James Cameron Cameron's "Titanic" and "Avatar" are the two highest-grossing films of all time at $2.19 billion and $2.78 billion respectively. Cameron also holds the distinction of having directed the first two of the four films in history to gross over $2 billion worldwide (the later two being "" and ""). In March 2011, he was named Hollywood's top earner by "Vanity Fair", with estimated 2010 earnings of $257 million. In October 2013, a new species of frog "Pristimantis jamescameroni" from Venezuela was named after him in recognition of his efforts in environmental awareness, in addition to his public promotion of veganism.
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