Jack’s death in the Titanic kickstarted a debate that has raged on for over two decades, and it’s a controversy even the film’s stars can’t escape. Titanic tells the story of the romance between upper-class girl Rose (Kate Winslet) and free-spirited drifter Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) set against the backdrop of the doomed luxury liner that sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic in 1912. The film became the first movie ever to earn $1 billion at the box office. Titanic received 14 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Spending $200 million and shooting for eight months, James Cameron took painstaking effort to accurately recreate the ship and the events of that fateful night. Fans still found fault with his labor of love though: After Rose and Jack plunge into the icy water, Jack fights to secure a piece of wreckage — a door — for Rose to float on, allowing her to survive until help arrives. Jack sacrifices himself, eventually freezing to death. For decades moviegoers have clung to the belief the door could have supported both Rose and Jack.
The audience relates to the Titanic tragedy because they watch it unfold from Rose’s and Jack’s perspective, and Titanic wouldn’t pack the same emotional gut punch upon every viewing if Jack survives. Cameron told Vanity Fair, “Had he lived, the ending of the film would have been meaningless. . . . The film is about death and separation; he had to die.” Fans may feel a happy ending would have been a more satisfying one, which is why the debate rages on. Some of the movie’s stars have weighed in, but one continues to keep his feelings on the subject buried as deep as the wreckage of the famous ship.
Kate Winslet
In 1998, Winslet received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Rose Dewitt Bukater. Winslet takes the heat when it comes to justifying Rose’s actions. In 2016, she told Jimmy Kimmel, “I think he could have fitted on that bit of door.” During a 2017 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the talk show host asked the actress why Rose didn’t keep her promise to “never let go.” Winslet atoned for her character’s sins. “I lie. I know. I fully lie, I hold my hand up, I let him go. Plus… he just should’ve tried harder to get on that door. I think he would have [got on].” The 20th anniversary of the movie’s release undoubtedly reignited the controversy.
Leonardo DiCaprio
While the Academy snubbed DiCaprio’s Titanic performance as Jack Dawson, he’s gone on to collaborate with some of the most prominent directors in Hollywood and receive 5 Oscar nominations. While promoting Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019, DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie sat down with MTV News, and the question of whether or not Jack could have fit on the door was met with a resounding “No comment.” Pitt and Robbie weren’t as quick to let DiCaprio off the hook. Pitt asked, “Could you, could you have squeezed in there? You could’ve, couldn’t you?” Again, DiCaprio’s response was “No comment.” Robbie asked DiCaprio if he voiced any concerns about making the door smaller. “Like I said, I have no comment,” said DiCaprio. The actor likely respects Cameron’s decision and is ready to be remembered for his work beyond the blockbuster love story.
Billy Zane
Billy Zane, who plays Titanic’s villain Cal Hockley, told Bustle DiCaprio’s character was an honorable guy. “In gesture and in action, Jack was always more of a gentleman than Cal. [Not saving himself] was the gentlemanly thing to do.” Given how slimy Cal looks climbing on to that lifeboat, there is admittedly something unappealing about desperation.
With the debate still being revisited over 20 years later, it feels like future generations will continue to question if Jack needed to die. Maybe in another 20 years, DiCaprio will offer a response other than “No comment.”
