The Titanic, that famous ship, has since become a popular cultural and film phenomenon. There can be little doubt, that since the ship went down in 1912, few other ships have had such an impact on culture or cinema.

In literature, the Titanic has formed the basis of novels, either fictionalised or not. In 1976 Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novel, Raise the Titanic was released. This is actually a fictional book, before the Titanic was raised. Its premise was based on the theory that the Titanic remained in one piece. Arthur C. Clarke's 1990 novel The Ghost from the Grand Banks also detailed the attempts by two groups to raise the Titanic before the 1912 centenary.

In media and entertainment, the Titanic's sinking has made a bigger impact still. It has featured in a variety of TV films and movies. The first of these was released in 1912, and was known as Saved from the Titanic, which was only a silent film. Given the limitations of the time it is considered a lost film, appropriately enough!

However, the film was the first in a good number that would be based on the sinking. Titanic films of 1943 and 1953 were later released. The first was actually a Nazi-propaganda film, while the second was a drama film and is better remembered as the first to be nominated for Academy Awards.

The 1980 film Raise the Titanic was based on the novel, which was not based on the voyage itself but the raising of the ship. As such, it is a more original Titanic film.

However, the most recent Titanic films have made the biggest box-office impact of all. The TV mini-series of 1996 was a prelude to the biggest box office hit in cinema history. The 1997 film, with a huge budget, set out to make the most realistic Titanic film in terms of historic details, with a fictional sub-plot. It broke box-office records, and it is easily the most viewed Titanic film. In addition it won 11 Academy Awards.

Aside from Cinema, the Titanic is also featured in folk songs and popular music. Zostawcie Titanica is a song written by a Polish rock group.

Titanic video games have also become available. Most recently Starship Titanic, which in fact is not based on the RMS Titanic boat but a star-ship by the same name. The 1996 game, Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, is more accurate.

Unquestionably, the Titanic has a popular culture, which has been best served through cinema. The success of the most recent Titanic film has put the ship at the forefront of box-office history, ahead of such films like Star Wars. Who could have expected that such a tragic event would ever do so?

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