Weaver's career spans genre shifts, box office resets, and television prestige projects. The table below traces her physical and creative trajectory from her early breakthroughs to her current studio productions.
| Era & Year Range | Defining Roles | Physical & Creative Demands |
|---|---|---|
| 1979, 1986 | Alien, Ghostbusters (Dana Barrett), Aliens | High-intensity action choreography, handling heavy weapons rigs, establishing physical hero archetype. |
| 1988, 1997 | Gorillas in the Mist, Working Girl, Alien Resurrection | Location shoots in Rwanda, dual 1989 Oscar nominations, gymnastic wire-work and stunt training. |
| 2009, 2016 | Avatar (Dr. Grace Augustine), A Monster Calls | Early motion-capture adoption, stage work off-Broadway with husband Jim Simpson. |
| 2022, 2026 | Avatar: The Way of Water (Kiri), The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, The Mandalorian & Grogu | 6.5-minute freediving holds, sustained digital performance-capture, major franchise world-building. |
