Avatar (2009)

Twelve years after his over $1 billion box office run with 1997's Titanic, James Cameron broke his own staggering record with the epic sci-fantasy satire Avatar. Earning the title as the highest-grossing film of all time, Avatar is set sometime in the 22nd century and centers around a tribe of 10-feet-tall blue humanoids called the Na'vi. These peaceful beings live on the moon Pandora, which is a natural satellite that humans have, of course, begun to colonize. Originally set for a 1999 release, Avatar began development in early 1994; however, Cameron concluded that there wasn't sufficient technology available to achieve his vision. Cut to over a decade later, and that vision was eventually brought to life in one of the most visually striking and vivid films to ever hit the silver screen. The film went on to be nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning three for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects.