With Titanic we got one unforgettable masterpiece by director James Cameron, which was considered the highest-grossing film of all time from 1997 to 2009. And for good reason: the passengers’ desperate fight for survival goes deep under their skin. With a Netflix subscription you can currently stream the moving epic with a subscription.
Masterpiece alert on Netflix: This is what Titanic is about
Against the backdrop of a tragic shipwreck, two fates collide in a way that couldn’t be more opposite: Rose (Kate Winslet), who lives a life in a golden cage. And the artistically gifted free spirit Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), who accidentally ends up on board the luxury liner Titanic. An encounter that will change both of their lives.
While the young couple rebel against a cruel class system inside the massive ship, the real danger lurks outside in the Atlantic. Without knowing it, the crew of the Titanic drives head-on into an iceberg – and with it in a fight for life and death.
Watch another Titanic trailer here:
Titanic – Trailer (German)
One disaster follows the next on board the Titanic
Titanic achieves the miracle of confronting its audience every time they see it again with a new detail that was previously lost in the exuberant flood of images. Because whoever gets involved in the experience gets it delivered not just one, but three films on an emotional level.
It begins with a lighthearted romance between Rose and Jack. They discuss art, have tap dancing competitions and break into cars. Just first love. But if you think you’ll see the main characters sweeping along the decks euphorically for hours, you’re sorely mistaken.
The drama doesn’t take long to come, because the social corset of 1912 is tightened and love like the one that arises here is simply not intended in the small-minded cosmos of the class system. As if that wasn’t enough, a deadly danger lurks in the Atlantic and inevitably heralds the action sequence of the trip.
Captivating images in Titanic take you into the depths
What James Cameron succeeds in his epic is to point out that it is neither the force of nature nor the lack of lifeboats that are fatal to the travelers – but human error, their prejudices and their egoism.
He skillfully combines an initially relaxed love story with merciless drama and tough action. Titanic has a clear message – and it has extremely stirring images.
So you suddenly find yourself swimming in flooded hallways, with flickering lights and people who are beside themselves with panic. This feeling is easily transferred to the audience, for whom there is also no escape. At least emotionally.
We experience up close the sinking of the supposed ship of dreams, which on screen becomes a nightmare in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Rarely has a visual narrative managed to captivate its audience in a similar way – and therefore more than deserves its reputation as the most successful film in cinema history.
Titanic premiered on December 19, 1997 and is available for subscription on Netflix and Disney+.