Most Expensive Movie Ever Made

Written by: jeremy Filed Under: Art, World on November 9th, 2007

With three or four multi-million dollar blockbusters popping up every summer, it’s clear that film is important to American culture. In fact, the top three movies of 2006 grossed nearly $1 billion altogether. At its peak, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, the highest grossing movie of 2006, was shown in over 4,000 different theaters. You have to spend money to make money, though, and that’s no different in Hollywood. That said, here are the most expensive movies of all time.

Highest Budgeted Movie Ever Made

With a budget of $258 million, Spider-Man 3 (2007) cost more to produce than any movie before or after its release. With its amazing special effects, top dollar stars and devoted fan base, it’s little wonder that the movie merited such a high budget. Yet this expensive film is only the third most expensive movie when you take inflation into account.

Most Expensive Movie Ever Made in the US

Cleopatra (1963) was produced at a total cost of $44 million, which is over $295 million in today’s currency. Starring Elizabeth Taylor in the titular role, this film chronicles Cleopatra’s life from the advent of Caesar’s reign to her own death. With its original budget being a mere $2 million, it nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. While Cleopatra is the most expensive movie ever made in the US, it’s only the second most expensive movie ever made.

Most Expensive Movie Ever Made

The Soviet-produced film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” was produced in 1968 for over $100 million. Originally released in 4 parts, War and Peace has a running time of just over 8 hours. Even with its phenomenal budget, it took 7 years to produce. The film was also featured in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the Battle of Borodino scene which, with its 120,000 soldiers, is one of the largest battles ever filmed. At an estimated adjusted cost of over $500 million, it’s not likely the most expensive movie ever made will be unseated anytime soon.


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(12) Comments

12 comments...What do you think?

  1. Posted by Ali 22nd September, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    wrong! the most expensive movie ever made at this moment in avatar

  2. Posted by Jack 5th November, 2009 at 11:58 am

    Avatar might be the highest. What is the budget? I heard $280M, but we’ll see.

  3. Posted by Ian 1st December, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    Jack, AVATAR’s budget is around 500 million now…crazy! It’s now the most expensive movie ever made. And it’s gonna rule!

  4. Posted by hafidh elshary 14th December, 2009 at 5:17 am

    i wonder why the LORD OF RINGS did not mentioned
    I think it refunds are over 5000,000,000 and then TRANSFORMERS

  5. Posted by guy 14th December, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    avatar is they spent 500 million mula

  6. Posted by Freddy 28th December, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Avatar’s budget is around 230-245 million… the most expensive is Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End!! with a budget of 300 million

  7. Posted by Maoriboi 3rd January, 2010 at 4:00 am

    Re, Ali and hafidh

    Yeah AVATAR, cost 500 million,
    Weta workshops New Zealand 3D Animation,
    Who also did LOTR, KONG,
    Reportedly also have the 3rd most powefull 3D graphics computer in the world,
    WOOHOO go little ol New Zealand

  8. Posted by Jakob 7th January, 2010 at 4:14 am

    War and peace adjusted for inflation had a budget on $620 million and tops the list!

  9. Posted by Robert 11th January, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    I was just reading some facts and avatars budget was estimated originally to be around 300 million but after production it was really only about 200 million. So….

  10. Posted by Mal 12th January, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    For Me Spider-Man 3 Should be the highest. Just look at the goblin’s armor and weapons

  11. Posted by Gideon Larbi 13th January, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    avatar is currently the most expensive movie ever produced with an estimated amount of abt $500m

  12. Posted by pichan 14th January, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    i don`t care…it doesn`t matter…what matter is if the movies is great, if its worth it

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