James Cameron Spent More on the Titanic's Replica Than the Original Ship Cost

James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic is legendary for its production. The original RMS Titanic cost £1.5 million to build in 1912 (roughly $7.5 million USD, or about $200 million in today's money). James Cameron spent approximately $200 million making the film about it — essentially matching the inflation-adjusted cost of building the actual ship.

The film went wildly over budget and was widely predicted to fail at the box office. Instead, it became the highest-grossing film in history at the time (overtaken later by Cameron's own Avatar), winning 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture.