It's Official: Titanic is now, worldwide, the most successful mocie in history.
The film grossed $919.8 million worldwide as of Tuesday morning, surpassing the record held by jurassic Park, accorrding to the 20th Century Fox, the film's distributor outside North America. Jurrasic Park brought in $914 million worldwide.
"We're obviously in this business to make money, but being associated with somethind like Titanic transcends that," says Jim Gianopulos, president of 20th Century Fox International. "It's a film that touches people emotionally all over the world. To see audiences respond in this way is particularly gratifying."
Titanic's secret is the repeat viewers, many of them teen-age girls. But the film's audience crosses gender,ethnic and generational lines.
The movie is, so far, the No. 2 moie of all time in North America but will knock Star Wars from the top spot within three weeks, predicts Paul Dergarabedian of the Exhibitor Relations box office tracking firm. "It's taken Star Wars 21 years to amass its gross, and it's taken Titanic 67 days," he says.
Director James Cameron deferred hid directinf salary when Titanic went over budget and behind schedule. That may be rectified.
"We're in business long- term with Jim, and when all the dust settles down, we're likely to find a fair and equitable solution," says Bill Mechanic, president and CEO of 20th Century Fox.
by Andy Seiler
