There's an insignificant, small, trivial and not important at all part of every movie called "the script" . If it says you have to die, no matter what you say or what you want to do, you will have to. If we could choose what will happen, I would probably have saved the whole ship... (and there would be no movie at all ^^) so, yes... Leo had to die because the script said so !!! =p ^^

I think I am the only one who didn't like the film. Too long and obvious. Now, why did Leonardo Di Caprio have to die in Titanic? It doesn't have to be with 'Classes nor History', but with touch the spectators feelings and pockets. ^^ I bet the real Kate and Jack weren't so cute and lovely like the ones Kate and Leonardo played. :P

to delineate what really "love" is..

Because there were't place for two people and he chose to save his girlfriend.So, he died...

That's the highlight of this movie, sincere love is cherished and is memorable.