The Ultimate Titanic Movie Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Ultimate Titanic Movie Quiz
Image: Marie Wallace/Getty

About This Quiz

One of the most beloved films of the 20th century, "Titanic" made James Cameron king of the cinematic world. You know the history — and the love story — but do you know the facts, figures and tasty trivia behind this blockbuster film? Take our quiz and find out.
What major star was originally a favorite for the lead male role?
Matthew McConaughey
Johnny Depp
Ben Affleck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Matthew McConaughey was favored by the studio, but with support from James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio won the role.

Who played the role of the unsinkable Molly Brown in the film?
Debbie Reynolds
Reba McEntire
Kathy Bates
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although Reba McEntire was offered the part, she had to pass because of prior commitments. The role was ultimately played by Academy Award winner Kathy Bates.

Kate Winslet contracted what illness during filming?
mononucleosis
pneumonia
dysentery
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Winslet contracted pneumonia, probably as a result of spending long hours in chilly water. Most of the other cast members wore wet suits under their clothes, but she did not, probably because the garment would show or create additional bulk.

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Adjusted for today's dollars, did the Titanic ocean liner cost more or less to make than the movie about its ultimate fate?
the ship cost more
the movie cost more
they cost about the same amount
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The film cost more. In 1997 when the film was produced, it would have cost a high-end figure of about $150 million to build the Titanic ocean liner. It cost around $200 million to make the film.

How much money has "Titanic" grossed worldwide?
$1 billion
$1.6 billion
$2.2 billion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to Box Office Mojo, worldwide grosses for the film have reached nearly $2.2 billion.

What was the working title of the film?
"Planet Ice"
"Iceberg"
"Epic Rose"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The film was titled "Planet Ice" in early footage taken of icebergs. It kept that title for a while as misdirection for the overly curious.

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How old was the version of Rose played by Gloria Stuart?
80
95
101
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gloria Stuart played a 101-year-old Rose. The actress was 86 at the time.

What was the name of Rose's fiancé (played by Billy Zane)?
Caledon
Buckley
Cameron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That would be Caledon Hockley, or Cal for short.

How old was Leonardo DiCaprio during the filming of "Titanic?"
18
22
24
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He was 22.

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How old was Kate Winslet during the filming of "Titanic?"
18
19
21
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

She was 21.

What is the name of the gem given to Rose by her wealthy fiancé?
the heart of the ocean
the flame of the sea
the setting sun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was a huge, perfect blue diamond called the heart of the ocean.

How does Jack score his Titanic tickets?
steals them
wins them
finds them
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He wins two third-class tickets in a poker game and invites his friend Fabrizio De Rossi along for the ride.

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What is the name of the love theme from "Titanic?"
"Titanic Ballad"
"My Heart Will Go On"
"Love Hurts"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The song is "My Heart Will Go On." This Academy Award winner was written by composer James Horner and lyricist Will Jenning.

How much of an age difference is there between Rose and Cal?
5 years
9 years
13 years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's a 13-year age gap. Rose is 17 and Cal is 30.

It isn't uncommon for directors to make cameo appearances in their films. How many times does James Cameron appear on film in "Titanic?"
once
twice
three times
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He appears twice, once during the below-decks party, and again waiting for a lifeboat later in the film.

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In which film did Bill Paxton (who played Brock Lovett) first work with director James Cameron?
"Aliens"
"The Terminator"
"Titanic"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paxton and Cameron have had a long and successful association. Paxton's first movie with Cameron directing was the 1984 film "The Terminator." You can see him in an early scene as one of the punks killed when the cyborg (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) steals clothing someone is unlucky enough to still be wearing.

What was James Cameron's actual salary for directing Titanic?
$0
$8 million
$15 million
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That would be 0. Cameron forfeited his salary (an estimated $8 million), when the film ran over budget.

You probably remember the powerful wave that burst through the doorway as the Titanic began to sink. How much water was used in that scene?
40,000 gallons
80,000 gallons
120,000 gallons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although the original plan called for 40,000 gallons of water to rush through the door, Cameron didn't think that was enough. He increased it to 120,000 gallons.

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A true critical and popular success, how many Oscars did "Titanic" win?
9
11
15
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It won 11 awards, for best: picture, director (James Cameron), art direction, cinematography, sound, sound effects editing, original dramatic score, original song ("My Heart Will Go On"), costumes, film editing and visual effects.

"Titanic "was released in the U.S. in November of 1997. How many weeks in a row did it claim the No. 1 box office spot?
5
12
15
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was No. 1 at the box office for 15 weeks running.

"Titanic" held the record for highest grossing film of all time until it was unseated in 2010 by what blockbuster?
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2"
"The Avengers"
"Avatar" surpassed "Titanic" at the box office. Both were James Cameron films.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Avatar" surpassed "Titanic" at the box office. Both were James Cameron films.

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Although it actually won 11 Academy Awards, "Titanic" was nominated for how many?
11
14
16
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was nominated for 14. This placed it in a tie with the film "All About Eve" (released in 1950) for most nominations.

What actress played Rose as an old woman in the film?
Gloria Stuart
Mary Astor
Joan Fontaine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The role was played by Gloria Stuart. For her touching portrayal of Rose at the end of her life, Stuart became the oldest actor, at the age of 87, to be nominated for an Academy Award.

What is Jack's most famous (and spoofed) line in the film?
"I'm the king of the world!"
"I'm master of the universe!"
"I'm captain of the seas!"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jack shouts "I'm the king of the world!" The American Film Institute has included his enthusiastic proclamation in their list of the top 100 quotes in movie history.

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Who sang the love theme from "Titanic?"
Céline Dion
Madonna
Maureen McGovern
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Céline Dion sang the theme song.

To accommodate the limitations of filming, and make some scenes look more realistic, some sets were either larger or smaller than they would have been in real life. Was the main staircase made larger or smaller?
larger
smaller
the same size
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The main staircase was made somewhat larger.

As Rose and Jack meet at the Grand Staircase near the conclusion of the film, the clock in the scene is set to the time of the actual sinking of the Titanic. What time is displayed?
2:20 a.m.
4:22 a.m.
6:06 a.m.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The time is set to 2:20 a.m.

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What well-known actor was in line for the role of Captain Smith but had to pass for health reasons?
Robert De Niro
Robert Loggia
Gavin MacLeod
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Robert De Niro was suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and declined the role.

After the ship sinks, what type of flotsam is keeping Rose afloat?
wood paneling
a door
part of the hull
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whether you think the section of wood paneling on which Rose survives the frigid waters was large enough for Jack to climb onto or not, it wasn't just stagecraft. It was modeled after an actual piece of Titanic wreckage.

What cast member was old enough to have actually been a passenger on the Titanic?
Gloria Stuart
Bernard Hill (the Captain)
Bernard Fox (Col. Archibald Gracie)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That would be Gloria Stuart.

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