‘Titanic’ was the film that transformed Leonardo DiCaprio into a global superstar. Today, it is nearly impossible to picture anyone else as Jack Dawson, a role that made DiCaprio one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood.
But in the 1990s, his career was just beginning to take off, and many filmmakers had their eyes set on the actor. Because of his growing popularity, one fellow actor tried to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to quit ‘Titanic’ and instead go for what he believed would be a much better career move.
John C. Reilly Tried To Convince Leonardo DiCaprio To Skip ‘Titanic’
Speaking on the ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name’ podcast, actor John C. Reilly revealed that he once urged Leonardo DiCaprio to turn down ‘Titanic’. Instead, he wanted him to star in ‘Boogie Nights’, a film written and directed by his close friend, Paul Thomas Anderson.
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Reilly had close connections with both men. He had worked with Anderson on the director’s debut feature, ‘Hard Eight’. On the other hand, he had starred alongside DiCaprio in ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’. Confident in his friendship with DiCaprio, Reilly promised Anderson he would persuade him to join this film.
“I met him when he was 17,” Reilly recalled. “And I was like, ‘Give me the assignment, Paul. I’ll get this guy to do your movie. I’ve known him since he was a kid.'” Reilly was certain ‘Boogie Nights’ was the better opportunity and didn’t hold back when he was making his case. He bluntly told DiCaprio:
“Listen, Leo, let me tell you something. That movie ‘Titanic’ is about a boat that sinks. Everyone knows the boat sinks. No one’s going to give a s— about who’s on the boat.”
That is certainly one way to describe the plot of the movie, but not enough to convince Leonardo DiCaprio. He found himself in a difficult position but eventually signed on to ‘Titanic’ because his agents were convinced the movie would be a blockbuster hit.
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At the time, Reilly emphasized what a talented filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson was. He remembered telling DiCaprio, “This guy, this director, is going to be one of the most talented film directors going forward, and you should not miss this opportunity.”
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He was definitely right about that. What Reilly underestimated, however, was the immense cultural impact ‘Titanic’ would have. The film became the highest-grossing movie in the world during its original run, earning around $1.84 billion globally and launching DiCaprio into international superstardom.
Meanwhile, Mark Wahlberg took on the role of Eddie Adams, better known as Dirk Diggler, in ‘Boogie Nights’ alongside Reilly. ‘Boogie Nights’, in its own right, became one of the most acclaimed movies of the year and is still considered one of Anderson’s best works.
In fact, the story came full circle decades later when, in 2025, DiCaprio finally collaborated with Paul Thomas Anderson in ‘One Battle After Another’. Reilly joked about seeing the partnership happen after so many years: “It felt like, ‘Finally, he took my advice. It took 25 years or something'”.
DiCaprio has also previously shared his admiration for ‘Boogie Nights’. During a 2025 interview with Anderson for Esquire, the actor said, “My biggest regret is not doing ‘Boogie Nights’. It was a profound movie of my generation. I can’t imagine anyone but Mark in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece.”
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