminator_1984_review.shtml|archive-date=May 30, 2019|access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref> In 2008, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]], being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7804404.stm|title=Terminator joins movie archive|date=December 30, 2008|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019183424/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7804404.stm|archive-date=October 19, 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 1984, Cameron was hired to write a sequel to ''[[First Blood]]''; it was rewritten by [[Sylvester Stallone]] and released as ''[[Rambo: First Blood Part II]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crocker |first=Jonathan |date=November 19, 2009 |title=James Cameron Interview: On His Own Movies |url=https://www.totalfilm.com/features/james-cameron-interview-on-his-own-movies/rambo-first-blood-part-ii-1985 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722153924/https://www.totalfilm.com/features/james-cameron-interview-on-his-own-movies/rambo-first-blood-part-ii-1985 |archive-date=July 22, 2013 |access-date=January 21, 2023 |website=Total Film}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/22/movies/screen-sylvester-stallone-returns-as-rambo.html|title=Screen: Sylvester Stallone Returns as Rambo|last=Canby|first=Vincent|date=May 22, 1985|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920055754/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/22/movies/screen-sylvester-stallone-returns-as-rambo.html|archive-date=September 20, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Cameron was then hired to write and direct a sequel to ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979), a science fiction horror film directed by [[Ridley Scott]]. Like the original, the sequel ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (1986) featured [[Sigourney Weaver]] as [[Ellen Ripley]]. ''Aliens'' follows Ripley as she helps a group of marines fight off [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]]. Despite conflicts with cast and crew during production, and having to replace one of the lead actors—[[James Remar]] with [[Michael Biehn]]—''Aliens'' was a box office success, generating over $130&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3309340161/weekend/|title=Aliens|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024170514/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3309340161/weekend/|archive-date=October 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was nominated for seven [[Academy Awards]] in 1987; [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]], [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]], [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]], [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] and [[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Sound]]. It won awards for [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987|title=The 59th Academy Awards {{!}} 1987|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|language=en|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102081445/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987|archive-date=January 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Weaver and the film made the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' in July 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/87922|title=Aliens|date=December 16, 2018|website=Turner Classic Movies|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163340/http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/87922%7C0/Aliens.html|archive-date=December 16, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Gale Ann Hurd and James Cameron.jpg|thumb|Cameron with Gale Anne Hurd, 1986|alt=Cameron with Gale Anne Hurd, 1986]]

After ''Aliens'', Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd decided to make ''[[The Abyss]]'', a story about oil-rig workers who discover strange intelligent life in the ocean. Based on an idea which Cameron had conceived of during high school, the film was initially budgeted at $41&nbsp;million, although it ran considerably over this amount. It starred [[Ed Harris]], [[Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio]] and [[Michael Biehn]]. The production process began in the Cayman Islands and in [[South Carolina]], in two huge water tanks "reclaimed from" an unfinished [[nuclear power]] plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2010/11/james-cameron-best-movies.php |title=Flashback Five – James Cameron's Best Movies |publisher=Amctv.com |date=October 5, 2010 |access-date=October 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107071253/http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2010/11/james-cameron-best-movies.php |archive-date=November 7, 2010}}</ref> The cast and crew recall Cameron's dictatorial behavior, and the filming of water scenes which were mentally and physically exhausting.<ref name="Harmetz-1989" /> Upon the film's release, ''The Abyss'' was praised for its special effects, and earned $90&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl205555201/weekend/|title=The Abyss|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025003645/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl205555201/weekend/|archive-date=October 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Abyss'' received four Academy Award nominations, and won Best Visual Effects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990|title=The 62nd Academy Awards {{!}} 1990|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 5, 2014 |language=en|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411113423/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990|archive-date=April 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1990–1999: Stardom and acclaim===
In 1990, Cameron co-founded the firm [[Lightstorm Entertainment]] with collaborator [[Lawrence Kasanoff]]. In 1991, Cameron served as executive producer for ''[[Point Break]]'' (1991), directed by [[Kathryn Bigelow]]. After the success of ''The Terminator'', there were discussions for a sequel, and by the late 1980s, [[Mario Kassar]] of [[Carolco Pictures]] secured the rights to the sequel, allowing Cameron to begin production of the film, ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1991). Written by Cameron and [[William Wisher Jr.]], Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton reprise their roles. The story follows on from ''Terminator'', depicting a new villain ([[T-1000]]), with [[Shapeshifting|shape-shifting]] abilities who hunts for [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]]'s son, John ([[Edward Furlong]]). Cameron cast [[Robert Patrick]] as T-1000 because of his lean and thin appearance—a sharp contrast to Schwarzenegger. Cameron explained: "I wanted someone who was extremely fast and agile. If the [[Terminator (character)|T-800]] is a human [[Tanks in the German Army|Panzer tank]], then the T-1000 is a [[Porsche]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.terminatorfiles.com/media/articles/t2_008.htm|title=The Story About Making T2|website=www.terminatorfiles.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228001539/http://www.terminatorfiles.com/media/articles/t2_008.htm|archive-date=February 28, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> ''Terminator 2'' was one of the most expensive films to be produced, costing at least ${{Format price|94000000}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/conan-humanitarian-205026|title=Conan The Humanitarian|author=David Ansen|date=July 7, 1991|website=Newsweek|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726112104/http://www.newsweek.com/conan-humanitarian-205026|archive-date=July 26, 2014|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|94000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}). Despite the challenging use of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI), the film was completed on time and released on July 3, 1991. ''Terminator 2'' broke box office records (including the opening weekend record for an [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|R-rated]] film), earning over ${{Format price|200000000}} in North America and being the first to earn over ${{Format price|300000000}} worldwide<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/08/24/terminator-2-is-one-of-the-biggest-and-bleakest-summer-movies-ever/|title='Terminator 2' Is One Of The Biggest And Bleakest Summer Movies Ever|last=Mendelson|first=Scott|website=Forbes|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323082450/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/08/24/terminator-2-is-one-of-the-biggest-and-bleakest-summer-movies-ever/?s=trending#529ae5f21365|archive-date=March 23, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> (respectively over ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|200000000|1991}}}} and ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|300000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}). It won four Academy Awards: [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]], [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound Mixing]], Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. It also received nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] and [[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Best Film Editing]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1992|title=The 64th Academy Awards {{!}} 1992|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 9, 2014 |language=en|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422151646/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1992|archive-date=April 22, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

In subsequent years, Cameron planned to do a third ''Terminator'' film, but plans never materialized. The rights to the [[Terminator (franchise)|''Terminator'' franchise]] were eventually purchased by Kassar from a bankruptcy sale of Carolco's assets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/more-terminator-on-the-way-1117964592/|title=More 'Terminator' on the way|author=Michael Fleming|date=May 9, 2007|work=Variety|access-date=May 8, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324083906/http://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/more-terminator-on-the-way-1117964592/|archive-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> Cameron moved on to other projects and, in 1993, co-founded [[Digital Domain]], a visual effects production company. In 1994, Cameron and Schwarzenegger reunited for their third collaboration, ''[[True Lies]],'' a remake of the 1991 French comedy ''[[La Totale!]]''. The story depicts an American secret agent who leads a double life as a married man, whose wife believes he is a computer salesman. The film co-stars [[Jamie Lee Curtis]], [[Eliza Dushku]] and [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]]. Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment signed a deal with [[20th Century Fox]] for the production of ''True Lies''. Budgeted at a minimum of $100&nbsp;million, the film earned $146&nbsp;million in the United States and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-18-ca-17141-story.html|title=Powerhouses Fuel Sales at Box Office : Movies: 'True Lies,' 'Forrest Gump' and 'The Lion King' are on target to break a record for non-holiday weekend ticket sales.|date=July 18, 1994|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20100726023014/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-18/entertainment/ca-17141_1_true-lies|archive-date=July 26, 2010|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3614934529/weekend/|title=True Lies|website=Box Office Mojo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024124420/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0111503/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and Curtis won a [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] Award for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Best Actress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/true-lies|title=True Lies - Winners and Nominees|website=www.goldenglobes.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410191448/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/true-lies|archive-date=April 10, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995|title=The 67th Academy Awards {{!}} 1995|website=Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=October 5, 2014 |language=en|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510075255/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995|archive-date=May 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It was during the production of ''True Lies'' that he would first meet [[Jon Landau (film producer)|Jon Landau]], who at the time oversaw the film's production for Fox.<ref name=cameronspeaks>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jon-landau-dead-hollywood-tributes-1235940368/|title=James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and More Remember Jon Landau: "He Gave Everyone a Sense of Purpose and Belonging"|first=Carly|last=Thomas|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 8, 2024|accessdate=July 8, 2024}}</ref> In July 2024, Cameron stated that he "lured" Landau away from Fox to Lightstorm.<ref name=cameronspeaks />
 
In 1995, Cameron co-produced [[Strange Days (film)|''Strange Days'']], a science fiction thriller. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and co-written by [[Jay Cocks]], ''Strange Days'' was critically and financially unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/09/03/strange-days-is-a-20-year-old-flop-perfectly-in-tune-with-our-time/|title=Opinion {{!}} 'Strange Days' is a 20-year-old flop perfectly in tune with our time|newspaper=Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413194542/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/09/03/strange-days-is-a-20-year-old-flop-perfectly-in-tune-with-our-time/|archive-date=April 13, 2019|access-date=November 21, 2017}}</ref> In 1996, Cameron reunited with the cast of ''Terminator 2'' to film ''[[T2 3-D: Battle Across Time]]'', an attraction at [[Universal Studios Florida]], and in other parks around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1996-05-10-9605080465-story.html|title='3-D' is a true continuation, not a rehash|last=Boyar|first=Jay|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=May 10, 1996 |language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024193626/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1996-05-10-9605080465-story.html|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

His next major project was [[Titanic (1997 film)|''Titanic'']] (1997), an [[epic film|epic]] about the {{RMS|Titanic}}, which [[Sinking of the Titanic|sank]] in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. With a production budget of $200&nbsp;million, at the time it was the [[List of most expensive films|most expensive film ever made]]. Starting in 1995, Cameron took several dives to the bottom of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to capture footage of the [[Wreck of the Titanic|wreck]], which would later be used in the film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/03/30/149635287/james-cameron-diving-deep-dredging-up-titanic|title=James Cameron: Diving Deep, Dredging Up Titanic|work=NPR.org|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024125736/https://www.npr.org/2012/03/30/149635287/james-cameron-diving-deep-dredging-up-titanic?t=1571921814903|archive-date=October 24, 2019|language=en}}</ref> A replica of the ship was built in [[Rosarito Beach]] and [[principal photography]] began in September 1996. ''Titanic'' made headlines before its release, for being over-budget and exceeding its schedule.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/titanic-inside-story-making-movie-996430|title=The Rollercoaster Drama Behind 'Titanic': An Out-of-Control Budget, Two Warring Studios and a Near-Fistfight|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 21, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114034637/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/titanic-inside-story-making-movie-996430|archive-date=November 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-camerons-titanic-secrets-time-i-gave-my-version-what-happened-996442|title=James Cameron's 'Titanic' Secrets: "It's Time I Gave My Version of What Happened"|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 24, 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024131739/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-camerons-titanic-secrets-time-i-gave-my-version-what-happened-996442|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> In a radical departure from Cameron's previous work, his completed screenplay depicts two [[star-crossed]] lovers, portrayed by [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] and [[Kate Winslet]], from different social classes who fall in love amid the backdrop of the ship's tragedy. The supporting cast includes [[Billy Zane]], [[Kathy Bates]], [[Frances Fisher]], [[Gloria Stuart]], [[Bernard Hill]], [[Jonathan Hyde]], [[Victor Garber]], [[Danny Nucci]], [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] and [[Bill Paxton]]. The film was also Cameron's first large-scale production with Landau as a co-producer.<ref name=cameronspeaks />

After months of delay, ''Titanic'' premiered on December 19, 1997. The film received strong critical acclaim and became the [[List of highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film]] of all time, holding this position for twelve years, until Cameron's ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' beat the record in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/cameron-does-it-again-as-avatar-surpasses-titanic-1.1741190|title=Cameron does it again as 'Avatar' surpasses 'Titanic'|date=February 3, 2010|work=[[Newsday]]|access-date=December 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629052535/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/cameron-does-it-again-as-avatar-surpasses-titanic-1.1741190|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Elias |first=Justine |date=December 14, 1997 |title=FILM; The Taskmaster Of 'The Titanic' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/14/movies/film-the-taskmaster-of-the-titanic.html |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Titanic,' 'L.A. Confidential' early Oscar favorites |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9801/05/oscars/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010529080255/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9801/05/oscars/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 29, 2001 |date=January 5, 1998 |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=[[CNN]] }}</ref> The costumes and sets were praised, and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' considered the CGI graphics to be spectacular.<ref name="Keller-2014" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/oscars/titanicrecord.htm|title='Titanic' Weighs Anchor With Record-Tying 11 Oscars at Academy Awards|date=March 23, 1998|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018082655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/oscars/titanicrecord.htm|archive-date=October 18, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> ''Titanic'' received a record-tying fourteen nominations (tied with ''[[All About Eve]]'' in 1950) at the [[70th Academy Awards|1998 Academy Awards]]. It won eleven of the awards, tying the record for most wins with 1959's ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' (now also tied with 2003's ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'') including: [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]], Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/24/movies/titanic-ties-record-with-11-oscars-including-best-picture.html|title='Titanic' Ties Record With 11 Oscars, Including Best Picture|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|date=March 24, 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915172853/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/24/movies/titanic-ties-record-with-11-oscars-including-best-picture.html|archive-date=September 15, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Upon receiving Best Picture, Cameron and producer [[Jon Landau (film producer)|Jon Landau]] asked for a moment of silence to remember the 1,500 people who died when the ship sank.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-camerons-titanic-wins-11-academy-awards|title=James Cameron's Titanic wins 11 Academy Awards - Mar 23, 1998 - HISTORY.com|work=HISTORY.com|access-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527091239/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-camerons-titanic-wins-11-academy-awards|archive-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] praised Cameron's storytelling, writing: "It is flawlessly crafted, intelligently constructed, strongly acted, and spellbinding".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/titanic-1997|title=Titanic movie review & film summary (1997) {{!}} Roger Ebert|last=Ebert|first=Roger|website=www.rogerebert.com|language=en|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027011145/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/titanic-1997|archive-date=October 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Authors Kevin Sandler and [[Gaylyn Studlar]] wrote in 1999 that the romance, historical nostalgia and [[James Horner]]'s music contributed to the film's cultural phenomenon.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Titanic : anatomy of a blockbuster|date=1999|publisher=Rutgers University Press| last1=Sandler | first1=Kevin S. | last2=Studlar | first2=Gaylyn|isbn=081352668X|location=New Brunswick, N.J.|page=16|oclc=40545439|url=https://archive.org/details/titanicanatomyof0000unse/page/16}}</ref> In 2017, on its 20th anniversary, ''Titanic'' became Cameron's second film to be selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Complete National Film Registry Listing |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|website=Library of Congress|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507094100/https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/|archive-date=May 7, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the huge success of ''Titanic'', Cameron kept a low profile. In 1998, he and his brother, John, formed Earthship Productions, to [[Streaming media|stream]] documentaries about the [[deep sea]], one of Cameron's interests.<ref name="Seering">{{Cite web |last=Seering |first=Lauryn |title=James Cameron - Freedom From Religion Foundation |url=https://ffrf.org/ftod-cr/item/17524-james-cameron |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019230807/https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/17524-james-cameron |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |website=ffrf.org |date=August 16, 1980 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-13-ca-3456-story.html|title=20,000 Stories Under the Sea|date=November 13, 2001|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024195413/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-13-ca-3456-story.html|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Again during 1998, Cameron considered doing a large-scale technological/religious film by an unknown writer, but after three tries was forced to personally pass on the project "due to his secular nature."<ref>{{citation |url=https://archive.org/details/ASG-Conceptual-Image-II|title=Conceptual Image|publisher=Internet Archive|date=July 9, 2023|access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> Cameron had also planned to make a film about [[Spider-Man]], a project developed by [[Menahem Golan]] of [[Cannon Films]]. Columbia hired [[David Koepp]] to adapt Cameron's ideas into a screenplay, but due to various disagreements, Cameron abandoned the project.<ref>{{cite news|title=King of the World: The Complete Works of James Cameron|newspaper=Total Film (special supplement; pub. December 2009)| date=January 2010 |quote="After the success of The Terminator, Cameron was announced as writer and director of a $60 m big-screen adaptation of the comic book classic. But thanks to a tangled web of litigation, studio bankruptcies, and wrangling over screenplay credits, that movie never saw light ... What remains, however, is Cameron's tantalising 47-page Spidey 'scriptment', a compacted screenplay-cum-narrative that mapped out his entire film in brief ... Koepp's first draft is taken often word-for-word from Cameron's story, though later versions were heavily rewritten by numerous screenwriters. Despite this—and much to Cameron's chagrin— Koepp's name is the only one on the screenplay."}}</ref> In 2002, ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' was released with the screenplay credited solely to Koepp.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/311891|title=Who Is Spider-Man?|date=March 19, 2001|work=Hollywood.com|access-date=August 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303120956/http://www.hollywood.com/general/who-is-spider-man-57159110/|archive-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref>

===2000–2009: Established career===
In 2000, Cameron made his debut in television and, with [[Charles H. Eglee]], co-created ''[[Dark Angel (2000 TV series)|Dark Angel]]'', a television series influenced by [[cyberpunk]], [[biopunk]], contemporary superheroes and [[third-wave feminism]]. ''Dark Angel'' starred [[Jessica Alba]] as [[Max Guevara]], a [[genetic engineering|genetically enhanced]] super-soldier created by a secretive organization. While the first season was moderately successful, the second season did less well, which led to its cancellation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Michaels|first=Taylor|date=July 28, 2002|title=- "Dark Angel" was canceled due to...|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-07-28-0207280237-story.html|access-date=September 7, 2020|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2002, Cameron served as producer on the 2002 film ''[[Solaris (2002 film)|Solaris]]'', a science fiction drama directed by [[Steven Soderbergh]]. The film gained mixed reviews and failed at the box office.<ref>{{Citation |title=Solaris |date=November 27, 2002 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/solaris |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Solaris |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1668318721/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Keen to make documentaries, Cameron directed ''[[Expedition: Bismarck]]'', about the German Battleship ''[[German battleship Bismarck|Bismarck]]''. In 2003, he directed ''Ghosts of the Abyss'', a documentary about RMS ''Titanic'' which was released by [[Walt Disney Pictures]] and [[Walden Media]], and designed for [[3D film|3D theaters]]. Cameron told ''[[The Guardian]]'' his intention for filming everything in 3D.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/apr/13/guardianinterviewsatbfisouthbank1|title=James Cameron&nbsp;– part two|last=Wootton|first=Adrian|date=April 24, 2003|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213084047/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/apr/13/guardianinterviewsatbfisouthbank1|archive-date=December 13, 2017|url-status=live|location=London}}</ref> In 2005, Cameron co-directed ''[[Aliens of the Deep]]'', a documentary about the various forms of life in the ocean. He also starred in ''Titanic Adventure'' with [[Tony Robinson]], another documentary about the ''Titanic'' shipwreck. In 2006, Cameron co-created and narrated ''[[The Exodus Decoded]]'', a documentary exploring the [[Bible|Biblical]] account of [[the Exodus]]. In 2007, Cameron and fellow director [[Simcha Jacobovici]], produced ''[[The Lost Tomb of Jesus]]''. It was broadcast on [[Discovery Channel]] on March 4, 2007; the documentary was controversial for arguing that the [[Talpiot Tomb]] was the burial place of Jesus of Nazareth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jashow.org/articles/the-lost-tomb-of-jesus-a-response-to-the-discovery-channel-documentary/|title=The Lost Tomb of Jesus: A Response to the Discovery-Channel Documentary|last=Ankerberg|first=John|website=John Ankerberg Show|date=September 3, 2007|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024201749/https://www.jashow.org/articles/the-lost-tomb-of-jesus-a-response-to-the-discovery-channel-documentary/|archive-date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/arts/television/03stan.html|title=The Lost Tomb of Jesus - TV - Review|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|date=March 3, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131010532/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/arts/television/03stan.html|archive-date=January 31, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

By the mid-2000s, Cameron returned to directing and producing his first mainstream film since ''Titanic''. Cameron had displayed interest in making ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009) and ''[[Alita: Battle Angel]]'' (2019) as early as June 2005, with both films to be shot using 3D technology.<ref>{{cite news|author=Anne Thompson and Sheigh Crabtree |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000956665 |title=Cameron turns to new project |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=June 14, 2005 |access-date=August 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828100455/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000956665 |archive-date=August 28, 2009 }}</ref> He wanted to make ''Alita: Battle Angel'' first, followed by ''Avatar'', but switched the order in February 2006. Although Cameron had written an 80-page [[scriptment|treatment]] for ''Avatar'' in 1995, Cameron stated that he wanted the necessary technology to improve before starting production.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007998,00.html|title=James Cameron talks ''Avatar''|last=Jensen|first=Jeff|date=January 15, 2007|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817074343/https://ew.com/article/2007/01/15/james-cameron-talks-avatar/|archive-date=August 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/movies/09came.html|title=Computers Join Actors in Hybrids On Screen|last=Waxman|first=Sharon|date=January 9, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710040537/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/movies/09came.html|archive-date=July 10, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Avatar'', with the story line set in the mid-22nd century, had an estimated budget in excess of $300&nbsp;million. The cast includes [[Sam Worthington]], [[Zoe Saldaña]], [[Stephen Lang]], [[Michelle Rodriguez]] and [[Sigourney Weaver]]. It was composed with a mix of live-action footage and computer-generated animation, using an advanced version of the [[motion capture]] technique, previously used by director [[Robert Zemeckis]] in ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aintitcool.com/node/31191|title=Harry interviews James Cameron regarding AVATAR&nbsp;– No, Not that one, The One You're Dying To See! – Part 1!|author=Harry Knowles|date=January 9, 2007|publisher=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815152354/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/31191|archive-date=August 15, 2019|access-date=January 10, 2007}}</ref> Cameron intended ''Avatar'' to be 3D-only but decided to adapt it for conventional viewing as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/6840357/Avatar-changing-the-face-of-film-for-ever.html|title=Avatar: changing the face of film for ever|last=Robey|first=Tim|date=December 19, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706050218/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/6840357/Avatar-changing-the-face-of-film-for-ever.html|archive-date=July 6, 2018|publisher=[[Telegraph.co.uk]]|location=London}}</ref>

[[File:JamesCameronCCJuly09.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Cameron promoting ''Avatar'' at [[San Diego Comic-Con]], 2009|alt=Cameron promoting Avatar during the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con]]

