His first professional movies, in his early twenties, were gory horror flicks (Bad Taste in 1987, Meet the Feebles in 1989 and Braindead in 1992). In 1994, he astonished audiences and critics with Heavenly Creatures, based on the true story of two teenage girls who commit a murder.

In 1999, Jackson embarked on one of the biggest undertakings in cinematic history by filming three movies at once: the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was released over 3 years (The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, The Two Towers in 2002 and The Return of the King in 2003). All three films topped the box office, delighting fans and critics alike and earning more than a half-dozen Oscars.