Due to enormous budget overruns, 20th Century Fox executives suggested an hour of specific cuts from the three-hour film. They argued the extended length would mean fewer showings, thus less money, even though long epics are more likely to help directors win Oscars. James Cameron refused, telling Fox, "You want to cut my movie? You're going to have to fire me! You want to fire me? You're going to have to kill me!" The executives did not want to start over, because it would mean the loss of their entire investment, but they also initially rejected Cameron's offer of forfeiting his share of the profits as an empty gesture; they felt that profits would be unlikely anyway. One executive who suggested that he also forfeit half his share of his next movie was angrily dismissed from Cameron's house. Amidst all the doubt, Cameron credits Sherry Lansing, head of co-producer Paramount at the time, for her continued support for the movie, even when no one else seemed to believe in it anymore. Cameron even screened a rough version of the film for Lansing on a small monitor at his own home, and her approval and helpful feedback were a turning point for him, confirming that he was on the right track with the movie, and that the three-hour running time was justified. Finally, all doubts held by the studios proved to be moot when the movie returned a giant profit by staying at the top of the box office for weeks, and held the record of highest-grossing film of all time for 12 years (until it was beaten by Cameron's own Avatar (2009)). Despite the huge profit, the studio initially tried to deny Cameron his back-end salary, but since they had rejected his forfeit offer, they were legally obliged to pay him an undisclosed sum.

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