Intended for release in May 2009, ''Avatar'' premiered on December 18, 2009. This delay allowed more time for [[post-production]] and the opportunity for theaters to install 3D projectors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/fox-shifts-avatar-museum-1117977544/|title=Fox shifts 'Avatar,' 'Museum'|last1=McClintock|first1=Pamela|date=December 11, 2007|work=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115014723/http://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/fox-shifts-avatar-museum-1117977544/|archive-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> ''Avatar'' broke several box office records during its initial theatrical run. It grossed $749.7&nbsp;million in the United States and Canada and more than $2.74&nbsp;billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in the [[List of highest-grossing films in Canada and the United States|United States and Canada]], surpassing ''Titanic''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/01/26/2010-01-26_avatar_ends_titanics_reign_as_highest_grossing_movie_ever.html |title='Avatar' ends 'Titanic's reign as highest grossing movie ever |date=January 26, 2010 |work=NY Daily News |access-date=January 26, 2010 |location=New York |first=Olivia |last=Smith |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129214408/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/01/26/2010-01-26_avatar_ends_titanics_reign_as_highest_grossing_movie_ever.html |archive-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> It was the first film to earn more than $2&nbsp;billion worldwide. ''Avatar'' was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won three: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/02/academy.award.nominations.list/index.html|title=List of Academy Award nominations|date=February 2, 2010|work=[[CNN]] |access-date=February 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522082425/http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/02/academy.award.nominations.list/index.html|archive-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> In July 2010, an extended theatrical re-release generated an additional $33.2&nbsp;million worldwide ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=33200000|start_year=2010|r=-4|fmt=eq}}) at the box office. In his mixed review, Sukhdev Sandhu of [[The Daily Telegraph|''The Telegraph'']] complimented the 3D, but opined that Cameron "should have been more brutal in his editing".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sandhu|first=Sukhdev|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/6832593/Avatar-full-review.html|title=Avatar, full review|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=December 17, 2009|access-date=April 26, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603151703/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/6832593/Avatar-full-review.html|archive-date=June 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' reported that Cameron's earnings were US$257&nbsp;million, making him the highest earner in Hollywood.<ref>"[http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/108218/20110203/james-cameron-tops-vanity-fair-s-hollywood-richest-survey.htm James Cameron tops Hollywood's richest survey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410060820/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/108218/20110203/james-cameron-tops-vanity-fair-s-hollywood-richest-survey.htm |date=April 10, 2011 }}" published by the ''[http://au.ibtimes.com/ International Business Times AU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714034624/http://au.ibtimes.com/ |date=July 14, 2011 }}''. Retrieved February 2, 2011.</ref> As of 2022, ''Avatar'' and ''Titanic'' hold the achievement for being the first two of the six films in history to gross over $2&nbsp;billion worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/|access-date=May 5, 2019|publisher=Boxofficemojo.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530000224/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/|archive-date=May 30, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> As with ''Titanic'', Landau would greatly assist Cameron as the co-producer of the ''Avatar'' films as well.<ref name="cameronspeaks" />

===2010–present: Further work and prospective projects===
In June 2010, Cameron met with officials of the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] to discuss possible solutions to the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]]. It was reported that he offered his assistance to help stop the oil well from leaking.<ref name="guardian2010" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7719941/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-James-Cameron-offers-private-submarines-to-help-BP-clean-up.html|title=Gulf of Mexico oil spill: James Cameron offers private submarines to help BP clean-up|author=James Quinn|date=May 13, 2010|work=The Telegraph|access-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110120218/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7719941/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-James-Cameron-offers-private-submarines-to-help-BP-clean-up.html|archive-date=November 10, 2018|location=London}}</ref> He is a member of the [[NASA Advisory Council]] and he worked with the space agency to build cameras for the [[Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity rover]] sent for [[Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/entertainment/ft_cameron_mars_050209.html|title=Director James Cameron Works with NASA on Future Mars Mission|work=Space.com|date=February 10, 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103081107/https://www.space.com/783-director-james-cameron-works-nasa-future-mars-mission.html|archive-date=January 3, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> NASA launched the rover without Cameron's technology due to a lack of time during testing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/8410317/Nasa-ditches-James-Camerons-3-D-cameras-from-Mars-mission.html|title=Nasa ditches James Cameron's 3-D cameras from Mars mission|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=March 28, 2011|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017223534/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/8410317/Nasa-ditches-James-Camerons-3-D-cameras-from-Mars-mission.html|archive-date=October 17, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He has expressed interest in a project about Mars, stating: "I've been very interested in the Humans to Mars movement ... and I've done a tremendous amount of personal research for a novel, a miniseries, and a 3D film."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astrobio.net/news/article813.html|title=James Cameron's Mars Reference Design|date=January 30, 2004|work=[[Astrobiology (journal)|Astrobiology]]|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061223162324/http://www.astrobio.net/news/article813.html|archive-date=December 23, 2006|access-date=January 10, 2007}}</ref> Cameron is a member of the [[Mars Society]], a non-profit organization lobbying for the [[colonization of Mars]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2000/03/09/the-fans-of-mars|title=The fans of Mars|date=March 9, 2000|newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=October 25, 2019|issn=0013-0613|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025100247/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2000/03/09/the-fans-of-mars|archive-date=October 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/james-cameron-goes-deep|title=James Cameron Goes Deep|last=Michaud|first=Jon|magazine=The New Yorker|date=March 8, 2012|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216145003/https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/james-cameron-goes-deep|archive-date=December 16, 2017|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> Cameron endorsed Democratic candidate [[Hillary Clinton]] for the [[2016 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-hollywood-1201878938/|title=Clinton vs. Trump in Hollywood: Who's Giving|last=Johnson|first=Ted|date=October 7, 2016|website=Variety|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408020041/https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-hollywood-1201878938/|archive-date=April 8, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

In 2011, Cameron served as an executive producer for ''[[Sanctum (film)|Sanctum]]'', a disaster-survival film about a [[cave diving]] expedition which turns deadly. Although receiving mixed reviews, the film earned a fair $108&nbsp;million at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0881320/?ref_=bo_se_r_1|title=Sanctum|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 10, 2020}}</ref> Cameron re-investigated the sinking of RMS ''Titanic'' with eight experts in a 2012 TV documentary special, ''Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron'', which premiered on April 8 on the [[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic]] channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/titanic/final-word-with-james-cameron/|title=Titanic: 100 Years|year=2012|work=Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron|publisher=[[National Geographic Channel]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420025643/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/titanic/final-word-with-james-cameron/|archive-date=April 20, 2012|access-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref> In the feature, the experts revised the CGI animation of the sinking conceived in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmofilia.com/titanic-the-final-word-with-james-cameron-new-footage-demonstrating-exactly-how-the-titanic-sank-96970/|title=Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron: New Footage Demonstrating Exactly How the Titanic Sank|last=Ford|first=Allan|date=April 5, 2012|publisher=FilmoFilia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529031730/http://www.filmofilia.com/titanic-the-final-word-with-james-cameron-new-footage-demonstrating-exactly-how-the-titanic-sank-96970/|archive-date=May 29, 2018|access-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefastertimes.com/tv/2012/04/08/titanic-the-final-word-with-james-cameron/|title=Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron|last=Moss|first=Gabrielle|date=April 8, 2012|access-date=April 23, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422073014/http://www.thefastertimes.com/tv/2012/04/08/titanic-the-final-word-with-james-cameron/|archive-date=April 22, 2012|publisher=The Faster Times}}</ref> In March 2010, Cameron announced that ''Titanic'' would be converted and re-released in 3D to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the tragedy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/03/james-cameron/1|title='Avatar' director James Cameron: 3D promising, but caution needed|website=USATODAY.COM|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324154014/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/03/james-cameron/1|archive-date=March 24, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> On March 27, 2012, ''[[Titanic (1997 film)#3D conversion|Titanic]]'' 3D premiered at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-17526845|title=Stars attend Titanic 3D premiere|date=March 28, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203062749/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17526845|archive-date=December 3, 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> He also served as executive producer of ''[[Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away]]'' and ''Deepsea Challenge 3D'' in 2012 and 2014, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lehmann |first=Megan |date=October 20, 2012 |title=Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away: Tokyo Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/cirque-du-soleil-worlds-away-381450/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Foundas |first=Scott |date=August 1, 2014 |title=Film Review: 'Deepsea Challenge' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-deepsea-challenge-1201272529/ |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:James Cameron October 2012.jpg|upright|thumb|Cameron in October 2012|left]]Cameron starred in the 2017 documentary ''Atlantis Rising,'' with collaborator [[Simcha Jacobovici]]. The pair goes on an adventure to explore the existence of the city of [[Atlantis]]. The programme aired on January 29 on National Geographic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/james-cameron-atlantis-rising-alien-covenant.html|title=James Cameron Is Worried About Atlantis, America, and Alien: Covenant|last=Riesman|first=Abraham|date=January 27, 2017|website=www.vulture.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727004157/https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/james-cameron-atlantis-rising-alien-covenant.html|archive-date=July 27, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> Next, Cameron produced and appeared in a documentary about the [[history of science fiction]]. ''James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction,'' the six-episodic series was broadcast on [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/james-cameron-sci-fi-series-review/|title='James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction': A Must-Watch for Cinephiles & Sci-Fi Enthusiasts|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|date=April 30, 2018|website=Collider|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017161728/https://collider.com/james-cameron-sci-fi-series-review/|archive-date=October 17, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> The series featured interviews with guests including [[Ridley Scott]], [[Steven Spielberg]], [[George Lucas]] and [[Christopher Nolan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/james-cameron-story-of-science-fiction-review-avatar-2-amc-1201958882/ |title='James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction' Can't Possibly Be the Start of the 'Avatar' Hype Machine… Right? |last=Travers |first=Ben |date=May 1, 2018 |website=IndieWire |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017161731/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/james-cameron-story-of-science-fiction-review-avatar-2-amc-1201958882/ |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> He stated "Without [[Jules Verne]] and [[H. G. Wells]], there wouldn't have been [[Ray Bradbury]] or [[Robert A. Heinlein]], and without them, there wouldn't be [George] Lucas, [Steven] [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]], Ridley Scott or me".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-01-16/titanic-and-avatar-director-james-cameron-is-making-a-history-of-sci-fi-documentary/|title=Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron is making a history of sci-fi documentary|website=Radio Times|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403220001/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-01-16/titanic-and-avatar-director-james-cameron-is-making-a-history-of-sci-fi-documentary/|archive-date=April 3, 2019|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

