The Most Expensive Films Ever Made
Movies are expensive and with much of the serious filmmaking switching to streaming services, movies with theatrical runs need to be larger-than-life spectacles to draw audiences—but just how much are filmmakers willing to shell out to create our favorite blockbusters? These are the most expensive movies of all time, adjusted for inflation.
The Lion King (2019)
The original 1994 version of The Lion King was made using traditional animation techniques and is an acclaimed work of animation for Disney. The 2019 remake is CGI animation that generally pales in comparison to the original. The remake is also one of the most expensive films ever made, costing $250 million in 2019 (around $298 million today).
Walt Disney, The Lion King (2019)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy takes place eight years after the events in The Dark Knight (2008) where a now-retired Bruce Wayne resurrects his Batman identity to save Gotham City from terrorist Bane and nuclear destruction. The Dark Knight Rises cost $230 million dollars to make, which is around $305 million today.
Warner Bros., The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
The Marvels (2023)
This 2023 American superhero film is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019), and a continuation of the 2022 television series Ms Marvel. The Marvels cost $307 million to make but only made $206.1 million worldwide. Factoring in other expenses, the film’s net losses were $237 million.
Superman Returns (2006)
Superman Returns counts as the sixth installment of the original Superman film series which started in 1978 with Superman, starring Christopher Reeve. Although there were four previous numbered Superman films, 1984’s Supergirl is counted in the run of six films. Superman Returns was the ninth biggest film of 2006, earning $391.1 million on a budget of $204 million ($308 million in today’s dollars).
Warner Bros., Superman Returns (2006)
Cleopatra (1963)
The oldest film on the list, this lavish production starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was more famous for the two leads’ romance than the film itself. Cleopatra cost $31 million in 1963, at a time when the average film cost $1 million to make. Adjusted to today’s dollars, the cost of Cleopatra is $310 million while the film, despite bad reviews, earned $98 million during its initial run in 1963.
Twentieth Century Fox, Cleopatra (1963)
Wild Wild West (1999)
This 1999 steampunk Western was based, loosely, on The Wild Wild West television series which ran from 1965-1969 and which mixed Western, spy, and science fiction genres. The remake stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline but was not a hit, costing $170 million ($311 million today) and barely breaking even at $222.1 million.
The remake was also a critical failure, sweeping the 2000 Golden Raspberry Awards (aka the Razzies—the “awards” for worst movies each year), receiving Razzies for Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Song (awarded to Will Smith who did manage to avoid being nominated for Worst Actor).
Peters Entertainment, Wild Wild West (1999)
The Fate Of The Furious (2017)
The eighth movie of the Fast & Furious franchise, The Fate of the Furious is loud and fast, and cost a lot of money to make. In 2017, the cost was $250 million, which is about $311 million today.
A sequel to 2015’s Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, was a huge success, grossing $1.236 billion, which makes it the third highest-grossing film of 2017 and the 11th highest-grossing film of all time.
Universal, The Fate Of The Furious (2017)
Spectre (2015)
Spectre is the 24th James Bond film in the series of films produced by Eon Productions (the 1967 version of Casino Royale and 1983’s Never Say Never Again were not Eon Productions films and are not considered canon). Spectre is also Daniel Craig’s penultimate James Bond film (he finished his run as Bond in 2021 with No Time to Die, which is also the last James Bond film to date).
At a cost of $245 million ($315 million in today’s dollars) and grossing over $880 million worldwide, Spectre is the second-highest-grossing Bond film of all time and the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2015.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
This is the third and final film of the original X-Men trilogy, focusing on a “cure” for mutants that creates major issues for both mutants and humans. The film was a modest success, earning $459.4 million worldwide while costing $210 million, or $317 million in today’s dollars.
Marvel, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Beauty And The Beast (2017)
This was another remake of a classic Disney animated film. This time, it’s a live-action and animation mix based on the 1991 version of Beauty and the Beast. The film was critically well-received and was filmed at a cost of $255 million ($317 million adjusted for inflation). The film grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the 10th-highest-grossing film of all time and the second-highest-grossing film of 2017.
Walt Disney, Beauty and the Beast (2017)
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
This 2008 fantasy film is based on the fourth book of CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series and the second installment of the film adaptations. To date, three films have been made, with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader from 2010 being the last produced. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was budgeted at $225 million ($318 million in today’s dollars) and grossed $419.6 million worldwide.
