“I didn’t expect such a big deal”: 27 years ago I was at the first screening of “Titanic” and I was left with lifelong scars

It is Wednesday, January 7, 1998, in the afternoon. I just celebrated my 13th birthday and I’m getting ready to attend my first solo movie screening at a small theater in my town, which is in the heart of the Yser department.

As a fan of James Cameron’s movies, from Terminator to True Lies via Aliens, I decided to check out his new action movie on release day: Titanic. I have no particular admiration for the famous liner, but knowing Cameron’s genius, I especially hope that the sinking scene will be spectacular.

The promise of a film of unprecedented scale

At that time I was not at all interested in Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslet, the general public did not know them yet. If I go to see Titanic, it is first of all the grandiose dimension of the project, which especially promises a technological revolution, as often with James Cameron. The media also played down the mention “The most expensive film in the history of cinema.”

So I go to the movies, buy my little ticket, and enter the holy of holies. You should know that in the 90s, when we went to the cinema, time seemed to stop and we really entered the world of dreams and imagination.

As soon as I entered, I noticed that the room was almost empty, there were barely 5-6 people. That way, I have enough time to sit quietly in the middle to fully enjoy the spectacle, happy that no spectators will come and chew their popcorn in my ears.

Before the movie starts, a few people arrive, causing the room to swell… to about ten curious people. Titanic then begins and I allow myself to be carried away by its story for 3 hours and 15 minutes.

A show to remember

As I said above, walking into a room in the 90s was like walking into a church. The idea of ​​attending a film screening had a truly solemn, even spiritual, side to it. So when we came out of it, it took time to find ourselves and get used to reality again. With Titanic, this feeling multiplied.

I didn’t expect to go through all the emotions, especially because of Jack and Rose’s tragic love story. James Cameron got me used to the wave of action, and I saw for the first time how he offered a story of boundless tenderness in the midst of an absolutely terrible drama, the sinking of the Titanic.

While I was certainly impressed by this key sequence of the feature film, I was particularly impressed by the duo between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. They carry the film and, above all, take us along in the whirlwind of emotions conveyed by Titanic. After a few days, I came back with the idea of ​​seeing the cinema again.

When I go near the establishment, I see an endless line. I understand that there is a line to attend the next screening of Titanic. I’m sure I’m pushing myself to the end. After 5 minutes, while the line is still full, the narrator shouts to the crowd that the session is over.

International triumph

Stunned, almost shocked, I returned home disappointed and blamed myself for not expecting future success. The fact that the first screening I attended was almost empty convinced me that the film would not destroy the box office either. I was very wrong!

After some time, Titanic became the biggest success of all time with 2.26 billion dollars worldwide! In France, it attracts 20.75 million viewers and becomes a real phenomenon. At the time, he broke the 60-year-old record! Indeed, Snow White has been No. 1 since 1938 with 18.3 million admissions. La Grande vadrouille followed with 17.2 million.

Titanic is still the biggest success in the history of France. Since then, Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis and Intouchables have come to tickle him, but have failed to defeat him. The former has 20.4 million curious people, while the latter has 19.5 million. In any case, if these few words have made you want to watch the feature film again, it is available on the Disney+ platform.