''[[Alita: Battle Angel]]'' was finally released in 2019, after being in parallel development with ''Avatar''. Written by Cameron and friend Jon Landau, the film was directed by [[Robert Rodriguez]] and produced by Cameron.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-camerons-alita-battle-angel-928822|title=James Cameron's 'Alita: Battle Angel' Casts Jackie Earle Haley (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106010821/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-camerons-alita-battle-angel-casts-jackie-earle-haley-928822|archive-date=January 6, 2019|language=en}}</ref> The film is based on a 1990s Japanese [[manga]] series ''[[Battle Angel Alita]],'' depicting a cyborg who cannot remember anything of her past life and tries to uncover the truth. Produced with similar techniques and technology as in ''Avatar'', the film starred [[Rosa Salazar]], [[Christoph Waltz]], [[Jennifer Connelly]], [[Mahershala Ali]], [[Ed Skrein]], [[Jackie Earle Haley]] and [[Keean Johnson]]. The film premiered on January 31, 2019, to generally positive reviews and $404&nbsp;million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=404000000|start_year=2019|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1887340033/?landingModalImageUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2FIMDbPro%2Fimages%2Fhome%2FwelcomeToBomojov2._CB1571421611_.png|title=Alita: Battle Angel|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109233032/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1887340033/?landingModalImageUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2FIMDbPro%2Fimages%2Fhome%2FwelcomeToBomojov2._CB1571421611_.png|archive-date=November 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In her review, Monica Castillo of ''[[RogerEbert.com]]'' called it "an awe-inspiring jump for [Rodriguez]" and "a visual bonanza", despite the bulky script.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alita-battle-angel-2019|title=Alita: Battle Angel movie review (2019) {{!}} Roger Ebert|last=Castillo|first=Monica|website=www.rogerebert.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610051229/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alita-battle-angel-2019|archive-date=June 10, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> Cameron then returned to the ''Terminator'' franchise as producer and writer for [[Tim Miller (director)|Tim Miller]]'s ''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]'' (2019).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/terminator-james-cameron-deadpool-tim-miller-david-ellison-skydance-1201890848/|title=He's Back! James Cameron To Godfather 'Terminator' With 'Deadpool' Helmer Tim Miller|magazine=Deadline|author=Mike Fleming Jr|date=January 20, 2017|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121120114/https://deadline.com/2017/01/terminator-james-cameron-deadpool-tim-miller-david-ellison-skydance-1201890848/|archive-date=November 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2013, Cameron announced plans to direct three sequels to ''Avatar'' simultaneously, for release in December 2016, 2017, and 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/fox-james-cameron-set-group-of-writers-to-spearhead-trio-of-avatar-sequels-554531/|title='Avatar; Sequels Upped To Three; Fox, James Cameron Set Trio Of Writers To Spearhead|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619151447/http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/fox-james-cameron-set-group-of-writers-to-spearhead-trio-of-avatar-sequels/|archive-date=June 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the release dates were adjusted due to Cameron's other priorities, with ''Avatar'' ''3'', ''4'' and ''5'' to be released, respectively, on December 20, 2024, December 18, 2026, and December 22, 2028.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reimann|first=Tom|date=July 23, 2020|title=The 'Avatar' Sequels Have Been Delayed Again, So I Guess Things Are Returning to Normal|language=en-US|work=Collider|url=https://collider.com/avatar-sequels-new-release-dates-delayed/|access-date=December 21, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' estimated that the budget for these would be over $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|title='Avatar' Starts Production Today On Four Consecutive Sequels At Over $1 Billion Budget|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/avatar-james-cameron-four-consecutive-sequels-1-billion-budget-1202176798/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206042719/https://deadline.com/2017/09/avatar-james-cameron-four-consecutive-sequels-1-billion-budget-1202176798/|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Avatar 2'' (later given the subtitle ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water|The Way of Water]]'') and ''Avatar 3'' (later given the subtitle ''[[Avatar: Fire and Ash|Fire and Ash]]'') began [[Back-to-back film production|simultaneous]] production in [[Manhattan Beach, California]] on August 15, 2017. Principal photography began in [[New Zealand]] on September 25, 2017.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://comicbook.com/popculturenow/2017/02/26/avatar-2-filming-date-revealed-james-cameron/|title=Avatar 2 Production Start Date Revealed|work=Comicbook.com|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309065137/http://comicbook.com/popculturenow/2017/02/26/avatar-2-filming-date-revealed-james-cameron/|archive-date=March 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/avatar-2-latest-news-sequel-to-begin-filming-in-august-176133/|title='Avatar 2' Latest News: Sequel to Begin Filming in August|work=[[The Christian Post]]|date=February 28, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309063630/http://www.christianpost.com/news/avatar-2-latest-news-sequel-to-begin-filming-in-august-176133/|archive-date=March 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/89585849/avatar-2-sam-worthington-confirms-start-date-for-james-cameron-sequels|title=Avatar 2: Sam Worthington confirms start date for James Cameron sequels|work=Stuff.co|date=February 20, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315090100/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/89585849/avatar-2-sam-worthington-confirms-start-date-for-james-cameron-sequels|archive-date=March 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://denofgeek.com/uk/movies/avatar-2/45544/avatar-2-production-start-date-set-for-august|title='Avatar 2 production start date set for August|work=Den of Geek|date=February 28, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307053048/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/avatar-2/45544/avatar-2-production-start-date-set-for-august|archive-date=March 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/avatar-2-filming-august-2017-james-cameron-game-ubisoft-a7605341.html|title=Avatar 2 officially starts filming in August, James Cameron teams up with Ubisoft for Avatar game|work=The Independent|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307040947/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/avatar-2-filming-august-2017-james-cameron-game-ubisoft-a7605341.html|archive-date=March 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/404935-avatar-2-filming-starts-this-week#/slide/1|title=Avatar 2 Filming Starts This Week!|publisher=[[CraveOnline|SuperHeroHype]]|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=September 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713002330/https://www.superherohype.com/news/404935-avatar-2-filming-starts-this-week#/slide/1|archive-date=July 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Parts of ''Avatar 4'' were also filmed during this time.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Avatar 4': Most of First Act Complete, Reveals Producer Jon Landau |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/avatar-4-jon-landau-busan-1235394555/ |website=Variety|first=Naman|last=Ramachandran|date=October 7, 2022|access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> Cameron stated in a 2017 interview: "Let's face it, if ''Avatar 2'' and ''3'' don't make enough money, there's not going to be a ''4'' and ''5''".<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Vanity Fair |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/james-cameron-titanic-20th-anniversary-avatar-terminator-fox-studios-sale |first=Rebecca |last=Keegan |title=James Cameron on Titanic's Legacy and the Impact of a Fox Studio Sale |date=November 26, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127161946/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/11/james-cameron-titanic-20th-anniversary-avatar-terminator-fox-studios-sale |archive-date=November 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Avatar: The Way of Water'' had its world premiere in London on December 6, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Utichi |first1=Joe |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=December 6, 2022 |title=James Cameron Intros 'Avatar: The Way Of Water' At London World Premiere: "To Me Tonight Is Not About A New 'Avatar', It's About Cinema" – Watch The Video |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/avatar-the-way-of-water-world-premiere-james-cameron-speech-1235190658/ |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> It became the highest-grossing film released in 2022, and as of 2023 stood as the 3rd highest-grossing film of all time, behind only ''Avatar'' and ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'', and just ahead of ''Titanic''.<ref>{{cite web|title=All Time Worldwide Box Office|publisher=The Numbers|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/all-time|accessdate=October 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top Lifetime Grosses|publisher=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=October 11, 2023|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/ww_top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW&ref_=bo_cso_ac}}</ref>

Lightstorm Entertainment bought the film rights to the [[Taylor Stevens]] novel ''[[The Informationist]]'', a thriller set in Africa with Cameron planning to direct.<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cameron to direct 'The Informationist' |first=Rebecca |last=Keegan |url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-james-cameron-to-direct-novel-the-informationist-20121023,0,2965655.story |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414021804/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-james-cameron-to-direct-novel-the-informationist-20121023,0,2965655.story |archive-date=April 14, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, he indicated he would adapt the [[Charles R. Pellegrino]] book ''[[The Last Train from Hiroshima]]'', which is about the survivors of the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]]. Cameron met with survivor [[Tsutomu Yamaguchi]] before his death in 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/08/12/james-cameron-avatar-hiroshima/| title=James Cameron on his 'Hiroshima' movie – due 'sometime before the next nuclear war'| publisher=Entertainment Weekly I| access-date=January 2, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012005114/http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/08/12/james-cameron-avatar-hiroshima/| archive-date=October 12, 2010| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' confirmed that Cameron had purchased the rights of not only ''The Last Train from Hiroshima'', but also of Pellegrino's forthcoming ''Ghosts of Hiroshima'', to 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, which he will shoot as soon as the ''Avatar'' sequels' production permits. Feeling that he and Pellegrino owe Yamaguchi for handing the baton of his personal story to them so they could pass his unique and harrowing experience to future generations, Cameron was assisted by the ''Avatar'' sequels co-writer [[Shane Salerno]] and Pellegrino, who previously served as Cameron's science consultant on ''Titanic'' and ''Avatar''.<ref name="CameronsNextNonAvatarFilm!">{{cite news| url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/james-cameron-new-movie-atomic-bomb-japanese-perspective-1236090198/| title=James Cameron Buys 'Ghosts Of Hiroshima' Book And Commits To Film As His Next Project As Soon As 'Avatar' Production Permits| publisher=Deadline Hollywood| author=Fleming, Mike Jr.| date=September 16, 2024| access-date=September 16, 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916162908/https://deadline.com/2024/09/james-cameron-new-movie-atomic-bomb-japanese-perspective-1236090198/| archive-date=September 16, 2024| url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2025, 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''.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Cameron to Write Movie Based on Joe Abercrombie Novel 'The Devils' After Finishing 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'|author=Gajewski, Ryan|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=2025-06-18|date=June 2, 2025|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/james-cameron-write-joe-abercrombie-the-devils-1236235447/}}</ref> In November 2025, Cameron directed ''[[Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)]]'', a [[concert film]] documenting [[Billie Eilish]]'s ''[[Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billie Eilish's 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' 3D Concert Movie Set for Release by Paramount, Co-Directed by James Cameron|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Pat|last=Saperstein|date=November 23, 2025|access-date=December 1, 2025|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/billie-eilish-concert-movie-release-date-james-cameron-1236590352/}}</ref>

===Deep-sea and space exploration===
Cameron has experience with [[deep-sea exploration]], in part because of his work on ''The Abyss,'' ''Titanic'', and ''Avatar: The Way of Water''<ref name="guardian2010">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jun/02/james-cameron-underwater-oil-spill|title=Top kill meets Titanic: James Cameron enters fight against oil spill|author=Ed Pilkington|date=June 27, 2010|work=guardian.co.uk|access-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806112004/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jun/02/james-cameron-underwater-oil-spill|archive-date=August 6, 2019|location=London}}</ref> and his childhood fascination with shipwrecks. He has contributed to advancements in [[Underwater videography|underwater filming]] and [[Remotely operated underwater vehicle|remotely operated vehicles]], and helped develop the 3D [[Fusion Camera System]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenfield|first=Rebecca|date=January 28, 2011|title=Celebrity Invention: James Cameron's Underwater Dolly|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/celebrity-invention-james-camerons-underwater-dolly/70370/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208205825/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/celebrity-invention-james-camerons-underwater-dolly/70370/|archive-date=December 8, 2011|access-date=October 23, 2019|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>Thompson A (2009). [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2009/12/11/innovative-new-d-tech-james-camerons-avatar/ "The innovative new 3D tech behind James Cameron's ''Avatar''".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118092417/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2009/12/11/innovative-new-d-tech-james-camerons-avatar/ |date=November 18, 2010 }} [[Fox News]]. Retrieved December 25, 2009.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The films of James Cameron : critical essays|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Co., Publishers| last1=Kapell | first1=Matthew Wilhelm | last2=McVeigh | first2=Stephen|isbn=9780786487547|location=Jefferson, N.C.|oclc=756484492}}</ref> In 2011, Cameron became a ''[[National Geographic]]'' explorer-in-residence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-13903891|title=Cameron receives explorer honour|date=June 24, 2011|work=BBC|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911164216/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13903891|archive-date=September 11, 2014|language=en-GB}}</ref> In this role, on March 7, 2012, he dived five miles deep to the bottom of the [[Solomon Sea#Deepest point|New Britain Trench]] with the ''[[Deepsea Challenger]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cameron |first=James |title=You'd have loved it |url=http://deepseachallenge.com/latest-news/cameron-to-walsh-on-record-8k-dive-youd-have-loved-it/ |date=March 8, 2012 |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]] |access-date=March 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323140931/http://deepseachallenge.com/latest-news/cameron-to-walsh-on-record-8k-dive-youd-have-loved-it/ |archive-date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> 19 days later, Cameron reached the [[Challenger Deep]], the deepest part of the [[Mariana Trench]].<ref name="NGS-20120325">{{cite web|last=Than|first=Ker|date=March 25, 2012|title=James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120325-james-cameron-mariana-trench-challenger-deepest-returns-science-sub/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919151244/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/3/120325-james-cameron-mariana-trench-challenger-deepest-returns-science-sub/|archive-date=September 19, 2019|access-date=March 25, 2012|publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326091202.htm|title=James Cameron makes first ever successful solo dive to Mariana Trench{{mdash}}ocean's deepest point|website=ScienceDaily|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020132642/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326091202.htm|archive-date=October 20, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Broad|first=William J.|date=March 25, 2012|title=Filmmaker in Submarine Voyages to Bottom of Sea|newspaper=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/science/james-camerons-submarine-trip-to-challenger-deep.html|access-date=March 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328192244/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/science/james-camerons-submarine-trip-to-challenger-deep.html|archive-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref> He spent more than three hours exploring the ocean floor, becoming the first to accomplish the trip alone.<ref name="NGS-20120325" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17503395|title=James Cameron back on surface after deepest ocean dive|last=Morelle|first=Rebecca|author-link=Rebecca Morelle|date=March 26, 2012|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=March 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008225419/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17503395|archive-date=October 8, 2019}}</ref> During his dive to the Challenger Deep, he discovered new species of [[sea cucumber]], [[Teuthidodrilus|squid worm]] and a giant single-celled [[amoeba]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/27354-cameron-video-analysis-new-species.html|title=Video from Cameron's Dive Reveals New Species|website=livescience.com|date=February 22, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914130923/https://www.livescience.com/27354-cameron-video-analysis-new-species.html|archive-date=September 14, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref> He was preceded by unmanned dives in [[Kaikō ROV|1995]] and [[Nereus (underwater vehicle)|2009]], as well as by [[Jacques Piccard]] and [[Don Walsh]], the first men to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench aboard the [[Trieste (bathyscaphe)|bathyscaphe ''Trieste'']] in 1960.<ref>[http://deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/1960-dive/ "Man's Deepest Dive"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327151518/http://deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/1960-dive/ |date=March 27, 2012 }}. Jacques Piccard. ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]''. August 1960.</ref>

In the aftermath of the [[Titan submersible implosion|''Titan'' submersible implosion]], Cameron said he was "struck by the similarity" between the submersible's implosion and the events that resulted in the ''Titanic'' disaster. He noted that both disasters seemed preventable, and were caused indirectly by someone deliberately ignoring safety warnings from others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shapero |first=Julia |date=22 June 2023 |title=Director James Cameron 'struck' by similarities between Titan implosion, Titanic sinking |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4063382-director-james-cameron-struck-by-similarities-between-titan-implosion-titanic-sinking/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622213031/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4063382-director-james-cameron-struck-by-similarities-between-titan-implosion-titanic-sinking/ |archive-date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023 |website=The Hill}}</ref> Cameron criticized the company [[OceanGate]] and its late CEO [[Stockton Rush]] for their choice of [[carbon-fibre composite]] construction of the pressure vessel, saying it has "no strength in compression" when subject to the immense pressures at depth.<ref name="Broad20232">{{cite news |last1=Broad |first1=William J. |date=22 June 2023 |title=The director and deep-sea explorer James Cameron points to flaws in the Titan submersible's design. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/science/james-cameron-titanic-submersible.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623011459/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/science/james-cameron-titanic-submersible.html |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Cameron said that pressure hulls should be made out of contiguous materials such as steel, titanium, ceramic, or acrylic, and that the wound carbon fibre of ''Titan''{{'}}s hull had seemed like a bad idea to him from the beginning.<ref name="slams2">{{cite web |last=Treisman |first=Rachel |date=23 June 2023 |title=James Cameron slams OceanGate safety, regrets not speaking up more |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/23/1183975136/james-cameron-titanic-titan-sub |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627163419/https://www.npr.org/2023/06/23/1183975136/james-cameron-titanic-titan-sub |archive-date=27 June 2023 |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=[[NPR]].org}}</ref> He stated that it was long known that composite hulls were vulnerable to microscopic water ingress, delamination, and progressive failure over time.<ref name="slams2" /> He also criticized Rush's real-time monitoring of the hull as an inadequate solution that would do little to prevent an implosion.<ref name="Broad20232" /> Cameron expressed regret for not being more outspoken about these concerns before the accident,<ref name="slams2" /> and criticized what he termed "false hopes" being presented to the victims' families; he and his colleagues realized early on that for communication and tracking (the latter housed in a separate pressure vessel, with its own battery) to be lost simultaneously, the cause was almost certainly a catastrophic implosion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Regan |first1=Helen |last2=Renton |first2=Adam |last3=Picheta |first3=Rob |last4=Sangal |first4=Aditi |last5=Hammond |first5=Elise |last6=Meyer |first6=Matt |last7=Powell |first7=Tori B. |last8=Chowdhury |first8=Maureen |date=23 June 2023 |title=Missing Titanic sub crew killed after 'catastrophic implosion' |url=https://www.cnn.com/americas/live-news/titanic-missing-sub-oceangate-06-22-23/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627043448/https://www.cnn.com/americas/live-news/titanic-missing-sub-oceangate-06-22-23/index.html |archive-date=27 June 2023 |access-date=28 June 2023|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Premier Exhibitions]], owner of many RMS ''Titanic'' artifacts, filed for bankruptcy. Cameron supported the UK's [[National Maritime Museum]] and [[National Museums Northern Ireland]] decision to bid for the artifacts, but they were acquired by an investment group before a formal bid took place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-titanic-uk-belfast-bankruptcy-cameron/|title=James Cameron: Getting Titanic Artifacts to U.K. Would Be 'a Dream'|last=Greshko|first=Michael|date=July 24, 2018|website=Science|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405233906/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/07/news-titanic-uk-belfast-bankruptcy-cameron/|archive-date=April 5, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/the-basch-report-hedge-funds-buy-titanic-artifacts-for-dollar19-5-million|title=The Basch Report: Hedge funds buy Titanic artifacts for $19.5 million|date=October 25, 2018|website=Jax Daily Record|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107012757/https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/the-basch-report-hedge-funds-buy-titanic-artifacts-for-dollar19-5-million|archive-date=November 7, 2018|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

Cameron also expressed a strong interest in visiting the space stations [[Mir]] and [[International Space Station]] (ISS).<ref name="GQ1">{{cite news |author1=Zach Baron |title=The Return of James Cameron, Box Office King |url=https://www.gq.com/story/james-cameron-profile-men-of-the-year-2022 |agency=[[Condé Nast]]|magazine=[[GQ]]|date=November 21, 2022|access-date=January 6, 2026}}</ref> He spent the summer of 2000 in Moscow getting ready for a potential trip to space, and was offered an opportunity to go by NASA.<ref name="GQ1"/><ref>{{cite news |title=James Cameron trained for space trip |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/316884/James-Cameron-trained-for-space-trip |access-date=April 3, 2024|newspaper=[[Daily Express]]|date=April 27, 2012|language=en-GB}}</ref> However, the trip did not include a visit to the space station, so he declined the offer as it did not align with his terms. The shuttle flight he turned down was the tragic [[Space Shuttle Columbia]]. Cameron attended the memorial service for the victims of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disaster]].<ref name="GQ1"/>

==Legal issues==
In June 2013, British artist [[Roger Dean (artist)|Roger Dean]] filed a copyright complaint against Cameron, seeking damages of $50&nbsp;million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=50000000|start_year=2013|r=-4|fmt=eq}}). The lawsuit stated that Cameron used and referenced Dean's designs in ''AVATAR'', accusing the filmmaker of "wilful and deliberate copying, dissemination and exploitation" of Dean's original images. The case was dismissed by US district judge [[Jesse M. Furman|Jesse Furman]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/09/18/71521.htm |title=Courthouse News Service |access-date=April 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405124810/http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/09/18/71521.htm |archive-date=April 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23117197|title=James Cameron sued by artist Roger Dean over Avatar|date=June 30, 2013|publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=June 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626192609/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23117197|archive-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cameron has been married five times.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7345843/Linda-Hamilton-life-with-James-Cameron-was-terrible-on-every-level.html|title=Linda Hamilton: life with James Cameron was 'terrible on every level'|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=March 1, 2010|work=The Telegraph|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910044230/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7345843/Linda-Hamilton-life-with-James-Cameron-was-terrible-on-every-level.html|archive-date=September 10, 2019|language=en-GB|url-status=live|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He was married to Sharon Williams from 1978 to 1984. A year after he and Williams divorced, Cameron married film producer [[Gale Anne Hurd]], a close collaborator for his 1980s films. They divorced in 1989. Soon after separating from Hurd, Cameron met the director [[Kathryn Bigelow]], whom he wed in 1989; they divorced in 1991. Cameron then began a relationship with [[Linda Hamilton]], the lead actress in ''The Terminator'' series. Their daughter was born in 1993. Cameron married Hamilton in 1997. Amid speculation of an affair between Cameron and actress [[Suzy Amis Cameron|Suzy Amis]], Cameron and Hamilton separated after two years of marriage, with Hamilton receiving a settlement of $50&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/linda-hamilton-interview-terminator-dark-fate-james-cameron-sarah-connor-release-date-a9165636.html|title=Linda Hamilton: 'Everyone's terrified of James Cameron. I'm not'|date=October 21, 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022214226/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/linda-hamilton-interview-terminator-dark-fate-james-cameron-sarah-connor-release-date-a9165636.html|archive-date=October 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/05/one-of-james-camerons-ex_n_450769.html|title=One Of James Cameron's Ex-Wives Tells Tales Of His Huge Ego|last=Hall|first=Katy|date=February 5, 2010|access-date=March 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904145435/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/one-of-james-camerons-ex_n_450769|archive-date=September 4, 2019|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/celebrity/Avatar-Director-Goes-Through-His-Women-Like-His-Work--83674587.html|title=Cameron's Ex-Wife Shares Details on Failed Marriage|last=Persaud|first=Vishal|website=NBC4 Washington|date=February 5, 2010 |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018100751/https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/celebrity/Avatar-Director-Goes-Through-His-Women-Like-His-Work--83674587.html|archive-date=October 18, 2019|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> He married Amis, his fifth wife, in 2000. They have one son and two daughters together.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Etingoff, Kim.|title=James Cameron : from truck driver to director|date=2013|publisher=Mason Crest Publishers|isbn=978-1-4222-2481-6|location=Philadelphia|pages=48–52|oclc=726621685}}</ref>

Cameron applied for American citizenship in 2004, but withdrew his application after [[George W. Bush]] won the presidential election.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Goodyear|first=Dana|date=October 26, 2009|title=Man of Extremes: The Return of James Cameron|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/10/26/091026fa_fact_goodyear|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913233059/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/10/26/man-of-extremes|archive-date=September 13, 2019|access-date=August 31, 2010}}</ref> Cameron resided in the United States, but after filming ''Avatar'' in New Zealand, Cameron bought a home and a farm there in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/7182524/James-Camerons-house-ready-for-family|title=James Cameron's house ready for family|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=June 29, 2012|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904062903/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/7182524/James-Camerons-house-ready-for-family|archive-date=September 4, 2012|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11053133|title=James 'Avatar' Cameron to live in Wairarapa|last=Crombie|first=Nathan|date=February 1, 2012|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=October 25, 2019|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzedge.com/news/james-cameron-stars-in-tourism-nz-campaign/|title=James Cameron Stars in Tourism NZ Campaign - New Zealand, News, Travel & Tourism|date=July 16, 2016|website=NZEDGE|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510193832/https://www.nzedge.com/news/james-cameron-stars-in-tourism-nz-campaign/|archive-date=May 10, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> He divided his time between [[Malibu, California]] and New Zealand until 2020,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/24/james-cameron-well-never-be-able-to-reproduce-the-shock-of-terminator-2|title=James Cameron: 'The downside of being attracted to independent women is that they don't need you'|last=Freeman|first=Hadley|date=August 24, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024014527/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/24/james-cameron-well-never-be-able-to-reproduce-the-shock-of-terminator-2|archive-date=October 24, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> after which he sold his Malibu home and decided to live in New Zealand permanently.<ref>{{Cite web |last=David |first=Mark |date=June 9, 2021 |title=James Cameron Gets $8.2 Million for Half of Malibu Compound |url=https://www.dirt.com/gallery/showbiz/directors/james-cameron-house-malibu-1203386107/ |access-date=May 14, 2022 |website=DIRT |language=en-US}}</ref> He said in August 2020: "I plan to make all my future films in New Zealand, and I see the country having an opportunity to demonstrate to the international film industry how to safely return to work. Doing so with ''Avatar'' [sequels] will be a beacon that, when this is over {{bracket|[[COVID-19 pandemic]]}}, will attract more production to New Zealand and continue to stimulate the screen industry and the economy for years."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Tom |date=August 8, 2020 |title=James Cameron: I want to make all my films in New Zealand |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/122362185/james-cameron-i-want-to-make-all-my-films-in-new-zealand |access-date=May 15, 2022 |website=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blake-Persen |first=Nita |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Film director James Cameron explains dairy cows on his Wairarapa farm |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/film-director-james-cameron-explains-dairy-cows-on-his-wairarapa-farm/27VGS6LLWNLRIYYYJXNIMRVEDA/ |access-date=May 15, 2022 |website=[[New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref> In February 2025, Cameron was planning to formally become a New Zealand citizen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360589567/why-legendary-film-maker-james-cameron-loves-wellington-not-donald-trump |title='Horrific, sickening and hollow': James Cameron on President Trump's 'car-crash America' |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |last=Gower |first=Paddy |date=February 22, 2025 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/28/james-cameron-says-us-under-trump-is-horrifying-as-he-becomes-new-zealand-citizen |title=James Cameron says US under Trump is 'horrifying' as he becomes New Zealand citizen |work=[[The Guardian]] |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=February 28, 2025 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> He was formally granted New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony on August 13, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360792018/hollywood-legend-james-cameron-gets-nz-citizenship |title=Hollywood legend James Cameron gets NZ citizenship |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |last=Clark |first=Poppy |date=August 15, 2025 |access-date=August 15, 2025}}</ref>

