James Cameron Explains Why Jack Had to Die

James Cameron, the director of the two highest-grossing films of all time — Avatar and Titanic, respectively — has finally weighed in on the age old question of why Jack had to die at the end of Titanic. There have been endless jokes about how Jack could have fit on the wooden plank along with Rose allowing the two of them to survive. Apparently, however, that is not the case:

It’s not a question of room; it’s a question of buoyancy. Jack puts Rose on the raft, then he gets on the raft — He’s not an idiot; he doesn’t want to die — and then the raft sinks. So it’s clear that there’s really only enough buoyancy available for one person. So, he makes a decision to let her be that person.

Okay. I hear that. But why couldn't they take turns?

Eh. Either way, Titanic was a fantastic film.