Walt Disney, The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
Furious 7 (2015)
Furious 7, or Fast & Furious 7, is the seventh film in the Fast & Furious franchise and features Paul Walker in his final role. Furious 7 is the sequel to Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), and it cost $250 million to make, around $321 million in today’s dollars. Furious 7 grossed $1.516 billion worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of all time, as well as the fastest film to reach $1 billion in box office sales, taking only 17 days to do so.
King Kong (2005)
Since 1933, there have been 10 movies that are considered part of the King Kong franchise. This 2005 installment is the seventh overall and the second remake of the original 1933 King Kong. The budget was $207 million ($323 million adjusted for inflation) and the film grossed $556.9 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 2005.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The second installment of Sam Rami’s Spider-Man trilogy, Spider-Man 2 was the sequel to Spider-Man (2002). Peter Parker/Spider-Man takes on Dr Otto Octavius and tries to stop him from recreating a dangerous experiment. The film cost $200 million to make in 2004 ($323 million today), and grossed $795.9 million internationally.
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023)
The fifth and final installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, this was the only one not directed by Steven Spielberg. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and is set in 1969 with Indiana Jones and his estranged goddaughter trying to locate a German scientist who is hoping to alter the outcome of WWII. The film cost $326 million to make and only made $384 million worldwide.
Walt Disney, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a stand-alone Star Wars franchise film from 2018. Focusing on the origins of Han Solo and Chewbacca, the film takes place 10 years before the events depicted in the first Star Wars film. The budget for the film was $271 million ($329 million today). Solo: A Star Wars Story grossed only $393.2 million worldwide, the worst performance of any of the 11 Star Wars live-action films.
Lucasfilm, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the sequel to Ant-Man from 2015 and is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film received mixed reviews and wasn’t considered quite as much fun as the first film. Its budget was $330 million while it grossed $476.1 million worldwide, below the $600 million needed to break even (factoring in all costs after production).
Marvel, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice focuses on both Superman and Batman, DC Comics' most successful characters. A sequel to Man of Steel (2013), it is part of the DC Extended Universe, with Lex Luthor manipulating Batman to battle Superman. The film was made at a cost of $263 million ($334 million in today’s dollars), grossing $874.4 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
Avatar (2009)
This James Cameron film, the first installment of the Avatar film series, cost $237 million to produce in 2009, which, adjusted for inflation, is about $337 million. The film grossed $2.923 billion, ranking as the highest-grossing film of all time. However, the 1939 film Gone With the Wind, when adjusted for inflation, and given the decades-long availability, ranks as the highest-grossing film of all time with sales of over $3 billion.
Twentieth Century, Avatar (2009)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
The second in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest takes place a year after the events of the first film. At a cost of $225 million ($340 million in today’s dollars), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was a huge hit, breaking several box office records, and was the third highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release. In total, it grossed $1.066 billion worldwide.
Walt Disney, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Waterworld (1995)
At the time of its release, Waterworld was the most expensive film ever made, with a budget of $172 million which, adjusted for inflation, is $344 million today. The film received mixed reviews and became more famous for its inability to recoup its massive (for its time) budget. With marketing and distribution costs factored in, the actual cost of the film was $235 million while it grossed $264.2 million, and since theaters retain a percentage of the box office gross, the film lost money.
John Carter (2012)
This 2012 science fiction film is based on the first book of a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs novels. The cost of the film was $264 million, which is $350 million in today’s dollars. The film was considered a flop as it grossed $300 million worldwide, below what it needed to break even when marketing and distribution costs were factored in.
Walt Disney, John Carter (2012)
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was based on the 2005 novel of the same name. Its budget of $250 million ($355 million today) makes it one of the most expensive films ever made and the most expensive of all the Harry Potter films. The film grossed $941.1 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Tangled (2010)
Tangled is an animated film from Disney, released in 2010. Based on the German fairy tale “Rapunzel”, the film’s $260 million ($363 million today) budget makes it the most expensive animated film of all time, and the sixteenth most expensive film of all time. At the box office, Tangled grossed $592.5 million worldwide.
Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)
This sequel to 2009’s Avatar cost $350 million to make in 2022. The film was dismissed by critics but it was a box office success and was the highest-grossing film of 2022 at $2.320 billion worldwide. To date, it is the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Twentieth Century, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
A 2022 film focusing on Doctor Strange, this is the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At a cost of $351 million, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness grossed over $955.8 million worldwide. It was the fourth highest-grossing film of 2022.
Marvel, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)
Justice League (2017)
DC Comics continued to try to compete with the Marvel Extended Universe with its own DC Extended Universe. With several DC superheroes saving the world from a catastrophic threat, the film received mixed reviews. Its 2017 budget of $300 million ($373 million today) needed to reach $750 million to break even (factoring in marketing and distribution costs) but fell short at $661.3 million worldwide.
Warner Bros., Justice League (2017)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is notable for being Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher’s last film and was released in 2017, almost a year after Fisher’s 2016 passing. At $300 million, $373 million in today’s dollars, Star Wars: The Last Jedi grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. It was the highest-grossing film of 2017, the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the second-highest-grossing Star Wars film.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Spider-Man 3 is the third of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. Its budget was $258 million, which, adjusted for inflation, is $379 million today. Spider-Man 3, grossing $891 million worldwide, is the highest-grossing film of the trilogy and the third highest-grossing film of 2007. It was also the highest-grossing Spider-Man film until Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019.
Fast X (2023)
Fast X is the 10th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. A final film serving as a sequel to Fast X will reportedly be the final Fast & Furious and is scheduled for release in 2026. Fast X cost $379 million to make and it grossed $714 million worldwide, making it the fifth highest-grossing film of 2023.
Titanic (1997)
For the longest time, Titanic was the highest-grossing film in history, until it was surpassed by another James Cameron film, Avatar, in 2010. At a cost of $200 million ($380 million today), Titanic was expensive for its time in 1997, costing a little over $1 million per minute of screen time. In the end, Titanic grossed over 2.264 billion worldwide.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
This sequel to The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is also the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its budget of $325 million in 2018 dollars is around $394 million today. Avengers: Infinity War grossed over $2 billion, making it the first superhero film to hit the $2 billion mark worldwide, and it was the fourth highest-grossing film at the time of its release (it’s now eighth highest of all time).
Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The sequel to Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame is the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Costing $356 million to make ($424 million today), Avengers: Endgame grossed $2.799 billion worldwide, surpassing Avengers: Infinity War’s theatrical run in 11 days. It was the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 to March 2021 (sitting now at number seven).
Marvel, Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
The sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is the third installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Its budget of $300 million ($441 million in today’s dollars) was significant for its time, and it grossed $963 million, making it the highest-grossing film of 2007.
Walt Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)
This sequel to The Avengers (2012) is also the 11th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At a budget of $365 million ($469 million in today’s dollars), Avengers: Age of Ultron is one of the most expensive movies ever made. Worldwide, it grossed $1.4 billion, and it was the fourth highest-grossing film of 2015.
Marvel, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
The third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is also the final episode of the nine-part Skywalker Saga. At a budget of $416 million, it is the fourth most expensive film ever made. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker grossed over $1.077 billion worldwide, making it the seventh highest-grossing film of 2019. However, it was also the lowest-grossing of the sequel trilogy.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. At a cost of $379 million ($513 million in today’s dollars), it was the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release. Its worldwide gross of $1.046 billion made it the third-highest-grossing film of 2011.
Warner Bros., Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
A sequel to 2015’s Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was the second installment in the Jurassic World series and the fifth installment overall in the Jurassic Park film series. Its budget of $432 million (adjusted for inflation as $524 million) makes it the second most expensive film of all time. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, the third Jurassic film to pass the billion-dollar mark, and is the 12th-highest-grossing film of all time.
Universal, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the most expensive film ever made. The seventh film in the Skywalker Saga, and the sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: The Force Awakens cost $447 million to make, which is about $575 million in today’s dollars. It grossed $2.07 billion worldwide, which makes it the highest-grossing film of 2015, and it was the third-highest-grossing film at the time of its release.
Yet despite all the money it raked in, Star Wars creator George Lucas hated it. Lucas criticized the film for being too similar to the first movie in the series, A New Hope, stating that the lack of originality was evident throughout, from the plot details to the visual elements of the movie.
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Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
