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.
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.
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.
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.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
wrong! the most expensive movie ever made at this moment in avatar
Avatar might be the highest. What is the budget? I heard $280M, but we’ll see.
Jack, AVATAR’s budget is around 500 million now…crazy! It’s now the most expensive movie ever made. And it’s gonna rule!
i wonder why the LORD OF RINGS did not mentioned
I think it refunds are over 5000,000,000 and then TRANSFORMERS
avatar is they spent 500 million mula
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
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
War and peace adjusted for inflation had a budget on $620 million and tops the list!
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….
For Me Spider-Man 3 Should be the highest. Just look at the goblin’s armor and weapons
avatar is currently the most expensive movie ever produced with an estimated amount of abt $500m
i don`t care…it doesn`t matter…what matter is if the movies is great, if its worth it
The quality of the movie matters and the irony
Well I have to disagree
Avatar cost at least 200 million
if u count the money the paid for the development of RealD3D that puts it around 400 million
if you count the number of cell phones James Cammeron nailed to walls that puts it around 400.001 million
i think the production costs of avatar is not more than $400million.. oh heck its doesnt matter as long as its a good movie.
the most expensive movie is avatar 280m
You're all wrong:
The Soviet production of War and Peace – adjusted for inflation and currency devaluations – is by far the mosst expensive film ever produced at around $700,000,000
Avatar also made $2.7billion from spending $280million.. That's still around $2.4billion dollars in profit..