JuicyTalk
Considering the massive success that was Titanic, it’s a bit surprising that it gets a fair amount of hate today and it doesn’t make much sense. Upon release in 1997, Titanic was a cultural phenomenon that shattered box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time, a title it held for over a decade.
On top of its commercial success, James Cameron’s film was nominated for a whopping 14 Academy Awards, winning all but three. Among those wins was for Best Picture, further cementing Titanic as a true classic. However, time hasn’t been too kind to the movie, which gets more flak than it deserves.
Titanic Is Widely Remembered As A Popular Movie, But Not A Great One
In a lot of ways, it feels like people have either forgotten or overlooked the fact that Titanic is a legitimately great film. The movie’s detractors have blasted it as simply being famous because of how popular it was. While the popularity of Titanic is undeniable, there’s obviously so much more going for it.
As noted, Titanic was a huge hit with award shows. Of the 162 major awards it was nominated for, which is impressive on its own, it won 111 of them, including 11 Oscars. The movie also holds an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, showing how much critics appreciated it.
Although there are plenty of movies with a higher rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Titanic is clearly more than just a popular film. A lot of the negativity about the movie concerns the sappiness aspect of the main story and the historical inaccuracies. Those criticisms are understandable to a point.
The film is indeed sappy, but that’s actually part of the appeal, as the romance between Jack and Rose is at the heart of the story. The inaccuracies are also fine because Titanic isn’t meant to be a documentary. Creative liberties are often taken in adapting true stories for the big screen.
Appreciating Titanic From A Filmmaking Perspective
Even if you’re someone who isn’t drawn in by the romance at the center of Titanic, there’s no doubt that it should be admired from a pure filmmaking standpoint. The effort and care that went into turning this story into one of the most epic theater events ever is breathtaking.
Production on Titanic was harrowing, with risky work taking place at the wreck in the Atlantic Ocean. There’s also the impressive nature of how James Cameron filmed the scenes in the water, which helped set the table for his future on Avatar: The Way of Water. It’s further proof of how incredible Cameron is as a director.
Titanic Is A Genuinely Great Movie, But A Victim Of Its Own Success
The unbelievable effort that went into making Titanic the movie that it is likely would’ve been more appreciated if the movie hadn’t been such a huge hit. The technical achievements of the film are undeniable and would be viewed by many in a more positive light if this was some hidden gem of a movie.
The fact that Titanic became the massive success that it was has painted a target on its back. It happens with a lot of different mediums but when something or someone becomes immensely popular, there are those who want to watch it fail. They also tend to go out of their way to downplay or badmouth the successful thing.
That’s especially true when the popular thing isn’t viewed as “cool” by certain moviegoers. Something like Avengers: Endgame, with high-octane action sequences and superheroes, was lauded for its box office success, while a love story like Titanic gets looked down upon.
It’s a shame because any lover of cinema should be able to appreciate the remarkable achievement that is Titanic. Whether it’s the well-written screenplay, the Oscar-winning editing and cinematography, or the impressive acting from Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and the rest of the cast, Titanic is a legitimate classic.
The Same Thing Happened To James Cameron’s Avatar
Titanic isn’t the only James Cameron film to run into the problem of backlash after it became a success. Avatar, released in 2009, ultimately broke Titanic‘s box office record and when it arrived, it was lauded. Moviegoers loved the 3D aspects and visual effects of this magnificent film.
However, a little while after Avatar became a massive global success, people began to loudly sour on it. Like Titanic, they said it was simply popular and not a great movie, while also suggesting that it was just an impressive visual feast and nothing more.
As is the case with Titanic, this is an unfair criticism. Avatar might not be the most complex film ever made, but it tells a compelling story and features a fair bit of heart to go along with those visual delights. When Avatar was surpassed at the box office by MCU projects, some people rejoiced.
They simply wanted to see Avatar get knocked off its pedestal and a lot of it just stemmed from the disdain the film earned over time. No matter how popular they are, both Titanic and Avatar should be appreciated for how great they are as movies.
