Fans of Titanic have long been debating whether or not Jack Dawson could have survived at the end of the movie. In James Cameron’s epic film, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character freezes to death while stranded in the middle of the ocean. Winslet’s character Rose can survive the tragic incident because she stays afloat on a makeshift raft.
Yet fans argue that Jack could have easily fit on the piece of furniture as well. People passionately take sides on whether or not there was room for Jack Dawson on the raft. Even the star of the film has weighed in her thoughts. Keep reading to find out what she has to say on the matter.
Leonardo DiCaprio will not address the controversy
No one gets asked about this question more than DiCaprio. Even though the film is as old as his current girlfriend, the What’s Eating Gilbert Grape actor refuses to address whether or not he could fit on the makeshift raft. During an interview for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Brad Pitt pesters his co-star on the controversy. “Could you?” Pitt asks. “Could you have squeezed in there? You could’ve, couldn’t you?”
Instead of giving Pitt an answer, DiCaprio crosses his arms and sulks. “No comment Brad,” he mumbles. Clearly, the Great Gatsby star is tired of being asked this question over two decades after the movie was released.
Cameron, who directed Titanic, is just as tired of being asked this question. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he addresses his frustration with the on-going debate. Cameron says killing Jack was an “artistic” choice, and that the raft was “big enough to hold her but not big enough to hold him.” He adds, “I think it’s all kind of silly, really, that we’re still having this discussion 20 years later.”
Kate Winslet thinks Jack could have fit on the raft
Winslet, being the awesome person that she is, is willing to address the controversy. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she finally breaks her silence on the debate. What does she think? The Revolutionary Road actress believes Jack Dawson could’ve easily fit on the door. She thinks there was enough room, telling Fallon, “You know, I think he could have actually fit on that bit of door.”
MythBusters tested out the situation to see if Jack could have survived
It seems as though the controversy has blown up so much that MythBusters took a stab at the situation. Adam and Jamie tested whether or not they could both fit on the makeshift raft. Turns out, they could!
Testing the situation out themselves, the MythBusters got on a makeshift raft identical to the one from the film. At first, it seems as though the board is only suitable for one person. Yet after trying to get on more than once and finding their balance, both MythBusters fit on the raft.
In the end, they believe that if Rose tied her life jacket underneath the door, it would have kept them afloat. Adam says, “80% of my body is out of the water and in the air.” Thus, Jack and Rose would have survived. Jamie says, “However noble Jack’s intentions might have been, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.” He continues, adding, “With all we learned, I think Jack’s death was needless.”
