James Cameron
Worldwide gross, in 2025 dollars, 1984 to today.$10.23bn as reported.
Based on 12 of 21 films with known box office for James Cameron (57.1%). Appearances as themselves or in archive footage are not counted as films.
Hit rate 69.2%.
The biggest film is Titanic (1997), at $4.39bn. The five biggest make up 88% of the total.
Photo: TMDB
The career, in four acts
Each film's money sits on its first release date. Inflation-adjusted figures use the year the money was earned.
Aliens, The Terminator, The Abyss.
Titanic, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies.
Avatar, Ghosts of the Abyss, Aliens of the Deep.
Avatar: The Way of Water, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D).
The nightly snapshot series · the time series behind the leaderboard, with its live pointShow
This series is pre-computed and does not yet respond to the appearance switches: it always counts every credited appearance.
Annual points through 2019, monthly from 2020, then daily snapshots from 5 August 2026, with the latest shown as live (dashed, see note below).
Note on the last point: historical points only count a film once its earliest release date is at least 90 days old. The live point (dashed line above) is ungated and includes films released within the last 90 days, so it can jump ahead of the historical curve rather than extend it smoothly.
No films currently sit inside that 90-day gate for James Cameron.
The biggest films
No. 1Titanic$4.39bn1997
No. 2Avatar$4.32bn2009
No. 3Avatar: The Way of Water$2.46bn2022
No. 4Avatar: Fire and Ash$1.45bn2025
No. 5Terminator 2: Judgment Day$1.23bn1991
No. 6True Lies$793.94m1994
No. 7Aliens$538.72m1986
No. 8The Terminator$233.66m1984
No. 9The Abyss$142.39m1989- Ghosts of the AbyssNo. 10Ghosts of the Abyss$50.33m2003 · Billed 3rd
- Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)No. 11Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)$25.13m2026
- Aliens of the DeepNo. 12Aliens of the Deep$21.06m2005 · Billed 3rd
Cameos and sources
No cameos
No named source calls any of James Cameron's credits a cameo, so the total and the rank are the same with cameos counted or not.
Our rule: a cameo is what a named source calls a cameo. Billing never decides. How cameos are decided
Where the numbers come from
Worldwide gross for 13 of 13 films. Primary source.
Re-releases, and the full total where The Numbers reports less. Not needed for James Cameron today.
Credits, billing, dates, posters. Second opinion on the gross: TMDB has a figure for 11 of 13 films, and 9 of those agree within 5%.
Cameo calls: a named source says the appearance is a cameo. Billing never decides. None of James Cameron's credits has a cameo call yet.
How the total is built
- Every film counts once, whatever the role.
- A film's gross is its original run plus re-releases.
- Inflation is adjusted from the year the money was earned, to 2025 dollars.
- Appearances as themselves and archive footage are not counted as films. Any box office they carry stays in the total unless that switch is off.
Credits by role
Actor (unclassified)
Director
75
17
Filmography
- Titanic 1997Director$4.39bnin 2025 money
- Avatar 2009Director$4.32bnin 2025 money
- Avatar: The Way of Water 2022Director$2.46bnin 2025 money
- Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025Director$1.45bnin 2025 money
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991Director$1.23bnin 2025 money
- True Lies 1994Director$793.94min 2025 money
- Aliens 1986Director$538.72min 2025 money
- The Terminator 1984Director$233.66min 2025 money
- The Abyss 1989Director$142.31min 2025 money
Domestic gross shown as primary: the worldwide total’s international component is a source placeholder, so it is effectively domestic only. Worldwide as reported: $54.79m (flagged unreliable).
- Ghosts of the AbyssGhosts of the Abyss 2003Self · Billed 3rd· As themselvesDirector$50.33min 2025 money
The Numbers: $28.74m · TMDB: $17.04m
The receipts
Here is every film, every figure, and how we added it up.
- All time, worldwide, all roles
- adjusted for inflation, in 2025 dollars
Uncredited appearances: not counted. Appearances as themselves: counted where the film has box office. Cameos: counted.
We counted 13 films. Together they earned $15.65bn. Each film is counted once. That is the 18th biggest total, all time, worldwide, out of the 30 people ranked on TopLiner. Ranks come from the leaderboard published on 1 November 2026.
How it adds up
Check it yourself: add up the 13 counted films below and you get $15.65bn.
Find every film. We looked for every title James Cameron is credited on. We found 90 titles. Of these, 67 show James Cameron as themselves or in old clips. They have no box office figure, so they are not counted as films. 1 more is left out by the switches. That leaves 22 films.
Find the money. 13 of the 22 films have a box office figure. That is the money that cinema tickets brought in around the world. 7 have no figure we trust yet, so they add nothing. We never guess. 2 are not out yet.
Count each film once. If someone acts in a film and also directs it, the film still counts one time. 2 films here have more than one job for James Cameron.
