The King can't drown Titanic!

Nominated in 11 Oscar categories, The Lord of the Rings: Return Of The King made history on Monday by crossing $1 billion gross worldwide. But it would take more than a miracle for it to torpedo the only other film in the $1 billion club: Titanic.

Directed by James Cameron, the1997 release which won the top Oscars, earned a mighty $1.8 billion in theatres when ticket prices were at least 15 per cent lower in America and Europe.

Although benefitting from the Oscar nominations, especially the best picture and best director categories, ROTK looks headed for a $1.1 billion final mark, Oscar or no Oscar.

Even if it wins the top Oscars, there is no way it could get a new life that will take it close to Titanic. At most, the film, which has grossed a mighty $110 million in England and $90 million in Japan, could add a few more millions. It has done its share of repeat business across the world.

But with a few major Oscar nods, its DVD sales will be stronger. The movie is expected to earn over $1 billion in DVD and video sales and rentals worldwide.

The success of ROTK is even more significant when one considers that it is the best reviewed and most successful film in the trilogy. It is impossible to recall another last film in a trilogy that has received such attention.

The first film in the series -- The Fellowship Of The Ring -- earned about $865 million worldwide in 2001 and The Two Towers grossed $921 million a year later.

In most markets, except Japan where it opened two weeks ago, ROTK has marshalled an impressive $32 million, the film has been steadily tapering off. In America, it was 10th on the weekend box-office chart, having grossed about $3 million and a $361 million gross.

Directed by Peter Jackson and based on the books of J R R Tolkien, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy has, by now, grossed about $2.8 billion worldwide.

Initially, Miramax developed the Tolkien saga over a decade ago. But the parent company Disney did not like the idea of spending over $300 million on the trilogy. They thought it too risky.

Then, New Line, a sister concern of Warner Bros, stepped in and took what was considered a most audacious step. At the time, New Line was best known for its slasher movies and comedies.

Miramax still gets credit for developing the project and, reportedly, a tiny portion of the profits.