Since “Avatar” is the top movie of all time at the worldwide box office, it’s safe to say that 20th Century Studios expects “Avatar: The Way Of Water” to make a lot of money when it releases this December. And for good measure, “Avatar” gets a remastered theatrical rerelease on September 23. And why not? It’s been thirteen years since the first film became a global phenomenon, so the general populace needs a reminder about it. Plus, more box office revenue: that’s what Hollywood really cares about.
And now, in time for its 25th anniversary, James Cameron‘s other highly lucrative, global phenomenon, “Titanic,” gets a remastered theatrical rerelease next Valentine’s Day. Disney handles the film’s international release next year with a February 10, 2023 release date, while Paramount does the same for the film’s domestic release, date yet to be determined. Deadline reports that the remastered version of “Titanic” will be in 3D, 4K HDR, and high frame rate. It’s the second time “Titantic” gets a large-scale theatrical rerelease, the first time a 3D version in 2012.
Cameron’s 1997 romantic epic about the infamous 1912 ship sinking was a cinematic sensation. To date, the film has made $2.2 billion at the global box office, good for #3 all-time. “Avatar” took over the top spot after its 2009 theatrical release, with $2.8 billion. “Titanic” also won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Cameron, Best Editing, and Best Original Score. The movie launched stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into superstardom and gave Cameron the pull in Hollywood to do whatever he wanted. And with that freedom, Cameron went on to develop the “Avatar” mega-franchise.
So, after audiences get to revisit “Avatar” in theaters on September 23 and “Avatar: The Way Of Water” on December 16, there’s an opportunity to set sail with “Titanic” once again on Valentine’s Day 2023. Is this an attempt by Cameron and Paramount to bypass “Avengers: Endgame” for the #2 all-time in the global box office numbers? Perhaps. But when has Hollywood ever said no to making more money off an already successful property?