James Cameron Battle Angel Alita). Both movies were to be shot in 3D. By December, Cameron stated that he wanted to film "Battle Angel" first, followed by "Avatar". However, in February 2006, he switched goals for the two film projects and decided to film "Avatar" first. He mentioned that if both films were successful, he would be interested in seeing a trilogy being made for both. "Alita: Battle Angel" eventually began production in 2016 with Cameron writing and producing and Robert Rodriguez directing. "Avatar" had an estimated budget of over $300 million and was released on December 18, 2009. This marked his
Titanic (1997 film) "We labored the last six months on "Titanic" in the absolute knowledge that the studio would lose $100 million. It was a certainty," he stated. As the film neared release, "particular venom was spat at Cameron for what was seen as his hubris and monumental extravagance". A film critic for the "Los Angeles Times" wrote that "Cameron's overweening pride has come close to capsizing this project" and that the film was "a hackneyed, completely derivative copy of old Hollywood romances". When the film became a success, with an unprecedented box office performance, it was credited for being a love story