15 Incredible Films Based On Real-Life Tragedies

2. Titanic

Hotel Rwanda
20th Century Fox

Based On: The sinking of the Titanic.

Haters gonna hate, but an especially infuriating thing about the Titanic backlash is the accusation that it trivializes the disaster and is disrespectful, which is completely unfair on the film.

The film is the rare time the disaster was truthfully seen as one of the worst disasters in history and not as a romanticized morality tale. The sinking scenes are shocking and terrifying thanks to James Cameron's masterful directing and the injustice and losses of the disaster are displayed in an unflinching, achingly sad way. A particular scene showing a mother putting her children to bed, knowing they're going to die soon, is especially upsetting.

As for Jack and Rose, their love story and Jack's death is another way in which Titanic hammers home the tragedy and the film's highly melodramatic approach is arguably fitting for such a horrific and upsetting event.

As a flawless cinematic work, a heart-breaking (if admittedly cliched) romance and a hauntingly emotional depiction of the sinking, Titanic is arguably the greatest disaster movie ever made and the ongoing backlash seriously needs to stop.

Contributor

Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.