A 2012 re-release would be a fitting tribute I think, perhaps a spring release leading up to the 100th anniversary in April. With a spring run, I could see it potentially adding a significant amount to its total if done in IMAX, re-mastered, etc. Titanic is 9.1% behind The Sound of Music on the adjusted list. It's at #6 right now adjusted for inflation, but with a 2012 re-release, I see it possible to reach #3 of all time. It would need to do $112.22 m as a rough rough estimate to tie The Sound of Music by 2012, if ticket prices adjust 3% a year.

I probably saw it a few times in the last two years on TV (one network has been rerunning it as crazy). But I'd definitely go and see it again in theaters.

The 15 consecutive weeks at #1 still blows my mind to pieces

They should just release Titanic in April or September again, to get past 16 non-consecutive.

Fox should release Titanic in 3D and I bet it will do another 150 million domestically and 100 million overseas.

...in theatres that fill with water during the finale!!!

Exactly.

Release in digitial 3D , RealD and Imax 3D.

Damn! Cant believe how high inflation has gone. Well when you think monster hits struggle to get to $400m, $900m domestic is impossible (and rightly so thanks to increased competition, DVD, internet etc)

And to think that it was a three-hour and fourteen-minute romantic epic opening amidst a crowded Christmas marketplace, and that it got as far as it did exclusively because of its longevity. Today, not even the big sequels with massive hype and dead marketplaces can top it, and even the leggiest sensations are out on DVD in a shorter time window than Titanic's theatrical run.

Three hours used to be considered a BO killer. Back in December 95 Variety had an article on Heat, Casino and Nixon and how there long 3 hour (approx) lengths hurt them at the BO (with Heat singled out at having solid BO). So Titanic being 3 hours plus certainly was looked upon negatively before its release.

As Box mentioned in another thread - Titanic had two years worth of vert negative press. But I remember thinking back then any press is good if they can turn it around before release. Thats exactly what happened. The first reviews that came in praised it for being one of the first films (if not the first) to seemlessly mix great visual effects with quality drama.

Then Paramount started to market it like The English Patient was marketed a year earlier - tv spots during female skewing shows focused on the romance, spots during sports and male demo shows should the boat sinking and the action. It worked like a gem.

We're very early in the hype stages, but Avatar seems a potential Titanic sinker. Especially if there are more IMAX theaters (i.e. higher ticket prices) by the time its released.

Its good we are remembering how impressive it is...so Australias amazing run wont go unnoticed

No

Yes...its unnavoidable...the market can only go so long without a mega breakout...should tdk fail to break 350..australias in a great position.

Avatar is more likely than Australia and even thats not a lock.

It will do well - but not that well.

I dont like Avatars release date for it...springs are so much bigger than the 90's. To ever top titanic youll have to open whre australia open, gets superb wom, increase the following weekend and thanksgiving ,great wom = 2 great holds following weeks followed 2 weekends of huge weekdays and increases during christmas and new years tiome, and then ride wom and award season legs through march.

Only way.

Look, I would be insane to actual predict australia to top titanic...therees no logic in that at all. I am just saying australias in a poistion to be really, really absurdly big breakout...bigger than anybody sees coming. Its gotta open wide and get big film esque press, but the rest should fall into place for a hugeeeee surprise.

It's sci-fi, it's not gonna come close.

Avatar kind of reminds me of King Kong, except it'll have more of a novelty factor it seems. It'll be big, but not that massive.

yeah remember that Star Wars sci-fi thingy, what a bomb.

Adjusted, Star Wars is 400 million ahead of Titanic and 2nd all-time.

It may not come close, but the genre has nothing to do with it. The hype is built around the way the movie is being made (and the fact that its Cameron who is doing it).

I knew Star Wars would come up. One could argue it's part sci-fi, part fantasy. What it certainly was is a freak of nature. In general, sci-fi* is a tougher sell.

*"hardcore" sci-fi, taking place on distand worlds and/or the future, not movies with sci-fi elements, like Terminator or ID4

It's ludicrous to compare ticket sales OR box office for films like Gone With The Wind and Titanic. I mean, yes, Titanic technically earned more money, but that's because of inflation. And, yes, Gone With The Wind sold more tickets, but that's because TV, VHS and numerous other diversions weren't available to the public at the time.

One of the first boxoffice enthusiast boards was Pathfinder which was run by Time.inc. In the weeks leading up to Dec 1997 the board was abuzz with speculation on how much Titanic will make. Many estimates for the final gross were in the $200m range.

One poster, Velouria, I'll never forget boldly predicted WEEKS BEFORE THE MOVIE HIT THEATERS that it would gross $540m.

Her thread became the main Titanic boxoffice watch thread and was popular even after Titanic left the theaters. It lasted for years and garnered 1000s of posts.

Ahh the memories.

The first 3 weekends were amazing but not utterly amazing. I mean you would expect a Christmas and NY bump from a popular film. But when the tallies for the first post-NY weekend in January 1998 came in...my goodness..excitement became paranoia. The train kept rolling. MLK Day bump. Weekend tallies held even the week after...then the Valentines Day bump. The atmosphere on those boards were festive and lively. I'll never 4get.

I still enjoy reading the Boxofficeguru archives for that reason.
http://www.boxofficeguru.com/archives2.htm

Titanic was a massive cultural event. Hell, back in 1998, at least half of the people in my first grade class had seen it and a bunch of us played a "Titanic is sinking" game on the playground at recess. Let me repeat that: First Grade. That's how enormous this thing was across the board.

I'd love to see a re-issue happen, especially in IMAX 3-D. I was deemed too young to see it in the theatre when it was out, so I'd love to finally see it on the big screen.

I am now officially old (at 29). *sigh*


lol...j/k

Speaking of nostalgia - - did anyone else sing the Titanic Song at camp when they were a kid?