James Cameron included the ‘dirty’ scene from ‘Titanic’ that DiCaprio wanted to remove: “He begged me to take it out”

At this point, there’s little left to uncover about Titanic, one of the highest-grossing films of all time and the movie that catapulted Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into global stardom.

James Cameron crafted what many consider the perfect blockbuster: a sweeping visual spectacle and emotional rollercoaster that captivated audiences of all ages when it hit theaters in 1997.

The film went on to dominate the Oscars, taking home 11 Academy Awards—including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score—and racked up countless other accolades, including four Golden Globes.

But Titanic could’ve looked a little different—if not for one scene that nearly everyone wanted to cut. Everyone, that is, except James Cameron...

“Spit Like a Man”: the scene no one wanted

Yes, we’re talking about that scene—when Jack (DiCaprio) teaches Rose (Winslet) how to spit “like a man.” It’s quirky, unexpected, and, according to Cameron, almost didn’t make the final cut. The director revealed that the scene was widely disliked during production—not just by studio execs, but by the stars themselves.

“I wrote this scene where Jack teaches her to spit,” Cameron recalled. “The president of Paramount begged me to cut it. She hated it. My co-producer didn’t like it. The folks at Fox didn’t like it. Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t like it. Kate Winslet didn’t like it when we first read it together.”

Despite the pushback, Cameron stood his ground. He insisted on keeping the scene, and eventually won over producer Jon Landau, who later admitted it was the right call.

“It’s probably the second or third most beloved scene in the movie,” Landau said. “Here’s how I work: if I have a small doubt and others feel the same, I’ll reconsider. But if I believe in something strongly, I don’t care how many people tell me it’s wrong. It has to be personal.”

Trust the vision

Given Cameron’s track record, it’s hard to argue with his instincts. Of the five highest-grossing films in history, three bear his name: Avatar (No. 1), Avatar: The Way of Water (No. 3), and Titanic (No. 4). His creative vision has consistently proven to be both bold and wildly successful.

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