Titanic will be available to stream on Netflix again in the U.S. and Canada starting on July 1, but some critics believe that this isn’t the greatest time for the film’s return, with OceanGate’s Titan submersible imploding and killing its occupants pretty much instantly as part of a tragedy that began unraveling last week. James Cameron, who directed the Oscar-winning 1997 film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, has told reporters that he was struck by the tragedy’s similarity to the Titanic disaster, which similarly involved people doing what some have described as very stupid things. “It’s really quite surreal,” said the Avatar 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 creator.
- Netflix is reintroducing James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic to its streaming service in the U.S. and Canada on July 1.
- The announcement has generated controversy because of the recent Titan submersible tragedy, in which four passengers and the sub’s pilot lost their lives.
- Netflix also released a trailer for the documentary The Deepest Breath, which focuses on freediving and features Alessia Zecchini, the current holder of the freediving world record.
- Some social media users have accused Netflix of being insensitive and capitalizing on the tragedy.
- Critics argue that the timing of the film’s return is inappropriate given the recent loss of life at the Titanic site.
- However, the decision to bring back Titanic and release The Deepest Breath trailer was made before the tragedy occurred.
- James Cameron, the director of Titanic, drew parallels between the Titan sub tragedy and the sinking of the Titanic, emphasizing the warnings ignored in both cases.
“I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed up full speed into an ice field on a moonless night,” Cameron said. “And many people died as a result and for us very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded to take place at the same exact site.”
From The Hollywood Reporter:
“The timing is so wrong,” wrote one user of Titanic returning. “Netflix just couldn’t help themselves,” wrote another. “Netflix is overstepping the boundaries of decency on this timing,” wrote a third. “People died in a tragic accident at the Titanic site and now to capitalize on the moment to garner viewers is beyond distasteful.” Yet another: “Netflix marketing director: ‘You know how we could really capitalize on the tragic deaths of those people? Put the Titanic on Netflix for some easy cash because $31.6 billion a year in revenue isn’t enough.’ How broken and sick does your brain have to be to think this way?”
Many wondered when, exactly, the decision was made to bring the epic film back to the streamer, with many assuming it must have been after the tragedy. But Titanic was actually reported on Netflix’s July films list before the Titan was first reported missing, and licensing deals for films are struck far in advance of the air date. Titanic has been streaming on Prime Video.