Lightstorm Entertainment, Inc. is an American independent film and television production company founded by filmmaker James Cameron and producer Lawrence Kasanoff in 1990. Cameron previously founded Tech Noir Productions with Gale Anne Hurd, which only made The Abyss in 1989. 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.James Cameron Biography - Yahoo Movies
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).
In June 2026, Lightstorm Entertainment's 3D/VR technology entertainment division Lightstorm Vision had acquired German 3D camera & rig production manager and technology developer Stereotec following the massive successful of the live 3D capture production for "Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)", with Stereotec became a subsidiary of Lightstorm Vision and would help expand Lightstorm Vision's capabilities at the capture stage of the 3D production process for its future films.
In September 2026, Lightstorm Entertainment's 3D/VR technology entertainment division Lightstorm Vision had brought AI-driven stereoscopic 3D post-production company that specializes in converting 2D film and television footage into premium 3D and immersive content, Outsyders, the studio delivers stereoscopic pipeline delivered the 3D versions of movies as it's platform being interrogated into Lightstorm Vision's own in-house 3D capture & post-production system studio following the success of the production of "Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)" that Outsyders had worked on it before Lightstorm Vision had brought it, while Outsyders continued to run as a subsidiary within Lightstorm Vision.
Filmography Feature films Released TitleRelease dateDirectorWriter(s)DistributorCo-production companiesBudgetWorldwide grossReferencesTerminator 2: Judgment DayJuly 3, 1991James CameronJames CameronWilliam WisherTriStar PicturesCarolco PicturesPacific Western Productions$94–102 million$520.8 millionThe Abyss: Special EditionFebruary 26, 1993James Cameron20th Century FoxPacific Western Productions$43–47 million$89.8 millionFox Locks In Cameron With a 5-Year Deal Worth $500 Million from The New York TimesTrue LiesJuly 15, 1994screenplay by:James Cameronstory by:Randall FrakesJames Cameron20th Century Fox (United States, Canada, France, and Italy)Universal Pictures (International)N/A$100–120 million$378.9 millionStrange DaysOctober 6, 1995Kathryn Bigelowscreenplay by:James CameronJay Cocksstory by:James Cameron$42 million$8 millionTitanicDecember 19, 1997James CameronParamount Pictures (United States and Canada)20th Century Fox (International)$200 million$2.256 billionSolarisNovember 29, 2002Steven Soderberghscreenplay by:Steven Soderberghbased on Solaris by:Stainslaw Lem20th Century Fox$47 million$30 millionAvatarDecember 18, 2009James CameronDune EntertainmentIngenious Film Partners$237 million$2.923 billionAlita: Battle AngelFebruary 14, 2019Robert Rodriguezscreenplay by:James CameronLaeta Kalogridisbased on the manga Gunnm by:Yukito KishiroTroublemaker Studios$170 million$404.9 millionTerminator: Dark FateNovember 1, 2019Tim Millerscreenplay by:David S. GoyerJustin RhodesBilly Raystory by:James CameronCharles H. EgleeJosh FriedmanDavid S. GoyerJustin Rhodesbased on characters created by:James CameronGale Anne HurdParamount Pictures (United States and Canada)20th Century Fox (International)20th Century FoxSkydance MediaTencent Pictures$185–196 million$261.1 millionAvatar: The Way of WaterDecember 16, 2022James Cameronscreenplay by:James CameronRick Jaffa & Amanda Silverstory by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salernobased on characters created by:James Cameron 20th Century Studios N/A$350 million$2.320 billionAvatar: Fire and AshDecember 19, 2025screenplay by:James Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silverstory by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman and Shane Salernobased on characters created by:James Cameron N/A $350–400 million $1.485 billion Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) May 8, 2026 Paramount Pictures Interscope Films and Darkroom Records $20 million $26.7 million
Upcoming TitleRelease dateDirectorWriter(s)DistributorCo-production companiesReferences Painter November 6, 2026 Garrett Warrenscreenplay byDerek Kolstad 20th Century Studios Infrared Pictures and Circle M + P Avatar 4 December 21, 2029 James Cameronscreenplay by:James CameronJosh Friedmanstory by:James CameronJosh FriedmanRick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Shane Salernobased on characters created by:James Cameron N/A Avatar 5 December 19, 2031screenplay by:James Cameron Shane Salernostory by:James CameronJosh FriedmanRick Jaffa & Amanda SilverShane Salernobased on characters created by:James Cameron
Television series TitleFirst air dateLast air dateCreatorNetworkCo-production companiesReferences True Lies March 1, 2023 May 17, 2023 Matt Nix CBS 20th TelevisionAnthony Hemingway ProductionsFlying Glass of Milk ProductionsWonderland Sound and Vision Secrets of the Penguins April 20, 2025 April 21, 2025 Bertie Gregory National Geographic National Geographic StudiosTalesmith Fire and Water: Making The Avatar Films November 7, 2025 Thomas C. Grane Disney+ 20th Century StudiosMob Scene Secrets of the BeesMarch 31, 2026Nadége LaiciNational GeographicNational Geographic StudiosSilverback Films
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