Lightstorm Entertainment, Inc. is an American independent film and television production company founded by filmmaker James Cameron and producer Lawrence Kasanoff in 1990. The company's films include the sci-fi film Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), the action-comedy film True Lies (1994), the romantic film Titanic (1997), the epic science fiction film series Avatar, and the sci-fi film Alita: Battle Angel (2019); Cameron has employed other filmmakers to produce and direct films under the Lightstorm banner. Based in Santa Monica, California, the company established a first look deal with 20th Century Fox (currently known as 20th Century Studios) in 1995, who has since distributed a majority of the company's films.

In 1993, Cameron would meet his future Titanic and Avatar co-producer Jon Landau during the production of True Lies, and would persuade Landau to join the company. The company's logo depicts a bowman using a lightning bolt as an arrow.

In January 2015, Lightstorm Entertainment had brought the motion-capture technology assets of Atlanta-based Giant Studios who had handled motion-capture services on Lightstorm's successful film Avatar. This allowed Lightstorm Entertainment its own motion-capture technology production service and had allowed Lightstorm to develop motion-capture production technology in-house for its future films whilst Giant's research and development team continued to develop the motion-capture technology under Lightstorm.

In December 2024, Lightstorm Entertainment announced its entry into the virtual reality business with the establishment of its virtual reality technology 3D entertainment division called Lightstorm Vision to expand Lightstorm's technology production tools in entertainment experiences and had collaborated with multinational technology company Meta Platforms via a multi-year collaboration for Lightstorm's 3D productions. Lightstorm Vision will use Meta Quest as its exclusive MR hardware platform service for Lightstorm's films including Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) and Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026).

Filmography

Feature films

Released

TitleRelease dateDirectorWriter(s)DistributorCo-production companiesBudgetWorldwide grossReferences
Terminator 2: Judgment DayJuly 3, 1991James CameronJames Cameron William WisherTriStar PicturesCarolco Pictures Pacific Western Productions$94–102 million$520.8 million
The Abyss: Special EditionFebruary 26, 1993James Cameron20th Century FoxPacific Western Productions$43–47 million$89.8 million
True LiesJuly 15, 1994screenplay by: James Cameron story by: Randall Frakes James Cameron20th Century Fox (United States, Canada, France, and Italy) Universal Pictures (International)N/A$100–120 million$378.9 million
Strange DaysOctober 6, 1995Kathryn Bigelowscreenplay by: James Cameron Jay Cocks story by: James Cameron$42 million$8 million
TitanicDecember 19, 1997James CameronParamount Pictures (United States and Canada) 20th Century Fox (International)$200 million$2.256 billion
SolarisNovember 29, 2002Steven Soderberghscreenplay by: Steven Soderbergh based on Solaris by: Stainslaw Lem20th Century Fox$47 million$30 million
AvatarDecember 18, 2009James CameronDune Entertainment Ingenious Film Partners$237 million$2.923 billion
Alita: Battle AngelFebruary 14, 2019Robert Rodriguezscreenplay by: James Cameron Laeta Kalogridis based on the manga Gunnm by: Yukito KishiroTroublemaker Studios$170 million$404.9 million
Terminator: Dark FateNovember 1, 2019Tim Millerscreenplay by: David S. Goyer Justin Rhodes Billy Ray story by: James Cameron Charles H. Eglee Josh Friedman David S. Goyer Justin Rhodes based on characters created by: James Cameron Gale Anne HurdParamount Pictures (United States and Canada) 20th Century Fox (International)20th Century Fox Skydance Media Tencent Pictures$185–196 million$261.1 million
Avatar: The Way of WaterDecember 16, 2022James Cameronscreenplay by: James Cameron Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver story by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno based on characters created by: James Cameron20th Century StudiosN/A$350 million$2.320 billion
Avatar: Fire and AshDecember 19, 2025screenplay by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver story by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno based on characters created by: James CameronN/A$350–400 million$1.485 billion
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)May 8, 2026James CameronBillie Eilish—N/aParamount PicturesInterscope Films and Darkroom Records$20 million$26.7 million

Upcoming

TitleRelease dateDirectorWriter(s)DistributorCo-production companiesReferences
Painter2026Garrett Warrenscreenplay by Derek Kolstad20th Century StudiosInfrared Pictures and Circle M + P
Avatar 4December 21, 2029James Cameronscreenplay by: James Cameron Josh Friedman story by: James Cameron Josh Friedman Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Shane Salerno based on characters created by: James CameronN/A
Avatar 5December 19, 2031screenplay by: James Cameron Shane Salerno story by: James Cameron Josh Friedman Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver Shane Salerno based on characters created by: James Cameron

Television series

TitleFirst air dateLast air dateCreatorNetworkCo-production companiesReferences
True LiesMarch 1, 2023May 17, 2023Matt NixCBS20th Television Anthony Hemingway Productions Flying Glass of Milk Productions Wonderland Sound and Vision
Secrets of the PenguinsApril 20, 2025April 21, 2025Bertie GregoryNational GeographicNational Geographic Studios Talesmith
Fire and Water: Making The Avatar FilmsNovember 7, 2025Thomas C. GraneDisney+20th Century Studios Mob Scene
Secrets of the BeesMarch 31, 2026Nadége LaiciNational GeographicNational Geographic Studios Silverback Films

Notes

External links

  • Media related toLightstorm Entertainment filmsat Wikimedia Commons