Cameron is an [[Atheism|atheist]]; he formerly associated himself with [[agnosticism]], a stance he said he had come to see as "cowardly atheism."<ref name="Seering"/> Since 2011, he is [[Veganism|vegan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanowsky |first=Hailey |date=April 6, 2023 |title=James Cameron Explains Why He is Vegan in an Interview with CNN |url=https://www.onegreenplanet.org/human-interest/james-cameron-explains-why-he-is-vegan-in-an-interview-with-cnn/|access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=One Green Planet}}</ref> Cameron met close friend [[Guillermo del Toro]] on the production of his 1993 film, ''[[Cronos (film)|Cronos]]''.<ref name="DelToroRansom">{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-James-Cameron-Saved-Guillermo-del-Toro-Father-From-Mexican-Kidnappers-67706.html|title=How James Cameron Saved Guillermo del Toro's Father From Mexican Kidnappers|last1=Wakeman|first1=Gregory|date=2014|work=Cinema Blend|access-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413200052/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-James-Cameron-Saved-Guillermo-del-Toro-Father-From-Mexican-Kidnappers-67706.html|archive-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref> In 1997, del Toro's father Federico was kidnapped in [[Guadalajara]] and Cameron gave del Toro more than $1&nbsp;million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=1000000|start_year=1998|r=-3|fmt=eq}}) in cash to pay a ransom and have his father released.<ref name="DelToroRansom" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Somos una familia de cirqueros|url=http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=67190|publisher=El Mañana|access-date=July 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714065952/http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=67190|archive-date=July 14, 2008|language=es|date=July 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2090370,00.html|title=10 Questions for Guillermo del Toro|last=Cruz|first=Gilbert|date=September 5, 2011|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=July 30, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413102640/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2090370,00.html|archive-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref> Cameron had been friends with ''Titanic'' expert [[Paul-Henri Nargeolet]] for over 25 years before the latter's death.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/james-cameron-compares-submersible-tragedy-titanic-sinking-im/story?id=100314415 | title=James Cameron compares submersible tragedy to Titanic sinking: 'I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster' | website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] }}</ref>

Cameron joined the board of directors of AI company [[Stability AI]] in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/james-cameron-joins-board-ai-firm-stability-stable-diffusion-1236010034/|title=James Cameron Joins Board of Stability AI in Coup for Tech Firm|date=September 24, 2024|website=[[Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en|access-date=October 25, 2024}}</ref>

== Filmmaking style ==
=== Themes ===
[[File:Avatar The Way of Water Tokyo Press Conference James Cameron (52563430565) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Cameron in 2022]]

Cameron's films are often based on themes which explore the conflicts between [[Artificial intelligence|intelligent machines]] and humanity or [[nature]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://etatsdulieu.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/de-star-wars-a-avatar-prouesse-technologique-et-science-fiction-politique/|title=De Star Wars à Avatar : prouesse technologique et science-fiction politique|last=P Vlad|date=December 27, 2009|language=fr|access-date=January 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718093009/http://etatsdulieu.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/de-star-wars-a-avatar-prouesse-technologique-et-science-fiction-politique/|archive-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinelinx.com/movie-news/movie-stuff/directors-trademarks-james-cameron/|title=Directors' Trademarks: James Cameron|last=Perno|first=G. S.|date=June 5, 2017|website=Cinelinx|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020102631/http://www.cinelinx.com/movie-news/movie-stuff/directors-trademarks-james-cameron/|archive-date=October 20, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> dangers of corporate greed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celluloidfun.com/avatar-in-3d-scifi-fantasy-action-drama-film-review/|title=Avatar in 3D; sci-fi fantasy action drama film review|last=Linh|date=December 17, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218030826/http://www.celluloidfun.com/avatar-in-3d-scifi-fantasy-action-drama-film-review/|archive-date=December 18, 2009|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> strong female characters, and a romance subplot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popculturezoo.com/archives/5016|title=Review: James Cameron's 'Avatar'|last=Joseph Dilworth Jr.|date=December 18, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221072023/http://popculturezoo.com/archives/5016|archive-date=December 21, 2009|access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> Cameron has further stated in an interview with The Talks, "All my movies are love stories".<ref>{{cite web |title=James Cameron: "All my movies are love stories" |url=https://the-talks.com/interview/james-cameron/ |website=The Talks |date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref> Both ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' and ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' are noted for featuring [[star-crossed lovers]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz |title=James Cameron Compares His 'Avatar' And 'Titanic' Couples. The director notes the similarities between Sully and Neytiri, and Jack and Rose. |publisher=[[MTV]] |date=January 7, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2010 |url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1629226/story.jhtml |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206013516/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1629226/story.jhtml |archive-date=February 6, 2010 }}</ref> The ''Avatar'' franchise also explores themes like family dynamics and grief.<ref name=Collider12.5.25>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/avatar-3-fire-and-ash-james-cameron-ai-technology-usage-longer-cut/|title=James Cameron Has The Perfect Advice for Any Filmmaker Who Wants To Use AI|last=Lacson|first=Therese|date=December 5, 2025|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|language=en-US|access-date=December 5, 2025}}</ref> Characters suffering from emotionally intense and dramatic environments in the sea wilderness are explored in ''[[The Abyss]]'' and ''Titanic''. The ''[[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]]'' series amplifies technology as an enemy which could lead to devastation of mankind. Similarly, ''Avatar'' views tribal people as an honest group, whereas a "technologically advanced imperial culture is fundamentally evil".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://brightlightsfilm.com/some-cameroning-part-2-cameron-as-auteur/|title=Some Cameroning, Part 2 - Cameron as Auteur|date=January 28, 2010|website=Bright Lights Film Journal|language=en-US|access-date=October 20, 2019|last1=Kutner |first1=C. Jerry }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-16-me-29454-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | title='Titanic' Refuses to Sink, Passes 'Star Wars' as Top Moneymaker | first=John M. | last=Glionna | date=March 16, 1998 | access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> The danger of nuclear war, as featured in ''[[The Terminator]]'', ''[[Terminator 2: Judgement Day]]'' and in his forthcoming ''Last Train From Hiroshima'' film, has been one of Cameron's fears since he watched the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] unfold when he was eight years old.<ref name="CameronsNextNonAvatarFilm!"/>

=== Method ===
Cameron is regarded as an innovative filmmaker in the industry, with a [[Classical Hollywood cinema|classical filmmaking]] style, and a reputation of being not easy to work for.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{cite news|last=Slater-Williams|first=Josh|title=Where to begin with James Cameron|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-james-cameron|access-date=November 17, 2023|work=[[British Film Institute|BFI]]|date=December 12, 2022|quote=He has a considerable flair for spectacle, his editing and framing of set-pieces favouring clean, classical modes...}}</ref><ref name="Keegan-2010">{{Cite news|url=https://hbr.org/2010/03/how-james-cameron-leads|title=Firing Is Too Merciful: How James Cameron Leads|last=Keegan|first=Rebecca|date=March 5, 2010|work=Harvard Business Review|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018102635/https://hbr.org/2010/03/how-james-cameron-leads|archive-date=October 18, 2019|issn=0017-8012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=James Cameron|last=MacKay|first= Jenny|date=2014|publisher=Lucent Books, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning|isbn=9781420511741|location=Detroit|pages=81|oclc=862151367}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2009/oct/25/observer-profile-james-cameron|title=James Cameron: Hard man with a soft centre {{!}} Vanessa Thorpe|last=Thorpe|first=Vanessa|date=October 24, 2009|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018113840/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2009/oct/25/observer-profile-james-cameron|archive-date=October 18, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>}} ''[[Radio Times]]'' critic John Ferguson described Cameron as "the king of hi-tech thrillers".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/zwtn/the-abyss/|title=The Abyss|work=Radio Times|first=John|last=Ferguson|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017205737/https://www.radiotimes.com/film/zwtn/the-abyss/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dalin Rowell of ''[[/Film]]'' stated: "Known for his larger-than-life creations and unique filmmaking style, director James Cameron is in a league all of his own. With his genre-spanning work, lofty ambitions, and unrestrained energy, Cameron has carved out a name for himself in Hollywood as an artist willing to do anything to see his vision come true."<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.slashfilm.com/617886/every-james-cameron-film-ranked-from-worst-to-best/ | title= Every James Cameron Film Ranked From Worst To Best | work=[[/Film]] | first=Dalin | last=Rowell | date=September 28, 2021 | access-date=October 17, 2021}}</ref> Rebecca Keegan, author of ''The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron,'' describes Cameron as "comically hands-on", and as someone who would try to do every job on the set.<ref name="Keegan-2010" /> Andrew Gumbel of ''[[The Independent]]'' says Cameron "is a nightmare to work with. Studios fear his habit of straying way over schedule and over budget. He is notorious on set for his uncompromising and dictatorial manner, as well as his flaming temper".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2144052.ece|title=The Return of James Cameron|last=Gumbel|first=Andrew|date=January 11, 2007|work=[[The Independent]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214191737/http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2144052.ece|archive-date=December 14, 2007|location=London}}</ref> Author Alexandra Keller writes that Cameron is an egomaniac, obsessed with vision, but praises his "technological ingenuity" at creating a "visceral viewing experience".<ref name="Keller-2014">{{Cite book|title=James Cameron|last=Keller |first=Alexandra |publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=9781134700141|location=Abingdon, Oxon|pages=3, 32|oclc=879383254}}</ref>

According to Ed Harris, who starred in Cameron's film ''The Abyss'', Cameron behaved in an [[Autocracy|autocratic]] manner.<ref name="Harmetz-1989">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/movies/film-the-abyss-a-foray-into-deep-waters.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=A Foray into Deep Waters|last=Harmetz|first=Aljean|date=August 6, 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027195842/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/06/movies/film-the-abyss-a-foray-into-deep-waters.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|archive-date=October 27, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> [[Orson Scott Card]], who novelized ''The Abyss'', stated that Cameron "made everyone around him miserable, and his unkindness did nothing to improve the film in any way. Nor did it motivate people to work faster or better".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timp.net/osclistgallery/transcript990831.htm|title=Barnes and Noble Chat 8/31/99|date=August 31, 1999|website=Barnes and Noble|publisher=[[Barnes & Noble]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128201359/http://timp.net/osclistgallery/transcript990831.htm|archive-date=November 28, 1999|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> Harris later said: "I like Jim. He's an incredibly talented, intelligent guy", adding that "it was always good to see him" in later years.<ref>{{cite magazine | url= https://ew.com/article/2016/11/29/ed-harris-movies/ | title= Ed Harris discusses his 9 best movie roles | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | first=James | last=Hibberd | date=November 29, 2016 | access-date=November 15, 2021}}</ref> Speaking of her experience on ''Titanic'', Kate Winslet said that she admired Cameron, but "there were times I was genuinely frightened of him".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-11-ca-57559-story.html|title=Back From the Abyss|date=May 11, 1997|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204164303/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-05-11/entertainment/ca-57559_1_winslet-characterized-cameron|archive-date=February 4, 2017|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> Describing him as having "a temper like you wouldn't believe", she had said she would not work with him again unless it was "for a lot of money".<ref name="tim walker"/> Despite this, Winslet and Cameron still looked for future projects and Winslet was eventually cast in ''Avatar: The Way of Water''.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mike Fleming Jr |url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/kate-winslet-avatar-2-titanic-reunion-titanic-helmer-james-cameron-1202181471/ |title=Kate Winslet Joins 'Avatar' Universe For 'Titanic' Reunion With James Cameron |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004015402/http://deadline.com/2017/10/kate-winslet-avatar-2-titanic-reunion-titanic-helmer-james-cameron-1202181471/ |archive-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> Her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio told [[Esquire (magazine)|''Esquire'']]: "When somebody felt a different way on the set, there was a confrontation. He lets you know exactly how he feels", but complimented Cameron, "he's of the lineage of [[John Ford]]. He knows what he wants his film to be."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/the-side/qa/dicaprio-interview-0310|title=10 Essential Lessons from Leo DiCaprio|date=February 11, 2010|website=Esquire|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002071351/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/g456/dicaprio-interview-0310/?slide=2|archive-date=October 2, 2015|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> Sam Worthington, who starred in ''Avatar'', said that if a mobile phone rang during filming, Cameron would "nail it to the wall with a nail gun".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/james-cameron-dont-get-high-on-your-own-supply-8650777.html|title=James Cameron: 'Don't get high on your own supply'|date=June 9, 2013|website=The Independent|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928142313/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/james-cameron-dont-get-high-on-your-own-supply-8650777.html|archive-date=September 28, 2018|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> Composer James Horner was also not immune to Cameron's demands; he recalls having to write music in a short time frame for ''Aliens.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/the-reconciliation-between-james-horner-and-james-cameron-for-titanic/|title=The Reconciliation Between James Horner and James Cameron for Titanic|last=Martin|first=Jean-Baptiste|date=June 21, 2019|website=James Horner Film Music|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018222207/http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/the-reconciliation-between-james-horner-and-james-cameron-for-titanic/|archive-date=October 18, 2019|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> After the experience, Horner did not work with Cameron for a decade.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33252508|title=James Horner: James Cameron pays tribute to composer – BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=June 6, 2016|work=[[BBC News]] |date=June 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825184539/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33252508|archive-date=August 25, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, they reconciled their friendship and Horner produced the soundtracks for ''Titanic'' and ''Avatar''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.awardsdaily.com/2015/06/22/in-memoriam-a-tribute-to-james-horner-1953-2015/|title=In Memoriam: a Tribute to James Horner (1953–2015)|last=Flores|first=Marshall|date=June 23, 2015|website=Awards Daily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312230531/http://www.awardsdaily.com/2015/06/22/in-memoriam-a-tribute-to-james-horner-1953-2015/|archive-date=March 12, 2018|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref>

