Back in 1997, before the rise of internet promotions, moviegoers relied heavily on reviews and word-of-mouth to decide what to watch.
And in both aspects, *Titanic* had a massive advantage.
As soon as the early screenings pulled in $6.15 million, industry analysts were already predicting that *Titanic* had the potential to be a box office sensation.
On May 7, Columbia Pictures went all out promoting *The Fifth Element*. Unfortunately, without major TV network support, Sony Entertainment was no match for 20th Century Fox.
The early screenings for *The Fifth Element* brought in $1.07 million. On the same day, *Titanic* raked in a staggering $18.96 million!
With the weekend approaching, the buzz was growing, and people were already speculating that *Titanic* could potentially break the $85 million opening weekend record set by *Jurassic Park*!
- **Saturday**: *The Fifth Element* grossed $13.9 million in North America, while *Titanic* dominated with $27.6 million.
- **Sunday**: *The Fifth Element* made $8.4 million, while *Titanic*, fueled by glowing reviews, smashed past the $30 million single-day record, reaching $31.5 million!
When the dust settled, *Titanic* officially wrapped up its opening weekend with a total of **$81 million**, leading the pack!
Although it didn't quite surpass *Jurassic Park*'s record, the numbers were more than enough for 20th Century Fox to start celebrating early.
In fact, they didn't even need a reminder—Bill Mechanic, who had been holding back for months, was already itching for a big win to solidify his position.
And *Titanic* didn't disappoint—it delivered.
Still, Fox decided to hold off on an official celebration for now. Instead, Bill Mechanic hosted a private party at his Beverly Hills mansion.
And it was *packed* with stars.
In Hollywood, when a big name like Mechanic throws a party, anyone remotely famous in town—actors, directors, producers—knows better than to miss it.
Especially when *Titanic* was looking like a *surefire* hit.
And, of course, one of the stars of the night was young director **Dunn Walker**.
**"Hey, little Dunn!"**
There weren't many people in Hollywood who dared to call him that. Dunn turned away from his attempt at chatting up Jennifer Aniston, surprised by the voice.
Holding a glass of champagne and walking toward him with a warm smile—was none other than **George Lucas**!
Dunn's eyes lit up instantly. *George Lucas himself?!*
This was *the* George Lucas—the legendary filmmaker who held an untouchable status in Hollywood. And now, he was the one approaching Dunn?
That was an honor in itself.
At *Titanic*'s premiere, Dunn had seen another Hollywood giant—Steven Spielberg. But Spielberg, ever the reserved type, had only exchanged a few words with James Cameron before moving on. He hadn't even acknowledged Dunn.
Lucas, on the other hand, was much more approachable.
Of course, it helped that he was close friends with Cameron and had already heard about Dunn's talent.
**"Hello, Mr. Lucas."** Dunn quickly stepped forward. He had nothing but the utmost respect for the man behind *Star Wars*.
**"No need to be so formal, call me George."** Lucas had a slight Southern drawl, and his casually unbuttoned collar spoke to his relaxed demeanor. *"I haven't congratulated you yet—you made a fantastic film."*
**"Thank you!"** Dunn clinked his glass against Lucas's, completely unfazed by the presence of a Hollywood legend. He grinned like an old friend. **"George, I'm a huge fan of yours. *Star Wars* is my all-time favorite movie!"**
At the mention of *Star Wars*, Lucas's eyes sparkled with pride. His round face lit up with satisfaction.
**"You know... I think you're actually younger than *Star Wars* itself."**
Dunn chuckled and waved his hand. **"Don't remind me about my age—it's practically a running joke in Hollywood now."**
Lucas nodded seriously. **"Dunn, you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. When I bet everything I had on *Star Wars*, people laughed at me too. But remember this—genius equals the future."**
Dunn's eyes gleamed. **"Genius equals the future, huh? That's quite a quote, George. But speaking of geniuses... I heard another one bought your animation division?"**
Lucas blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before laughing. **"Hah! You kids are quick. Yeah, I admit it—Steve Jobs was a genius. I misjudged him back then."**
Years ago, Jobs had acquired Lucas's animation division for just $10 million and turned it into the now-famous **Pixar Animation Studios**.
Dunn leaned in slightly and whispered, **"Don't worry, George. Who knows… maybe someday, I'll help you get it back?"**
Lucas raised an eyebrow. **"Oh? How so?"**
Dunn smirked. **"I don't know… Maybe by buying Pixar myself?"**
Lucas narrowed his eyes and gave him a half-warning look. **"Dunn, I know you're talented—making *Titanic* proves you understand visual effects. But animation and live-action are completely different beasts. If good effects were all it took, I wouldn't have sold that division in the first place."**
Dunn simply tapped his temple with a knowing grin. **"George, 'genius equals the future'—your words, not mine."**
Lucas stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter. **"You little punk! No wonder Jamie speaks so highly of you. Quick wit, great sense of humor, and confident without being arrogant…"**
Dunn grinned. **"Or maybe just *too* confident?"**
Lucas shook his head. **"Nah, I don't care much for formalities. If you don't believe me, drop by Lucasfilm sometime. See for yourself—no one there treats me like 'the boss'."**
Dunn gave him a thoughtful look. **"I'll take you up on that."**
Lucas smirked, catching Dunn's expression. **"You're not scheming to take over Lucasfilm, are you?"**
Dunn didn't deny it. **"Would it really be a bad thing if Pixar returned to its original home?"**
Lucas's expression turned serious. **"Ambition is good, Dunn. But you also need strategy. If you don't have absolute certainty, don't go around making enemies—even a genius can't win if he's surrounded by foes."**
Dunn's smile faded slightly. **"Thanks, George. I'll keep that in mind."**
Just then, Bill Mechanic, looking flushed with excitement, walked over. Compared to how distant he had been before, he was now noticeably more friendly. **"Hey, Dunn! What are you and George talking about?"**
**"Movies, of course."** Dunn sidestepped the question and instead asked, **"Do we have overseas box office numbers yet?"**
**"Not much, around $30 million."**
Mechanic's expression turned a little stiff. He knew it was his own fault—his lack of faith in Dunn had led to delayed distribution and weak international promotion.
But Dunn didn't seem too concerned. *Hey, at least it's better than in my previous life.*
**"No worries. Word-of-mouth is our biggest weapon."** Dunn was full of confidence.
Mechanic nodded. **"Exactly! The reviews are phenomenal. Even though we didn't break *Jurassic Park*'s record, I'm confident that our second-week numbers won't drop much."**
However, based on Dunn's experience, the industry's projections were laughably low.
**"Bill, trust me—the second week is going to be huge."** Dunn's eyes gleamed with certainty.
Lucas, still amused, decided to push back. **"Alright, Dunn—so tell us, what do *you* think second-week numbers will be?"**
Dunn grinned. **"First weekend hit over $80 million in just three days. The second week has *seven* full days. Shouldn't it be higher?"**
Mechanic quickly stepped in. **"Dunn, box office numbers usually drop after the first week."**
Dunn shook his head firmly. **"Not this time. I believe in my movie. Remember what I said?"**
Lucas chuckled. **"Ah yes—*$1.8 billion minimum, $2 billion target*?"**
Dunn patted his chest confidently. **"That's right! Trust me—because... genius equals the future."**