Titanic, a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film, holds a special place in cinematic history. Directed, written, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron, the movie brilliantly weaves together historical facts with a fictional love story set against the backdrop of the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, the film follows the love story between two individuals from different social classes who find each other amidst the chaos of the ship’s doomed maiden voyage.

Cameron drew inspiration from his fascination with shipwrecks, believing that intertwining a love story with the harrowing human loss would powerfully convey the emotional impact of the disaster.

Production kicked off in 1995, with Cameron capturing footage of the actual Titanic wreck. The scenes set on the research vessel were filmed aboard the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, the same vessel that had served as Cameron’s base during the wreck filming. Utilizing scale models, computer-generated imagery, and a reconstruction of the Titanic at Baja Studios, the film meticulously recreated the sinking.

With a staggering production budget of $200 million, Titanic emerged as the most expensive film of its time.

Distributed by Paramount Pictures in North America and by 20th Century Fox internationally, the movie broke records upon its release on December 19, 1997.

Garnering immense critical acclaim and commercial success, Titanic received a whopping 14 Academy Award nominations, tying the record with All About Eve (1950). Ultimately, the film secured 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, equalling Ben-Hur’s (1959) record for the most Oscars won by a single film.

Titanic’s global box office earnings exceeded $1.84 billion, marking it as the first billion-dollar film in history. The movie held the title of highest-grossing film until Cameron’s Avatar surpassed it in 2010.

To commemorate the centennial of the tragic sinking, a 3D version of Titanic was released on April 4, 2012. This reissue captivated audiences worldwide, generating an additional $343.6 million in box office revenue, further solidifying the film’s enduring legacy.