TopLinerThe film bankability index
Last 10 yearsAll time
Not rankedLast 10 years worldwide · all roles

James Cameron

Director and actor · born 16 August 1954

All appearancesTMDBIMDb
$3.84bn

Worldwide gross in the last 10 years, reported dollars, as on the leaderboard.$3.93bn in 2025 dollars.

Not ranked3 of 5 films with box office needed for a rank in the last 10 years.All time: No. 18Directors, all time: No. 1
3 filmsin the last 10 years, as on the leaderboard; 3 with box office. Known for 3 of 3, appearances as themselves aside.
$1.28bn
Average per film in the last 10 years, of films with known gross
67%
4
Films over $1bn, whole career
21
Credits, one per title, whole career

Whole career

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 66.7%.

The biggest film is Avatar (2009), at $2.92bn. The five biggest make up 93% of the total.

James Cameron

Photo: TMDB

Cameos countedNot countedNot counted: $3.84bn, not ranked. No credit here is called a cameo by a named source, so both are the same.
FiguresReportedInflation-adjusted to 2025Tickets sold (coming soon)
CountingUncredited appearancesAppearances as themselvesAll appearancesLead and lead ensemble only (under review)

Whole career

The career, in four acts

Cumulative worldwide gross · each dot a releaseCompare James Cameron with others
ReleaseLast 10 years, the period at the top of the pageHover or tap a dot for the film.

Each film's money sits on its first release date. Inflation-adjusted figures use the year the money was earned.

I · 3 films
1984 to 1989
$316.10m

Aliens, The Terminator, The Abyss.

II · 3 films
1991 to 1997
$3.11bn

Titanic, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies.

III · 3 films
2003 to 2009
$2.97bn

Avatar, Ghosts of the Abyss, Aliens of the Deep.

IV · 3 films
2022 to 2026
$3.84bn

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).

Use the arrow keys to read the values.

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.

Whole career

The biggest films

Worldwide gross · billing from TMDB
  1. Avatar poster
    No. 1
    Avatar
    $2.92bn
    2009
  2. Avatar: The Way of Water poster
    No. 2
    Avatar: The Way of Water
    $2.32bn
    2022
  3. Titanic poster
    No. 3
    Titanic
    $2.22bn
    1997
  4. Avatar: Fire and Ash poster
    No. 4
    Avatar: Fire and Ash
    $1.49bn
    2025
  5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day poster
    No. 5
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day
    $517.94m
    1991
  6. True Lies poster
    No. 6
    True Lies
    $365.30m
    1994
  7. Aliens poster
    No. 7
    Aliens
    $183.29m
    1986
  8. The Terminator poster
    No. 8
    The Terminator
    $78.02m
    1984
  9. The Abyss poster
    No. 9
    The Abyss
    $54.79m
    1989
  10. Ghosts of the Abyss
    No. 10
    Ghosts of the Abyss
    $28.74m
    2003
  11. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
    No. 11
    Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
    $25.80m
    2026
  12. Aliens of the Deep
    No. 12
    Aliens of the Deep
    $12.77m
    2005

Whole career

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.

Cameos counted (shown above)
$10.23bnNo. 18
12 films
Not counted
$10.23bnNo. 18
12 films

Our rule: a cameo is what a named source calls a cameo. Billing never decides. How cameos are decided

Where the numbers come from

  • The NumbersWorldwide gross for 12 of 12 films. Primary source.
  • Box Office Mojo by IMDbProRe-releases, and the full total where The Numbers reports less. Not needed for James Cameron today.
  • TMDBCredits, billing, dates, posters. Second opinion on the gross: TMDB has a figure for 11 of 12 films, and 9 of those agree within 5%.
  • WikidataWikipediaCameo 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
  1. Every film counts once, whatever the role.
  2. A film's gross is its original run plus re-releases.
  3. Inflation is adjusted from the year the money was earned, to 2025 dollars.
  4. 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.
The full methodology

Credits by role

Director

Actor (unclassified)

17

4

Whole career

Filmography

  • Avatar poster
    Avatar 2009
    Director
    $2.92bn
  • Avatar: The Way of Water poster
    Avatar: The Way of Water 2022
    Director
    $2.32bn
  • Titanic poster
    Titanic 1997
    Director
    $2.22bn
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash poster
    Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025
    Director
    $1.49bn
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day poster
    Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991
    Director
    $517.94m
  • True Lies poster
    True Lies 1994
    Director
    $365.30m
  • Aliens poster
    Aliens 1986
    Director
    $183.29m
  • The Terminator poster
    The Terminator 1984
    Director
    $78.02m
  • The Abyss poster
    The Abyss 1989
    Director
    $54.76m

    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
    Ghosts of the Abyss 2003
    Director
    $28.74m

    The Numbers: $28.74m · TMDB: $17.04m

Sorted by ·

Whole career

The receipts

Here is every film, every figure, and how we added it up.

