Point Break Writer Sets the Record Straight on James Cameron’s Script Claims
James Cameron has set off a fresh Hollywood firestorm, asserting he wrote the 1991 cult surf-heist Point Break, directed by his then-wife Kathryn Bigelow, and was stiffed by the Writers Guild — a claim now drawing a sharp rebuttal from the film’s credited writer.
James Cameron just lit a fuse under a 90s favorite: he says he basically wrote 1991’s Point Break and got stiffed on credit. Not exactly a minor claim, considering the movie was directed by his then-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, and stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. And yes, Hollywood loves a credit fight.
What Cameron said
In a recent Hollywood Reporter profile, Cameron said he 'flat out got stiffed by the Writers Guild' and argued he should have an official screenplay credit on Point Break. He had not gone public with this level of detail about his contribution before.
How the credited writer is taking it
W. Peter Iliff, the guy whose name is actually on the screenplay, responded in People and kept things classy. He says Cameron, who was an executive producer on the film, did contribute scenes, but the Writers Guild of America went through its standard process and decided Iliff alone wrote the screenplay, with story credit shared with Rick King.
'The WGA arbitration process is one of fellow writers reading all the drafts and rendering a credit decision. That jury gave me sole screenplay credit for Point Break, with shared story credit with Rick King.'
Iliff also went out of his way to praise Cameron anyway, calling him 'my hero' and saying there is 'enough glory for everybody,' acknowledging that Cameron’s work helped the movie become what it is. That’s a generous response to what could be a messy situation.
How the movie actually came together
According to Iliff, Point Break started as a concept from director Rick King. The project bounced around for a while and even had Ridley Scott attached at one point before it finally landed with Kathryn Bigelow, who, to Iliff’s point, 'went on to make a fantastic, iconic movie.' The plot: Keanu Reeves plays FBI rookie Johnny Utah, who goes undercover to infiltrate a crew of bank robbers led by Patrick Swayze’s Bodhi. You know the rest: masks, surfboards, skydiving, and an entire generation of stunt coordinators getting ideas.
The disputed draft
There has long been fan chatter that Cameron delivered a final, uncredited polish that dialed up the action. Iliff doesn’t deny Cameron’s tweaks mattered; he just keeps pointing back to the Guild ruling that left him the primary writer on the movie. That part is simple, even if the history is not.
- Point Break (1991) is officially written by W. Peter Iliff, with story by Iliff and Rick King.
- James Cameron was executive producer and married to director Kathryn Bigelow at the time.
- Cameron now says he deserved screenplay credit and was 'stiffed' by the WGA.
- Iliff says the WGA arbitration, conducted by fellow writers reading all drafts, gave him sole screenplay credit, and he stands by that decision while crediting Cameron’s influence.
- Ridley Scott was once attached to direct before Bigelow took over and made the film we know.
Bottom line: Cameron believes his fingerprints are all over Point Break; Iliff says absolutely, but the official authorship remains his per the WGA. It’s a thorny credit story about a movie built on clean, loud thrills.