Despite this reputation, Sigourney Weaver has praised Cameron's perfectionism and attention to detail, saying: "He really does want us to risk our lives and limbs for the shot, but he doesn't mind risking his own".<ref name="tim walker">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/james-cameron-another-planet-1838793.html|title=James Cameron: Another Planet|last=Walker|first=Tim|date=December 12, 2009|work=[[The Independent]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405054551/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/james-cameron-another-planet-1838793.html|archive-date=April 5, 2019|location=London}}</ref> In 2015, Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis both applauded Cameron in an interview. Curtis remarked: "He can do every other job [than acting]. I'm talking about every single department, from art direction to props to wardrobe to cameras, he knows more than everyone doing the job". Curtis also said Cameron "loves actors", while Weaver referred to Cameron as "so generous to actors" and a "genius".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/sigourney-weaver/#page2|title=Jamie Lee Curtis and Kids Arrive for Avatar|date=February 18, 2015|work=interviewmagazine.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528231658/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/sigourney-weaver|archive-date=May 28, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> Michael Biehn, a frequent collaborator, also praised Cameron, saying he "is a really passionate person. He cares more about his movies than other directors care about their movies", adding, "I've never seen him yell at anybody". Biehn acknowledged that Cameron is "not real sensitive when it comes to actors and their trailers, and waiting for actors to come to the set".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://denofgeek.com/movies/17985/the-ultimate-michael-biehn-interview-the-abyss-tombstone-and-his-directorial-debut-the-victim|title=The ultimate Michael Biehn interview: The Abyss, Tombstone, and his directorial debut, The Victim|last=Bowles|first=Duncan|date=August 31, 2011|work=Den of Geek|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405072056/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/17985/the-ultimate-michael-biehn-interview-the-abyss-tombstone-and-his-directorial-debut-the-victim|archive-date=April 5, 2019|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> Worthington commented: "He demands excellence. If you don't give it to him, you're going to get chewed out. And that's a good thing".<ref name="tim walker"/> When asked in 2012 about his reputation, Cameron dryly responded: "I don't have to shout any more, because the word is out there already".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9577594/James-Cameron-I-once-nail-gunned-20-mobiles-to-a-wall.html|title=James Cameron: 'I once nail-gunned 20 mobiles to a wall'|journal=Daily Telegraph|last=Woods|first=Judith|date=October 1, 2012|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616210654/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9577594/James-Cameron-I-once-nail-gunned-20-mobiles-to-a-wall.html|archive-date=June 16, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In 2021, while giving a [[MasterClass]] during a break from his work on the ''Avatar'' sequels, Cameron acknowledged his past demanding behaviour, 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, thinking of himself as a "tinpot dictator"; Cameron stated that when he visited one of [[Ron Howard]]'s sets, he was "dumbfounded" at how much time Howard took to compliment his crew, aspiring to become "his inner Ron Howard".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/james-cameron-masterclass-review/|title=7 Things We Learned From the James Cameron MasterClass|work=[[/Film]]|last=Evangelista|first=Chris|date=June 23, 2021|access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref>

=== Influence ===
Cameron's work has had an impact in the Hollywood film industry. ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'' (2012), directed by [[Joss Whedon]], was inspired by Cameron's approach to action sequences.<ref name="Slash Film-2012" /> Whedon also admires Cameron's ability for writing heroic female characters such as [[Ellen Ripley]] of ''Aliens'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jun/02/joss-whedon-reading-comics-pay-off|title=Joss Whedon: 'I kept telling my mum reading comics would pay off'|last=John|first=Emma|date=June 2, 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806024605/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jun/02/joss-whedon-reading-comics-pay-off|archive-date=August 6, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref> adding that he is "the leader and the teacher and the [[Yoda]]".<ref name="Slash Film-2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/film-interview-joss-whedon-writer-director-the-avengers/|title=/Film Interview: Joss Whedon, Writer and Director of 'The Avengers'|date=April 23, 2012|website=Slash Film|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427152432/https://www.slashfilm.com/film-interview-joss-whedon-writer-director-the-avengers/|archive-date=April 27, 2019|access-date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> Director [[Michael Bay]] idolizes Cameron and was convinced by him to use 3D cameras for filming ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'' (2011).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-bay-reveals-james-camerons-191774|title=Michael Bay Reveals James Cameron's Secret Role in the Making of 'Transformers'|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|date=May 25, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807172945/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-bay-reveals-james-camerons-191774|archive-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> Cameron's approach to 3D inspired [[Baz Luhrmann]] during the production of ''[[The Great Gatsby (2013 film)|The Great Gatsby]]'' (2013).<ref>{{cite news|last=Hogan|first=Mike|title=Baz Luhrmann, 'Great Gatsby' Director, Explains The 3D, The Hip Hop, The Sanitarium And More|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/baz-luhrmann-great-gatsby_n_3265327.html|work=Huffington Post|date=May 13, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916064208/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/baz-luhrmann-great-gatsby_n_3265327.html|archive-date=September 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Other directors that have been inspired by Cameron include [[Peter Jackson]], [[Neill Blomkamp]], and [[Xavier Dolan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tbhl.theonering.net/peter/faq.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225035055/http://tbhl.theonering.net/peter/faq.html | archive-date=December 25, 2007 | title=PJ FAQ | access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2015/03/chappie_review_director_neill.html|title='Chappie' review: Director Neill Blomkamp stumbles with grating sci-fi comedy|date=March 9, 2015|website=mlive.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025121753/https://www.mlive.com/movies/2015/03/chappie_review_director_neill.html|archive-date=October 25, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/director-xavier-dolan-on-titanic|title=How Titanic Changed Director Xavier Dolan's Life|last=Blasberg|first=Derek|date=November 20, 2015|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122004955/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/director-xavier-dolan-on-titanic|archive-date=November 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

When asked how Cameron uses technology in the ''Avatar'' films in a way that allow them to remain appealing to future generations without appearing dated, Cameron replied:<ref name=Collider12.5.25/>

<blockquote>"I think people use the term technology, but really, I think it's our desire to create a kind of dreamlike reality that seems very lucid and very real and doesn't look like other movies. So, it's really about creating that journey, and I think everything conspires within that. It's not just the technology we use to capture the actors, for example, or to do the CG finish on it. It's all those things, but it's also the performance, it's the design, it's the music, it's the 3D. It's all of those things working together, kind of symphonically, to create a unique experience that you, as an audience member, feel is worth turning off your streaming, leaving the house, going to a place where you don't have control, and just going on that ride and having it come at you."<ref name=Collider12.5.25/></blockquote>

Cameron advises modern filmmakers to not replace actors with [[artificial intelligence]], reasoning that while actors may be expensive, they are not generic but idiosyncratic. Cameron instead prescribes the use of artificial intelligence to be limited to beginners' [[previsualization]], and that filmmakers should spend at least a year studying acting, citing his experiences with Sigourney Weaver and [[Zoe Saldaña]] as the reasons why he trusts actors.<ref name=Collider12.5.25/>

==Filmography==
{{Main|James Cameron filmography}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Directed features
|-
! Year
! Title
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Piranha II: The Spawning]]''
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Terminator]]''
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]''
|-
| 1989
| ''[[The Abyss]]''
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''
|-
| 1994
| ''[[True Lies]]''
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]''
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Avatar: Fire and Ash]]''
|}

==Awards and recognition==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by James Cameron}}

[[File:JamesCameronStarDec09.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Cameron receiving a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], December 2009|alt=Cameron receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2009]]

Cameron received the inaugural [[Ray Bradbury Award]] from the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]] in 1992 for ''Terminator 2: Judgment Day''.<ref name="SFAwards" /> In recognition of "a distinguished career as a Canadian filmmaker", [[Carleton University]] awarded Cameron the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts on June 13, 1998.<ref name="Barkman-2019">{{Cite book|title=A critical companion to James Cameron| last1=Barkman | first1=Adam | last2=Sanna | first2=Antonio|year=2019|isbn=9781498572309|publisher=Lexington Books|location=Lanham|pages=xvii|oclc=1048935614}}</ref> Cameron received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] in 1998, presented by Awards Council member [[George Lucas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also received an honorary doctorate in 1998 from [[Brock University]] in St. Catharines, Ontario, for his accomplishments in the international film industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/opinion-story/8184919-appreciating-cameron-s-amazing-run-now-that-it-s-over/|title=Appreciating Cameron's amazing run, now that it's over|last=Law|first=John|date=January 8, 2016|work=Niagara Falls Review|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214749/https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/opinion-story/8184919-appreciating-cameron-s-amazing-run-now-that-it-s-over/|archive-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In 1998, Cameron attended a convocation to receive an honorary degree from [[Toronto Metropolitan University|Ryerson University]], Toronto.<ref name="Barkman-2019" /> The university awards its highest honor to those who have made extraordinary contributions in Canada or internationally. A year later, Cameron received the honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from [[California State University, Fullerton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calstate.edu/honorarydegrees/campus.shtml |title=Honorary Degrees Awarded by Campus &#124; CSU |publisher=Calstate.edu |access-date=August 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810164041/http://www.calstate.edu/honorarydegrees/campus.shtml |archive-date=August 10, 2010}}</ref> He accepted the degree at the university's summer annual commencement exercise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-28-me-41947-story.html|title=FULLERTON|date=May 28, 1999|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025124950/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-28-me-41947-story.html|archive-date=October 25, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

Cameron's work has been recognized by the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]; as one of the few directors to have won three Academy Awards in a single year. For ''Titanic'', he won Best Director, Best Picture (shared with Jon Landau) and Best Film Editing (shared with [[Conrad Buff IV|Conrad Buff]] and [[Richard A. Harris]]). In 2009, he was nominated for awards in Best Film Editing (shared with [[John Refoua]] and [[Stephen E. Rivkin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/|title=67th Annual Golden Globe Awards|date=January 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108115828/http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/|archive-date=January 8, 2010|access-date=January 10, 2010}}</ref> Best Director and Best Picture for ''Avatar.'' Cameron has won two Golden Globes: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for ''Titanic'' and ''Avatar''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=James Cameron|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/james-cameron|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=www.goldenglobes.com|language=en}}</ref>

