In 1997, James Cameron's "Titanic", became the first motion picture to earn a billion dollars worldwide. These essays ask the question: What made "Titanic" such a popular movie? Why has this film become a cultural and film phenomenon? What makes it so fascinating to the film-going public?

Contributors address questions of the representations of class, sexuality and gender; analyze the cross-cultural reception of the film in nationally specific contexts; and examine the impact of strategies for marketing the film through music.