John Nelson
- Born
- 1959-07-21
- Birthplace
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
Biography
John Nelson (born July 21, 1953) is an American visual effects supervisor. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects for his work on the films Gladiator (2000) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). He has also been nominated for I, Robot (2004) and Iron Man (2008). He also won the 2018 British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the Special Visual Effects in Blade Runner 2049. After graduating with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 1976, he worked as a cameraman, technical director, and director at the pioneering computer animation and commercial production company Robert Abel and Associates, where he won two Clio awards and earned six additional Clio nominations. Early in his career while at ILM, Nelson modelled, animated, lit, and composited several shots for Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), including the iconic scene in which the shotgunned head of the chrome terminator splits open and reseals. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Visual Effects Society, the International Cinematographers Guild, and the Directors Guild of America. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Filmography
17 titles · Newest first · Cast and crew credits

Hurry Up Tomorrow
2025 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

The Residence
2025 · TV Show
Visual Effects Supervisor

Blade Runner 2049
2017 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Blackhat
2015 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Point Break
2015 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
2010 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Iron Man
2008 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator'
2005 · Movie
Self

I, Robot
2004 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Gladiator
2000 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Gladiator Games: The Roman Bloodsport
2000 · Movie
Self

City of Angels
1998 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Anaconda
1997 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

The Cable Guy
1996 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

My Life
1993 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Stay Tuned
1992 · Movie
Visual Effects Supervisor

Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991 · Movie
CG Animator