In recognition of his contributions to underwater filming and remote vehicle technology, [[University of Southampton]] awarded Cameron the honorary degree of doctor of the university in July 2004. Cameron accepted the award at the [[National Oceanography Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noc.ac.uk/news/noc-heralds-cameron-achievement|title=National Oceanography Centre heralds Cameron achievement|date=March 26, 2012|publisher=National Oceanography Centre|access-date=July 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011014959/http://noc.ac.uk/news/noc-heralds-cameron-achievement|archive-date=October 11, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, Cameron received a star on [[Canada's Walk of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/|title=Canada's Walk of Fame|website=Canada's Walk of Fame|language=en-CA|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903033801/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductee/james-cameron|archive-date=September 3, 2009|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> and a year later, received the 2,396th star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbs2.com/local/titanic.avatar.james.2.1377279.html |title='Avatar' Director Gets Star On Walk Of Fame |access-date=December 19, 2009 |date=December 18, 2009 |publisher=[[CBS]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202201530/http://cbs2.com/local/titanic.avatar.james.2.1377279.html |archive-date=February 2, 2010 }}</ref> On February 28, 2010, Cameron was honored with a [[Visual Effects Society]] (VES) Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/8th-annual-ves-awards|title=8th Annual VES Awards|date=March 24, 2015|website=www.visualeffectssociety.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515021400/https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/8th-annual-ves-awards|archive-date=May 15, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> In June 2012, 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.<ref name="sfhof2012" /> Cameron collaborated with [[Walt Disney Imagineering]] and served as a creative consultant on [[Pandora – The World of Avatar|Pandora – The World of ''Avatar'']], an ''Avatar''-themed land at [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Florida]] which opened to the public on May 27, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/just-announced-pandora-the-world-of-avatar-will-open-may-27-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/|title=Just Announced: Pandora - The World of Avatar Will Open May 27 at Disney's Animal Kingdom|website=Disney Parks Blog|date=February 7, 2017 |language=en-US|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410210448/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/just-announced-pandora-the-world-of-avatar-will-open-may-27-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/|archive-date=April 10, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8782056/Disney-to-build-Avatar-attractions-at-its-theme-parks.html|title=Disney to build Avatar attractions at its theme parks|last=Cody|first=Anthony|date=September 22, 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=September 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329031751/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8782056/Disney-to-build-Avatar-attractions-at-its-theme-parks.html|archive-date=March 29, 2019|location=London}}</ref> A species of frog, ''[[Pristimantis jamescameroni]],'' was named after Cameron for his work in promoting environmental awareness and advocacy of [[veganism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-new-frog-species-venezuela-james-cameron-01515.html|title=Two New Frog Species Discovered in Venezuela, One Named after James Cameron|author=Sergio Prostak|date=November 4, 2013|work=Sci-News.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211042/http://www.sci-news.com/biology/science-new-frog-species-venezuela-james-cameron-01515.html|archive-date=June 12, 2018|access-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kok|first1=Philippe J.R.|year=2013|title=Two new charismatic Pristimantis species (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the tepuis of the "Lost World" (Pantepui region, South America)|url=http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/181|journal=European Journal of Taxonomy|issue=60|doi=10.5852/ejt.2013.60|doi-access=free|access-date=November 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105050228/http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/181|archive-date=November 5, 2013|url-status=live |issn = 2118-9773}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/04/12/director-james-cameron-on-vegan-diet-like-ive-set-the-clock-back-15-years/|title=Director James Cameron on Vegan Diet: Like I've Set the Clock Back 15 Years.|author=Michael Destries|date=April 12, 2014|work=Ecorazzi.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929090550/http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/04/12/director-james-cameron-on-vegan-diet-like-ive-set-the-clock-back-15-years/|archive-date=September 29, 2019|access-date=April 12, 2014}}</ref>

In 2010, ''Time'' magazine named Cameron one of the 100 most influential people in the world.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The 2010 TIME 100|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1984685,00.html|access-date=May 8, 2018|issn=0040-781X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703021915/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0%2C29569%2C1984685%2C00.html|archive-date=July 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, he was ranked at the top of the list in ''[[The Guardian]]'' Film Power 100<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/sep/24/film-power-100-full-list|title=The 2010 Guardian Film Power 100|last1=Bradshaw|first1=Peter|date=September 24, 2010|work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516022609/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/sep/24/film-power-100-full-list|archive-date=May 16, 2019|last2=Kermode|first2=Mark|location=London}}</ref> and in 30th place in ''[[New Statesman]]'s'' list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/film/2010/09/james-cameron-cinema-blue|title=30th James Cameron – 50 People Who Matter 2010|website=NewStatesman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701151455/http://www.newstatesman.com/film/2010/09/james-cameron-cinema-blue|archive-date=July 1, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref> In 2013, Cameron received the [[Nierenberg Prize|Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public]], which is annually awarded by the [[Scripps Institution of Oceanography]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/5230|title=James Cameron Honored with Scripps Nierenberg Prize|date=May 15, 2013|publisher=Scripps Institution of Oceanography|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116215457/https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/5230|archive-date=November 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Cameron was appointed as a Companion of the [[Order of Canada]] by [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Julie Payette]], giving him the [[List of post-nominal letters in Canada|Post Nominal Letters]] "CC" for life.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-of-canada-january-2020-1.5409261 | title=Ex-PM, Oscar-winning director, Nobel laureate and Inuk actor and athlete among Order of Canada appointees &#124; CBC News | access-date=December 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227231052/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/order-of-canada-january-2020-1.5409261 | archive-date=December 27, 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, Cameron was the subject of the second season of the Epicleff Media dramatic [[podcast]] ''[[Blockbuster (podcast)|Blockbuster]]''. The audio drama, created and narrated by [[Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]-winning journalist and filmmaker [[Matt Schrader]], chronicles Cameron's life and career (leading up to the creation and release of ''Titanic''), and stars actor [[Ross Marquand]] in the lead voice role as Cameron.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.insideradio.com/podcastnewsdaily/the-director-becomes-the-story-as-blockbuster-tells-story-of-movie-great-james-cameron/article_d5d6877a-b0b9-11ea-847d-bb77ae55734f.html | title=The Director Becomes the Story as 'Blockbuster' Tells Story of Movie Great James Cameron &#124; InsideRadio | date=June 17, 2020 | access-date=August 23, 2020 }}</ref>

Cameron was appointed as an Officer of the [[Legion of Honour]] in February 2025, the highest and most prestigious [[order of merit]] in France. He will officially be presented with the award at the [[2025 United Nations Ocean Conference]] in Nice, where he will be one of the guests of honour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=rédaction |first=La |date=2025-05-31 |title=Ce célèbre réalisateur de cinéma sera l'invité d'honneur du Sommet de l'Océan à Nice, il recevra une prestigieuse distinction |url=https://www.nicematin.com/politique/james-cameron-invite-d-honneur-du-sommet-de-nice-988152 |url-access=registration |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Nice-Matin |language=fr}}</ref>

In 2026 he was named a recipient of the [[Governor General's Performing Arts Award]].<ref>Nicole Thompson, [https://www.timescolonist.com/the-mix/barbara-hannigan-james-cameron-win-governor-generals-performing-arts-awards-11870292 "Barbara Hannigan, James Cameron win Governor General's Performing Arts Awards"]. ''[[Victoria Times-Colonist]]'', February 11, 2026.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and nominations received by Cameron's films
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| Academy Awards
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| BAFTA Awards
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width=160| Golden Globe Awards
|-
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
|-
|1986
|''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]''
|align=center|7
|align=center|2
|align=center|4
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|
|-
|1989
|''[[The Abyss]]''
|align=center|4
|align=center|1
|
|
|
|
|-
|1991
|''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''
|align=center|6
|align=center|4
|align=center|3
|align=center|2
|
|
|-
|1994
|''[[True Lies]]''
|align=center|1
|
|align=center|1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1
|-
|1997
|''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''
|align=center|14
|align=center|11
|align=center|10
|
|align=center|8
|align=center|4
|-
|2009
|''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''
|align=center|9
|align=center|3
|align=center|8
|align=center|2
|align=center|4
|align=center|2
|-
|2022
|''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]''
|align=center|4
|align=center|1
|align=center|2
|align=center|1
|align=center|2
|
|-
|2025
|''[[Avatar: Fire and Ash]]''
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |2
|
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
! align="center" |47
! align="center" |23
! align="center" |29
! align="center" |7
! align="center" |18
! align="center" |7
|}

==See also==
* [[Hans Hass Award]]
* [[James Cameron's unrealized projects]]
* [[List of people who descended to Challenger Deep]]
* [[List of Canadian Academy Award winners and nominees]]
* [[List of atheists in film, radio, television and theater]]
* [[List of vegans]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
<references>
<!-- SF awards refs -->
<ref name=SFAwards>[http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomDrama3.html#766 "Cameron, James"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527024724/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomDrama3.html |date=May 27, 2013 }}. ''The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Dramatic Nominees''. [[Locus Publications]]. Retrieved April 11, 2013.</ref>
<ref name=sfhof2012>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722092713/http://www.empmuseum.org/exhibitions/index.asp?categoryID=203 "Science Fiction Hall of Fame: EMP Museum Announces the 2012 Science Fiction Hall of Fame Inductees"]. May/June 2012. EMP Museum (''empmuseum.org''). Archived July 22, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2013.</ref>
</references>

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|last=Cameron|first=James|title=James Cameron: Interviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W1-D-Zv3V4oC|year=2012|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-61703-131-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Canty|first=James C.|title=James Cameron's Avatar: Things You Might Not Know About Avatar, the Film by James Cameron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OJo4Bi7_mMYC|date=29 January 2010|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4505-4619-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Etingoff|first=Kim|title=James Cameron: From Truck Driver to Director|url=https://archive.org/details/jamescameronfrom0000etin|url-access=registration|date=January 2012|publisher=Mason Crest Publishers|isbn=978-1-4222-2481-6}}
*{{cite book|last=Grabiner|first=Ellen|title=I See You: The Shifting Paradigms of James Cameron's Avatar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P49zr4QiBjQC|date=11 June 2012|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-9027-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Hamen|first=Susan E.|title=How to Analyze the Films of James Cameron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9IzZa3r-G2EC|date=1 August 2011|publisher=ABDO|isbn=978-1-61787-637-0}}
*{{cite book|last1=Kapell|first1=Matthew Wilhelm|last2=McVeigh|first2=Stephen|title=The Films of James Cameron: Critical Essays|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MnPb-fXa4ecC|date=12 September 2011|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-6279-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Keegan|first=Rebecca|title=The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aoiieuxmNdUC|year=2010|publisher=Three Rivers Press|isbn=978-0-307-46032-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Mahoney|first=Kevin Patrick|title=The Ultimate Fan's Guide to Avatar: James Cameron's Epic Movie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZWhqcOYkwYC|year=2010|publisher=Punked Books|isbn=978-0-9533172-5-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Parisi|first=Paula|title=Titanic and the Making of James Cameron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KbKXvTvkALYC|year=1998|publisher=Newmarket Press|isbn=978-1-55704-365-8}}
*{{citation |last=Siegel |first=Alan |date=December 13, 2022 |title="It's Going to Be Epic": The Oral History of James Cameron |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2022/12/13/23506177/james-cameron-oral-history-titanic-avatar |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}
*{{cite book|last=Yasuda|first=Anita|title=James Cameron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vrx3RAAACAAJ|date=July 2010|publisher=Weigl Publishers, Incorporated|isbn=978-1-61690-175-2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote|James Cameron (director)|James Cameron}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{ISFDB name|2522}}
* {{C-SPAN|9274215}}
* {{Guardian topic}}
* {{New York Times topic|new_id=person/james-cameron}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* {{LCAuth|n91061506|Cameron|22}}

{{James Cameron}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by James Cameron|Awards for James Cameron]]
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Directing}}
{{Academy Award Best Film Editing}}
{{American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Editing}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardFeatureFilm}}
{{Disney Legends Awards 2020s}}
{{Empire Award for Best Director}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Director}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay}}
{{Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement}}
{{Maltin Modern Master Award}}
{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award}}
{{Nikola Tesla Satellite Award}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{The President's Memorial Award}}
{{Producers Guild of America Milestone Award}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Satellite Award Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Writing 1991–2010}}
}}

{{Portal bar|Film|Speculative fiction|Canada}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, James}}
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