Have you ever wondered about the jaw-dropping budgets of Hollywood blockbusters? The numbers seem mind-boggling, from Secret Invasion’s staggering $212 million to The Creator’s awe-inspiring visuals achieved on a relatively modest $86 million.
The reasons behind these skyrocketing costs are varied. From the extensive scope of action sequences, blending practical effects with CGI that’s sometimes overused and rushed, to the exorbitant salaries of A-list actors, the landscape of film and television production has become a realm of unprecedented expenses.
In light of this, we’re delving into cinematic history to present you with a lineup of the ten most expensive movies ever created. Brace yourselves, as these budgets are truly eye-watering.
Top 10 Most Expensive films Ever Made (Unadjusted for inflation)
Here’s a rundown of the ten most expensive films ever made, without adjusting for inflation. This means we’re considering the original budgets when they were produced. Although movies once cost mere millions to produce, adjusting these figures for the rising cost of living would reveal much larger numbers.
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $447 million
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – $432 million
3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – $416 million
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $379 million
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron – $365 million
6. Avengers: Endgame – $356 million
7. Avatar: The Way of Water – $350 million
8. Fast X – $340 million
9. Avengers: Infinity War – $325 million
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End / Justice League (2017) / Star Wars: The Last Jedi – $300 million
According to sources, the anticipated Avatar 2 might claim the top spot with an estimated budget of $460 million, potentially including costs for its sequel. However, for this list, we’re going with the widely accepted budget for Avatar 2.
Top 10 Most Expensive Movies Ever Made (Adjusted)
Now, things get a bit more intricate. We’ve compiled the same top ten list, but this time, we’ve adjusted the budgets for inflation. This is where myths about older movie budgets are debunked. For example, Metropolis wouldn’t cost $200 million in today’s currency; it’s closer to $24 million. Similarly, claims that Sergei Bondarchuk’s War and Peace was a $100 million production in 1966 translate to over $940 million today, which is simply not true.
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $552 million
2. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – $503 million
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $492 million
4. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – $476 million
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron – $451 million
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – $423 million
7. Avengers: Endgame – $407 million
8. Avengers: Infinity War – $379 million
9. Avatar: The Way of Water – $350 million
10. Fast X – $340 million
Interestingly, while the top ten remains largely consistent, newer films maintain their dominance due to inflation’s impact over the years. Digging deeper, you’d find fascinating tidbits, such as Titanic’s late ’90s budget of $200 million translating to $365 million today, or Spider-Man 3’s 2007 cost of $258 million now standing at $364 million. Even Waterworld’s infamous 1995 flop with a budget of $172 million equates to $330 million in today’s currency.
Thanks Dexerto
