Every James Cameron Movie, Ranked By Box Office

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As a huge film buff, I’ve always been amazed by James Cameron‘s success. He truly dominates the box office! I decided to rank all his movies by how much money they’ve earned, and it’s no surprise that Avatar is at the top – it’s the highest-grossing film ever! With Avatar: The Way of Water and Titanic also landing in the top five, it’s clear Cameron is the most financially successful director out there. But it’s interesting to see that not all his films have been massive hits – some performed quite differently at the box office.

James Cameron’s early films, Xenogenesis (1978) and Piranha II: The Spawning (1982), didn’t have their box office results tracked. But with 1984’s The Terminator, he started a run of commercially successful movies. Here’s a ranking of those films, from lowest to highest grossing.

9) The Terminator – $78 Million

Even though The Terminator is a fan favorite and one of James Cameron’s most famous works, the original movie didn’t earn as much at the box office as some of his others. It made $78 million in 1984, which was still a good return considering it only cost $6.4 million to produce.

8) The Abyss – $90 Million

While not as widely known as some of James Cameron’s biggest hits, The Abyss remains a favorite among many science fiction enthusiasts. Released in 1989, the film earned $90 million despite costing $47 million to make – a solid success, though not on the scale of some of Cameron’s other work. Over time, The Abyss has developed a dedicated cult following and is enjoying renewed popularity in recent years.

7) Aliens – $183.3 Million

Following the huge impact of Ridley Scott’s Alien in 1979, a sequel seemed inevitable. And Aliens, released in 1986, definitely delivered – it raked in $183.3 million with a relatively modest $18.5 million budget, proving this sci-fi franchise had serious staying power. It’s interesting though, that while a massive success, it actually earned a little less than the original Alien, which pulled in $188 million on a $14 million budget. Still, a sequel that made almost 13 times its budget? That’s a win in my book.

6) True Lies – $378.9 Million

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis were huge stars in the 1990s, so it’s no surprise that the 1994 film True Lies did so well. Directed by James Cameron, the movie cost a whopping $120 million to make – a first for any film at the time – but it earned nearly $379 million at the box office, making it a major hit.

5) Terminator 2: Judgement Day – $520.9 Million

Released in 1991, Terminator 2: Judgment Day demonstrated just how popular the Terminator series had become. The sequel was a huge box office hit, earning $520.9 million on a $94 million budget, and paved the way for many more films in the franchise.

4) Avatar: Fire and Ash – $949 million

As of today, Avatar: Fire and Ash is still playing in cinemas, so its final box office earnings – and its place on this list – could still change. Currently, the film has earned $949 million worldwide, which is a strong result given its $400 million production cost. However, this would make it the lowest-grossing film in the Avatar series so far. It’s possible, though, that Fire and Ash will continue to earn money over time, just like the previous Avatar movies.

3) Titanic – $2.264 billion

When Titanic came out in 1997, it became the highest-grossing movie ever, and its financial success was enormous. Despite costing a then-huge $200 million to make, it earned over $2.264 billion worldwide. This unprecedented success established James Cameron as a major force in Hollywood and a reliable box office draw.

2) Avatar: The Way of Water – $2.343 billion

James Cameron’s latest film to gross over $2 billion is 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water, the sequel to Avatar. After a 13-year wait, the highly anticipated movie attracted huge audiences and earned $2.343 billion worldwide, despite a substantial production budget of around $460 million. While the high budget was a significant risk, the film’s impressive earnings clearly demonstrate its financial success.

1) Avatar – $2.923 billion

James Cameron’s Avatar, released in 2009, isn’t just his most successful film – it’s the highest-grossing movie ever made, earning $2.923 billion worldwide. This incredible success established the Avatar franchise as a major force with just one film. It became the benchmark for all subsequent Avatar movies, and for over fifteen years, it has remained the undisputed leader at the box office.

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2026-01-14 03:11