  • All time, worldwide, all roles
  • in dollars as reported, not adjusted for inflation

Uncredited appearances: not counted. Appearances as themselves: not counted. Cameos: counted.

We counted 12 films. Together they earned $10.23bn. 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

90titles found
21films
12with money
$10.23bntotal

Check it yourself: add up the 12 counted films below and you get $10.23bn.

  1. Find every film. We looked for every title James Cameron is credited on. We found 90 titles. 69 are left out by the switches. That leaves 21 films.

  2. Find the money. 12 of the 21 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.

  3. Count each film once. If someone acts in a film and also directs it, the film still counts one time.

  4. Add it up. The 12 films together earned $10.23bn, in dollars as reported, not adjusted for inflation. Divide by 12 and the average is $852.23m a film.

  5. 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 12 films earned $100 million or more (in dollars as reported).

Film by film: counted (12)

  • Avatar 2009
    $2.92bn
  • Avatar: The Way of Water 2022
    $2.32bn
  • Titanic 1997
    $2.22bn
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash 2025
    $1.49bn
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day 1991
    $517.94m
  • True Lies 1994
    $365.30m
Show all 12 counted films
  • Aliens 1986
    $183.29m
  • The Terminator 1984
    $78.02m
  • The Abyss 1989
    $54.76m

    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
    $28.74m

    The Numbers: $28.74m · TMDB: $17.04m

  • Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) 2026
    $25.80m
  • Aliens of the Deep 2005
    $12.77m

    The Numbers: $12.77m · 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 figure
  • 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: left out by your switches (69)

  • Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness 2026

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Avatar: A New Era - Special Edition of 20/20 2025

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story 2025

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Fatal Dive to the Titanic: Truth and Lies 2024

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Aliens Expanded 2024

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli 2024

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

Show all 69 films left out by the switches
  • Disney Legends Awards Ceremony 2024

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Inside Pandora's Box 2023

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron 2023

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: Stories from the Heart 2023

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Attack of the Doc! 2023

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom 2022

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 2022

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Six 2021

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World 2021

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: Into the Heart of the Wreck 2020

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy 2020

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Save the Titanic: Treasures From the Deep 2019

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron 2017

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • T2: Reprogramming The Terminator 2017

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Atlantis Rising 2017

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Score: A Film Music Documentary 2017

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Eating You Alive 2016

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Deepsea Challenge 3D 2014

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Mission Blue 2014

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Amazon Unknown 2013

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Reflections on Titanic 2012

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • James Cameron: Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth 2012

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron 2012

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Side by Side 2012

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan 2012

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Hollywood between Paranoia and Sci-Fi: The Power of Myth 2011

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Brian May's Brief History of 3D 2011

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Tipping Point: The End of Oil 2011

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Avatar: Creating the World of Pandora 2010

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Capturing Avatar 2010

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • A Message from Pandora 2010

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Explorers: From The Titanic To The Moon 2006

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Last Mysteries Of The Titanic 2005

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Tony Robinson's Titanic Adventure 2005

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us 2005

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection 2005

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • George Lucas: Creating an Empire 2005

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing 2004

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars' 2004

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' 2003

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Iron and Beyond 2002

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Alien Saga 2002

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Other Voices: Creating 'The Terminator' 2001

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking 2001

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • 2001: The Making of a Myth 2001

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Alien Evolution 2001

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Making of 'Terminator 2 3D' 2000

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Auto Motives 2000

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Duets 2000

    Left out because uncredited appearances are switched off.

  • Ray Harryhausen: Working with Dinosaurs 1999

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic 1999

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Virus: Ghost in the Machine 1999

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Muse 1999

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • History in the Making: Titanic 1998

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Titanic: Breaking New Ground 1998

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Director's Vision: Hollywood's Best Discuss Their Craft 1998

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Mythos Hollywood - Das Geheimnis des Erfolgs 1998

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Your Studio and You 1995

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • Under Pressure: Making 'The Abyss' 1993

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • T2: More Than Meets the Eye 1993

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Making of 'The Terminator': A Retrospective 1992

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' 1991

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

  • The Making of the Terminator 1985

    Left out because appearances as themselves are switched off.

Worked out from the latest data. Ranks are from the leaderboard for 1 November 2026.

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.