The story begins in the present day (1997), where an elderly woman named Rose Dawson Calvert (played by Gloria Stuart) visits a group of treasure hunters searching for a valuable necklace believed to be lost with the Titanic. As they explore the wreckage, they find a drawing of a young woman wearing the necklace, which prompts Rose to share her story.
The majority of the film takes place in 1912. Rose DeWitt Bukater (played by Kate Winslet) is a first-class passenger on the Titanic, traveling with her wealthy but controlling fiancé, Cal Hockley (played by Billy Zane). Rose is disillusioned with her life of privilege and feels trapped in her engagement.
On the other hand, Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is a penniless artist who wins a ticket to board the Titanic after a lucky poker game. He belongs to the lower-class passengers and leads a carefree, adventurous life. By fate, Jack and Rose meet on the ship's deck, and a deep connection forms between them despite their differing backgrounds.
As the Titanic sails towards its doom, their forbidden love story unfolds, filled with romance, adventure, and heartache. Rose finds herself torn between her love for Jack and her responsibilities and expectations from her wealthy family. Their relationship faces numerous challenges, including disapproval from Cal, who becomes increasingly possessive and jealous.
Tragedy strikes when the Titanic strikes an iceberg late at night, and the massive ship starts sinking. The crew and passengers scramble to save their lives. Amid the chaos and panic, Jack and Rose fight to stay together and survive the disaster. The film showcases the devastating human toll of the tragedy, with many passengers losing their lives due to the ship's limited lifeboat capacity.
In the end, Jack sacrifices himself to save Rose, making sure she gets onto a lifeboat before succumbing to the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. The story returns to the present day, where an older Rose reveals that she kept the priceless necklace all these years, throwing it into the ocean as a tribute to Jack and the memories of their time together on the Titanic.
"Titanic" is a powerful and emotional film that captivated audiences worldwide, blending a heartwrenching love story with a historical disaster, and showcasing the enduring legacy of the Titanic's tragic sinking.
