Indiana Jones Defeated By Titanic In The Most Embarrassing Way Possible
It may not have been big enough to hold two people, but it’s famous enough to sell for more than half a million dollars. The iconic door from James Cameron’s 1997 masterpiece, Titanic, fetched a staggering $718,750 at a recent auction selling famous Hollywood props. The ornate piece, which became a symbol of tragic romance as it saved Kate Winslet’s character, Rose, while sealing the fate of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack, stole the show at Heritage Auctions’ Treasures from Planet Hollywood event, beating out other iconic pieces of movie memorabilia, including Indiana Jones’ iconic bullwhip.
Why Didn’t He Get On The Door!?
Although often referred to as a door, the auction selling the Titanic and Indiana Jones memorabilia clarified that the item was actually a part of the door frame above the first-class lounge entrance of the ill-fated ship. Since the 1997 romance was released, there has been a long-standing debate on whether both Jack and Rose could have fit on the panel.
On the 25th anniversary of Titanic, director James Cameron explored this question with a team of experts. They determined that Jack likely could have stayed on the door and probably lived, but he didn’t want to do anything that could put Rose at risk. Instead, he opted to stay in the icy water to ensure Rose’s safety.
Other Indiana Jones Props Sold
While the Titanic door held the record for selling for the largest sum, the other items at the auction didn’t do too shabby. Harrison Ford’s whip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom set a franchise record, commanding an impressive $525,000. Additionally, a set of three Sankara stones from the film sold for $100,000, while the Holy Grail “Cup of a Carpenter” from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade fetched $87,500.
More Movie Prop Auctions
While Titanic and Indiana Jones stole the show, quite a few movie fans got away with their fair share of classic Hollywood items. Bill Murray’s red-rose bowling ball from Kingpin rolled its way to a hefty $350,000, Jack Nicholson’s terrifying ax from The Shining sold for $125,000,
Tobey Maguire’s black symbiote suit from Spider-Man 3 swung into action, fetching $125,000. Additionally, the shaving cream can from Jurassic Park, used by Wayne Knight’s character to smuggle dinosaur embryos, secured an impressive $250,000.
The First Film To Earn A Billion
It’s no surprise Titanic claimed the record for the highest bid, even against iconic movies like Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. The James Cameron movie is used to making, breaking, and matching records. In 1998, Titanic became the inaugural film to break the $1 billion mark in worldwide box office revenue and has continued to grow, reaching an astounding $2.246 billion as of 2024.
Titanic Did Not Sink At The Box Office
This record remained unchallenged for 12 years until James Cameron surpassed it with his own creation, Avatar, which amassed $1.858 billion within a mere 39 days of its release and has reached a total of $2.923 billion as of this year.
Indiana Jones is a billion-dollar franchise, too. But unlike Titanic, the Harrison Ford-led franchise had to make five movies and promote three re-releases to get there.