Add it up. The 13 films together earned $15.65bn, adjusted for inflation, in 2025 dollars. Divide by 13 and the average is $1.20bn a film.
Rank everyone. We add up every person the same way. Then we sort them from the biggest total to the smallest. James Cameron has the 18th biggest total of the 30 people ranked on TopLiner.
7 of the 13 films earned $100 million or more (in dollars as reported).
Film by film: counted (13)
- Titanic 1997$4.39bnin 2025 money
- Avatar 2009$4.32bnin 2025 money
- Avatar: The Way of Water 2022$2.46bnin 2025 money
- Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025$1.45bnin 2025 money
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991$1.23bnin 2025 money
- True Lies 1994$793.94min 2025 money
Show all 13 counted filmsShow fewer
- Aliens 1986$538.72min 2025 money
- The Terminator 1984$233.66min 2025 money
- The Abyss 1989$142.31min 2025 money
Domestic gross shown as primary: the worldwide total’s international component is a source placeholder, so it is effectively domestic only. Worldwide as reported: $54.79m (flagged unreliable).
- Ghosts of the Abyss 2003
Counted once, even though James Cameron had 2 jobs on it.
$50.33min 2025 moneyThe Numbers: $28.74m · TMDB: $17.04m
- Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) 2026$25.13min 2025 money
- Aliens of the Deep 2005
Counted once, even though James Cameron had 2 jobs on it.
$21.06min 2025 moneyThe Numbers: $12.77m · TMDB: no figure
- Side by Side 2012$94,086in 2025 money
The Numbers: $67,054 · TMDB: no figure
Not counted: no box office figure found (7)
- James Cameron & Buzz Aldrin: Explorers - Von der Titanic bis zum Mond 2012
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
- Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun 2010
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
- The Exodus Decoded 2006
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
- No Feat But What We Make: 'Terminator 2' and the Rise of Digital Effects 2003
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
- Expedition: Bismarck 2002
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
- Martini Ranch: Reach 1988
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
Show all 7 films with no figureShow fewer
- Piranha II: The Spawning 1982
Not counted. We could not find a box office figure we trust, and we never guess.
Not counted: not in cinemas yet (2)
- Avatar 5 2031
Not counted yet. It has not reached cinemas.
- Avatar 4 2029
Not counted yet. It has not reached cinemas.
Not counted: documentaries and old clips, as themselves (67)
- Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness 2026
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Avatar: A New Era - Special Edition of 20/20 2025
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story 2025
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Fatal Dive to the Titanic: Truth and Lies 2024
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Aliens Expanded 2024
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli 2024
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
Show all 67 documentaries and old clipsShow fewer
- Disney Legends Awards Ceremony 2024
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Inside Pandora's Box 2023
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron 2023
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: Stories from the Heart 2023
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Attack of the Doc! 2023
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom 2022
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 2022
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Six 2021
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World 2021
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: Into the Heart of the Wreck 2020
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy 2020
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Save the Titanic: Treasures From the Deep 2019
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron 2017
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- T2: Reprogramming The Terminator 2017
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Atlantis Rising 2017
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Score: A Film Music Documentary 2017
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Eating You Alive 2016
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Deepsea Challenge 3D 2014
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Mission Blue 2014
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Amazon Unknown 2013
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Reflections on Titanic 2012
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- James Cameron: Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth 2012
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron 2012
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan 2012
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Hollywood between Paranoia and Sci-Fi: The Power of Myth 2011
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Brian May's Brief History of 3D 2011
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Tipping Point: The End of Oil 2011
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora 2010
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Capturing Avatar 2010
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- A Message from Pandora 2010
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Explorers: From The Titanic To The Moon 2006
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Last Mysteries Of The Titanic 2005
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Tony Robinson's Titanic Adventure 2005
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us 2005
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection 2005
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- George Lucas: Creating an Empire 2005
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing 2004
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars' 2004
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' 2003
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Iron and Beyond 2002
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Alien Saga 2002
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Other Voices: Creating 'The Terminator' 2001
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking 2001
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- 2001: The Making of a Myth 2001
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Alien Evolution 2001
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Making of 'Terminator 2 3D' 2000
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Auto Motives 2000
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs 1999
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic 1999
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Virus: Ghost in the Machine 1999
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Muse 1999
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- History in the Making: Titanic 1998
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Titanic: Breaking New Ground 1998
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft 1998
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs 1998
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Your Studio and You 1995
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' 1993
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- T2: More Than Meets the Eye 1993
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Making of 'The Terminator': A Retrospective 1992
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' 1991
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
- The Making of the Terminator 1985
Not counted. It shows them as themselves or in old clips, and it has no box office figure.
Not counted: left out by your switches (1)
- Duets 2000
Left out because uncredited appearances are switched off.
TopLiner · the film bankability index · ranks from the leaderboard for 1 November 2026, published 1 November 2026 09:26 UTC. Totals, the chart and the filmography are worked out from the latest data each time this page is refreshed.