View source for Titanic (1997 film)

===Initial screening===
Distribution for the film was split between Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox; the former handling the distribution in the United States and Canada, and the latter handling the international release.<ref name=":0" /> Both studios expected Cameron to complete the film for a release on July 2, 1997.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|title=Hollywood Braces for Likely Delay Of 'Titanic'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/21/movies/hollywood-braces-for-likely-delay-of-titanic.html|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 21, 1997|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216221259/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/21/movies/hollywood-braces-for-likely-delay-of-titanic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was to be released on this date "to exploit the lucrative summer season ticket sales when blockbuster films usually do better".<ref name="www.media-awareness.ca" /> In April, Cameron said the film's special effects were too complicated and that releasing the film on that date would not be possible.<ref name="www.media-awareness.ca" /> The studios considered pushing the film to late July or the first week of August, but [[Harrison Ford]], whose film ''[[Air Force One (film)|Air Force One]]'' was to be released on July 25, is reported to have informed Paramount, which had produced his lucrative ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' and ''[[Jack Ryan (franchise)|Jack Ryan]]'' franchises, that he would never work with them again if they released ''Titanic'' so close to his own film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drudge |first=Matt |date=May 21, 1997 |title=Drudge: Harrison Ford Holds Up the Titanic |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/05/drudge-harrison-ford-holds-up-the-titanic/ |access-date=July 9, 2023 |website=wired.com |archive-date=July 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709060046/https://www.wired.com/1997/05/drudge-harrison-ford-holds-up-the-titanic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 29, 1997, Paramount pushed back the release date to December 19, 1997.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|title=As Problems Delay 'Titanic,' Hollywood Sighs in Relief|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/29/movies/as-problems-delay-titanic-hollywood-sighs-in-relief.html|access-date=April 30, 2023|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 29, 1997|archive-date=February 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212081342/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/29/movies/as-problems-delay-titanic-hollywood-sighs-in-relief.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "This fueled speculation that the film itself was a disaster." A preview screening in [[Minneapolis]] on July 14 "generated positive reviews" and "[c]hatter on the internet was responsible for more favorable word of mouth about the [film]". This eventually led to more positive media coverage.<ref name="www.media-awareness.ca" />

Cameron refused to hold the film's [[Premiere|world premiere]] in Los Angeles.<ref name=":1" /> Paramount disagreed with Cameron's decision, but Fox acquiesced and went ahead and held the premiere on November 1, 1997, at the [[Tokyo International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Big in Japan: ''Titanic''{{'s}} premiere|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290257,00.html|access-date=February 11, 2014|newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=November 14, 1997|archive-date=April 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418021537/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290257,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> where reaction was described as "tepid" by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Strom|first=Stephanie|title=Arts Abroad; Harrison Ford's Not in 'Titanic'? Well, No Matter!|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/04/movies/arts-abroad-harrison-ford-s-not-in-titanic-well-no-matter.html|access-date=February 11, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 4, 1997|archive-date=February 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211113547/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/04/movies/arts-abroad-harrison-ford-s-not-in-titanic-well-no-matter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Positive reviews started to appear back in the United States; the official Hollywood premiere occurred on December 14, 1997, where "the big movie stars who attended the opening were enthusiastically gushing about the film to the world media".<ref name="www.media-awareness.ca" />