--- title: "Titanic: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/titanic/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/titanic" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Titanic (1997): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 18 reviews: 15 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 5/5. The critic praises the film's revival of old-style studio gloss in a three-hour epic love story between a society girl and a third-class passenger, noting its sumptuous emotional assault and the final hour's capture of horror and fear. Cameron's direction and specific shots are highlighted for their fun and spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-zxcmgb/titanic/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2013. The re-release in 3D enhances the spectacle of the already masterful film, with added poignancy from seeing the young stars and the inevitability of the story heightening its emotional impact. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/titanic-3d-review-7618853.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1997. Ebert calls the film a flawlessly crafted, spellbinding Hollywood epic in the tradition of great spectacles that balances technical achievement with a convincing human story and historical drama. He singles out the convincing illusion of the ship itself and the way the sinking sequence forces characters into impossible choices. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/titanic-1997) ## Slant Magazine — R. Kurt Osenlund Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2012. The critic deems the 3D re-release a grand spectacle that holds up, praising the immersive visuals, narrative propulsion, and iconic moments while defending the love story and supporting cast against cynicism. They note the film's timeless quality and effective symbolism. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/titanic-3d/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 November 1997. Cameron’s epic blends spectacular effects with a heartfelt central romance and philosophical depth, elevating it far above typical disaster spectacles. The critic singles out the luminous performance of Gloria Stuart as the elderly Rose and Cameron’s masterful direction and technical achievements for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/titanic-review-1997-movie-1069238/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Rating NYT Critic’s Pick. 19 December 1997. The critic hails the film as a magnificent spectacle that invites comparison to Gone With the Wind, praising its ability to create a thrilling three-plus-hour experience that draws viewers into its lost world. The review singles out the graceful storytelling and the seamless integration of the young lovers with historical details of the Titanic disaster. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/19/movies/film-review-a-spectacle-as-sweeping-as-the-sea.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 2023. The critic calls the film a masterpiece and the purest expression of Cameron's dual nature as a tech visionary and emotional storyteller. They single out the seamless blend of spectacle, romance, and thematic depth, especially in the re-release context. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/titanic-rerelease-is-still-a-masterpiece.html) ## The i Paper — Jon O'Brien Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2025. The critic ranks Titanic as Cameron's second-best film overall. It praises the epic spectacle and star-crossed romance as a pop-culture phenomenon that overcame a troubled production to become a box-office and awards juggernaut. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/ive-watched-every-james-cameron-film-best-worst-4082569) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 1997. Lane praises the film as grand and wrenching, a spectacular that raises the stakes of cinema with technical and emotional force rather than subtlety. He singles out the special effects that resurrect the ship and the performances, especially Kate Winslet’s Rose. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/12/15/titanic-movie-review-the-shipping-news) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2012. The critic praises the film's ambition, verve and entertainment value as a colossal melodrama and weepie romance, noting its technical spectacle and class themes even in 3D re-release. Cameron's excitement for the engineering disaster stands out as a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/05/titanic-review) ## The Telegraph — Quentin Curtis Rating 4/5. 20 November 1997. The review calls Titanic a tender love story wound around the ship tragedy, commending Cameron's meticulous effort and genius in taking pains to deliver an ambitious epic that succeeds despite the gamble. The final scenes and overall monument to detail are singled out positively. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/12/21/titanic-tv-tonight-much-did-like-back-1997-read-original-telegraph/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2012. Chang finds the 3D re-release of the 1997 epic still taut, rigorous, and emotionally enveloping, with the conversion enhancing both spectacle and human dimensions. He singles out the immersive depth applied to the ship’s interiors and the visceral sinking sequences. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/news/titanic-resurfaces-in-impressive-fashion-1118052297/) ## Empire — Phil de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2012. The 3D re-release is welcomed as a chance to revisit the epic with impressive conversion results that enhance the sets and ship. The critic notes it retains power to stagger and thrill despite some dated supporting characters and effects. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/titanic-3d-review/) ## The AV Club — Jen Lennon Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2023. The critic finds the romance simplistic and the characters sketchy but praises the film's competent structure and rock-solid plotting. They highlight the powerful disaster sequences while noting the narrative's focus on romance over the real tragedy. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/titanic-25th-anniversary-review-1850115558) ## The Independent — MS Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 1998. The critic finds Titanic one of the most spectacular films ever made yet also one of the most badly written, with unspeakable dialogue that nonetheless does not sink the picture thanks to its apocalyptic direction and effects. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/cinema-kate-winslet-the-sinking-man-s-crumpet-1140753.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1997. The review deems the film a spectacular failure in its central love story and writing, which fail to engage despite strong performances, but acknowledges the compelling power of the sinking sequence as a virtuoso action set piece. It concludes that director James Cameron needs to find a new creative partner, preferably someone who can write. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-19-ca-39-story.html) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Rating 4/5. 30 March 2012. The review highlights the film's enduring spectacle, narrative momentum, and strong chemistry between leads as a sweeping big-screen experience, while noting the 3D conversion is solid but the dialogue can be overly gooey. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a373770/titanic-review-james-cameron-revisits-his-blockbuster-epic-in-3d/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2022. The critic finds the first half's romantic storyline weak and clichéd but praises the gripping second half's tension, horror, visual effects, and direction, noting how the love story gains emotional weight amid the disaster. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/every-james-cameron-movie-ranked-worst-to-best/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/titanic.md