James Cameron: Ranking His Films From Worst To Best

6. Titanic (1997)

James Cameron's 194 minute romantic epic was more akin to a cultural phenomenon than a hit movie when it was released; despite a middling $26.8m domestic debut, Titanic would go on to hold the top spot at the US box office for an unprecedented fifteen weeks, and would ultimately play in theaters for nearly ten months. In the process, it obliterated all box office records on its way to an incredible $1.843bn gross. Not bad for a movie that was dubbed 'Cameron's Folly' by some in the press due to the troubled production process. The production saw studio executives panic at the thought of a three-hour love story, fears which were hardly eased when the budget swelled to an unheard-of $200m. To pacify them, Cameron waived his director's fee in return for a percentage of the profits which in hindsight turned out to be a very, very smart move. The 160 day shoot also turned out to be a nightmare for the cast and crew, with Cameron's notorious temper flaring up on multiple occasions. Everything worked out okay in the end of course, thanks to the record-breaking commercial success and 11 Academy Award wins including Best Picture and Best Director. As a movie, Titanic is a mixed bag. The pacing of the story is funereal at times due to the mammoth running time, with several archetypal characters and some cringeworthy dialogue. From a technical standpoint, it remains nothing less than stunning. The mix of flawless CGI and practical effects make the sinking of the eponymous ship a visceral set-piece that is equal parts visual and emotional, coupled with incredible production design and a cast that do their best given the limitations of the script. Still, is it as great a movie as its reputation would suggest? I certainly don't think so.