‘Titanic’ took just seven months to film (between July 1996 and March 1997), but the Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet-led historical epic was astonishingly expensive. With a production budget of $200 million, it was the most expensive film ever made, up to that time. It would become nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon after it’s December 1997 release, ultimately racking up Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, among many others. Director James Cameron would accept with an unforgettable declaration: “I’m the king of the world!” a line also uttered by Leonardo during the movie.
While the storyline followed a fictional romance between the now iconic Rose and Jack, a stunning socialite and a handsomely rugged grifter, the historical background was all too real. The Titanic famously sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg in frigid waters. More than 1500 people died in the tragedy.
Against that unthinkinable drama, Jack and Rose’s fictionalized, sumptuous romance played out on the big screen, becoming a beloved classic for generations to come. It’s also worth noting that it launched the careers of both Leonardo and Kate to superstardom. Click through to see some of the most romantic moments from the unforgettable movie.
