James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster Titanic is one of the most famous movies ever made, but the production itself was legendary for its massive scale and severe complications. This quiz covers the reality behind the filming process.
You will see questions about the intense water tank sets, the health scares faced by the cast, and the bizarre incident involving PCP-laced clam chowder. Some questions are straightforward, while others focus on specific technical and behind-the-scenes details.
After you finish, check out our trivia on troubled film sets, visual effects history, or top box office earners.
Which James Cameron film famously featured a production so difficult that news crews dubbed it ‘Titanic 2’ due to rumors of a near-mutiny?
Cast Away (2000)
Cast Away (2000)
The Perfect Storm (2000)
The Perfect Storm (2000)
Titanic (1997)
Titanic (1997)
Poseidon (2006)
Poseidon (2006)
Which actress famously developed hypothermia during the filming of Titanic (1997) due to spending hours in an unheated water tank?
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Frances Fisher
Frances Fisher
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart
During the filming of ‘Titanic’, the cast and crew were involved in a chaotic, drug-induced incident involving which specific event?
A wedding catering service in New York
A wedding catering service in New York
A soup lunch break in Nova Scotia
A soup lunch break in Nova Scotia
A wrap party in Los Angeles
A wrap party in Los Angeles
A craft services truck in London
A craft services truck in London
Toxicology reports later confirmed that the clam chowder consumed by the film crew on the night of the incident was spiked with which substance?
LSD
LSD
Ecstasy
Ecstasy
Ketamine
Ketamine
PCP (Angel Dust)
PCP (Angel Dust)
Is it true that the production of the 1997 Titanic film built a near-full-scale model of the ship for filming purposes?
False, the ship was a high-tech replica
False, the ship was a high-tech replica
True, it was a 90% scale model
True, it was a 90% scale model
True, it was a full-scale model
True, it was a full-scale model
False, it was entirely digital
False, it was entirely digital
What was the primary factor that fueled the atmosphere of tension and perceived ‘near-mutiny’ among the crew during the Titanic shoot?
The script was being changed every hour without notice
The script was being changed every hour without notice
The crew felt the studio was not paying them enough
The crew felt the studio was not paying them enough
The production was running dangerously behind schedule and over budget
The production was running dangerously behind schedule and over budget
The director was physically abusing actors
The director was physically abusing actors
Which lead actor refused to wear a wetsuit under their costume during the water tank scenes, leading to their bout of hypothermia?
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
Billy Zane
Billy Zane
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio
What was the outcome regarding the investigation into the person who spiked the chowder with PCP?
The chef was fired immediately after the incident
The chef was fired immediately after the incident
The culprit was never identified
The culprit was never identified
An arrest was made within 24 hours
An arrest was made within 24 hours
The perpetrator was identified as a disgruntled crew member
The perpetrator was identified as a disgruntled crew member
Which aspect of the 1997 Titanic production involved using actual, historical footage of the ocean floor?
Extensive underwater exploration of the actual wreck site
Extensive underwater exploration of the actual wreck site
Stunts requiring high-pressure water jets
Stunts requiring high-pressure water jets
Recording the sinking sequence in a giant studio tank
Recording the sinking sequence in a giant studio tank
The use of real, historical debris from the wreckage during filming
The use of real, historical debris from the wreckage during filming
What major health complaint arose among actors who had to sit in the water tank for long periods during the Titanic shoot?
Heatstroke
Heatstroke
Dehydration
Dehydration
Hypothermia
Hypothermia
Skin rashes
Skin rashes
What was the actual duration of principal photography for James Cameron’s 1997 film, Titanic?
10 days
10 days
200 days
200 days
100 days
100 days
160 days
160 days
What was the behavior reported by crew members after they accidentally ingested the PCP-laced chowder?
They were hallucinating in the emergency room
They were hallucinating in the emergency room
They were locked in their trailers for safety
They were locked in their trailers for safety
They were sleeping on the ship’s prop deck
They were sleeping on the ship’s prop deck
They were dancing and jumping on tables
They were dancing and jumping on tables
Who had to explicitly tell producers, ‘If you want to fire me, you’ll have to kill me,’ in response to pressure to cut scenes due to the budget?
Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
James Cameron
James Cameron
Robert Zemeckis
Robert Zemeckis
How did the footage of the real shipwreck appear in the final cut of the 1997 blockbuster?
It was used for the wide shots of the ship’s bow breaking apart
It was used for the wide shots of the ship’s bow breaking apart
It was used for the film’s opening title sequence showing the wreck site
It was used for the film’s opening title sequence showing the wreck site
It was never used, and survived the cutting room floor
It was never used, and survived the cutting room floor
It was used for promotional material in the film’s trailer
It was used for promotional material in the film’s trailer
Why was Kate Winslet particularly vulnerable to hypothermia during the filming of the water scenes?
She was in a thin dress made of silk/synthetic fabric
She was in a thin dress made of silk/synthetic fabric
She was suffering from pre-existing illness during production
She was suffering from pre-existing illness during production
She was wearing a heavy wool coat that absorbed water
She was wearing a heavy wool coat that absorbed water
She was tethered to a mechanical rig that kept her submerged longer than planned
She was tethered to a mechanical rig that kept her submerged longer than planned
How did director James Cameron ultimately appease studio executives during the peak of production turmoil?
He hired a private security team to manage the set to keep it running
He hired a private security team to manage the set to keep it running
He relinquished his backend profit percentage to get the film finished
He relinquished his backend profit percentage to get the film finished
He paid for the extra shooting days out of his own pocket
He paid for the extra shooting days out of his own pocket
The studio threatened to sue him for damages
The studio threatened to sue him for damages
The main horizon tank used for the exterior sinking scenes of the Titanic movie held roughly how many gallons of water?
22 million gallons
22 million gallons
12 million gallons
12 million gallons
17 million gallons
17 million gallons
7 million gallons
7 million gallons
Which practical effect technique was used to simulate the sinking motion during the filming of the ship’s interior scenes?
The set was built to gradually tilt as the water flooded in
The set was built to gradually tilt as the water flooded in
Professional divers were used instead of actors for most shots
Professional divers were used instead of actors for most shots
It was filmed in a naturally occurring deep lake in Mexico
It was filmed in a naturally occurring deep lake in Mexico
The actors were forced to hold their breath for up to 3 minutes at a time
The actors were forced to hold their breath for up to 3 minutes at a time
Which actor, playing the treasure hunter Brock Lovett, was one of the many crew members who had to be hospitalized after the ‘chowder incident’?
Bernard Hill
Bernard Hill
Victor Garber
Victor Garber
Jonathan Hyde
Jonathan Hyde
Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
What is the commonly accepted theory regarding the motive behind the PCP-laced chowder incident?
It was likely a spiteful act by a disgruntled staff member against the production company
It was likely a spiteful act by a disgruntled staff member against the production company
The chef was mentally unstable and spiked it on purpose
The chef was mentally unstable and spiked it on purpose
The drug was meant for someone specific to mess up their performance
The drug was meant for someone specific to mess up their performance
The drug was intended for the catering staff as a joke
The drug was intended for the catering staff as a joke
What significant technical failure occurred with the Titanic movie set built within the large water tank?
The entire 17-million-gallon tank sprung a leak, requiring a complete overhaul.
The entire 17-million-gallon tank sprung a leak, requiring a complete overhaul.
The water purification system for the tank repeatedly failed, making the water unsafe.
The water purification system for the tank repeatedly failed, making the water unsafe.
The advanced hydraulic systems designed to tilt the ship constantly jammed.
The advanced hydraulic systems designed to tilt the ship constantly jammed.
A major support structure for a section of the set collapsed due to a faulty weld.
A major support structure for a section of the set collapsed due to a faulty weld.
Despite the near-mutiny and production nightmares, what historical box office milestone did Titanic reach regarding its budget?
It was the first film to cost more than $200 million ever produced
It was the first film to cost more than $200 million ever produced
It was the first movie to use computer-generated water effects exclusively for all scenes
It was the first movie to use computer-generated water effects exclusively for all scenes
It earned record-breaking profits by the second weekend
It earned record-breaking profits by the second weekend
It won 11 Academy Awards, tying the record at the time
It won 11 Academy Awards, tying the record at the time
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