The Big Picture

Hollywood’s most stunning films are often the result of incredible budgets, with classic epics like
Ben-Hur
and
Cleopatra
rivaling today’s blockbusters.
The success of a film is no longer solely determined by its box office performance, but also by factors such as marketing campaigns and performance on streaming platforms.
The “make or break” point for some films has become more complicated in recent years.

Hollywood has a history of indulging itself, and many of the most stunning films of all time are the result of incredible budgets. With adjustments for inflation, classic historical epics like Ben-Hur and Cleopatra are just as pricey as the blockbusters of today. A film’s budget and box office performance can change the way that the industry operates and inspire new trends. In the case of Ben-Hur, Hollywood saw a future in epic storytelling with elaborate sets and set pieces; in the case of Cleopatra, the film’s failure marked an end to this fruitful period of movie stars and signified the dawn of the New Hollywood era.

The “make or break” point for some films has become more complicated in recent years. Between the costs paid to theater owners, the price tag on the marketing campaign, and a film’s performance on physical media, VOD, and streaming, many factors can affect whether a movie is seen as a “success.” Budgets tend to grow beyond their original proportions when considering the costs of reshoots, last-minute editing changes, and the flexible release window. 2023 in particular offered an exemplary year of cinema, and many films had a massive budget that paid off. Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, for example, were released to critical acclaim, and each made more than $1 billion worldwide. Here are the top 10 most expensive movies ever made.

10 ‘Justice League’ (2017)
$300 million
Image via DC Studios

Production issues tend to dominate the most expensive films ever, and the story behind the $300 million Justice League is far more interesting than either version of the film. After Zack Snyder left the production, Joss Whedon effectively reshot the film in order to rebound from the critical failure of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, it seems like the previous DCEU installments had burned fans too hard, as Justice League failed to become a critical and financial success on the level of The Avengers. Even $300 million wasn’t enough to make Henry Cavill’s digitally erased mustache convincing.

Justice League Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his new-found ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.Release Date November 17, 2017 Director Zack Snyder , Joss Whedon Runtime 120 minutes Writers Jerry Siegel , Joe Shuster , Chris Terrio , Zack Snyder , Joss Whedon , Gardner Fox

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9 ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
$324.1 million

Avengers: Infinity War somehow did the impossible and brought together a decade’s worth of storytelling into a coherent narrative that balanced all the heroes. The hefty $324.1 million price tag for uniting these superheroes paid off, and Infinity War became the first Marvel film to pass the $2 billion box office threshold. The film’s now iconic ending, which saw the heroes losing their first battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin), proved to be a shocking cliffhanger that generated increased anticipation for the next installment.

Avengers: Infinity War The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Release Date April 27, 2018 Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Hemsworth , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Evans , Scarlett Johansson , Benedict Cumberbatch , Don Cheadle , Tom Holland , Chadwick Boseman , Paul Bettany , Elizabeth Olsen , Anthony Mackie , Sebastian Stan , Danai Gurira , Letitia Wright , Zoe Saldana , Josh Brolin , Chris Pratt Runtime 149 minutes

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8 ‘Fast X’ (2023)
$325 million
Image via Universal Pictures

Despite crossing the $700 million mark at the global box office, the excessive budget for Fast X means that it may not have actually been profitable. The shocking ending of Fast X indicated that The Fast and the Furious franchise wouldn’t be ending anytime soon, as Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) still needs to get his revenge on the new villain, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), by the time that the series reaches its conclusion. However, the diminishing returns of the Fast franchise suggest that the series may have overstayed its welcome.

Fast X Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.Release Date May 19, 2023 Runtime 141 minutes

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7 ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ (2022)
$350 million
Image via 20th Century Studios

Despite criticisms that James Cameron’s Avatar failed to leave a cultural impact after becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, the second installment in the series proved that audiences were still willing to go on another Pandoran adventure. Avatar: The Way of Water is another film where you can see the results of the price tag on screen. The stunning underwater photography and epic action sequences somehow managed to top the visual achievements of its predecessor. Avatar: The Way of Water was also a critical success, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Avatar: The Way of Water Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their home.Release Date December 16, 2022 Director James Cameron Runtime 192 minutes

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6 ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
$356 million
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The $356 million final film in the “Infinity Saga” brought back dozens of heroes for a three-hour-long epic that featured time hopping, cameos, and one of the biggest battle scenes in cinema history. Beyond its critical acclaim, Avengers: Endgame provoked emotional responses from viewers who had lived with these heroes for over a decade. Endgame managed to briefly become the highest grossing film of all time before Avatar topped it upon its re-release. Given the critical backlash that Marvel Studios has received for Phases Four and Five, the unique success of Avengers: Endgame stands out even more in comparison.

Avengers: Endgame After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.Release Date April 24, 2019 Runtime 180 Writers Christopher Markus , Stephen McFeely , Stan Lee , Jack Kirby , Jim Starlin

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1:40 Related These Low-Budget Movies Became Some of the Best Blockbusters Sometimes low-budget movies go on to become all-time blockbuster films. How many of your all-time favorites were made on a shoestring budget?

5 ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)
$365 million
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Surprisingly, the most expensive film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far was 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron at $365 million. Although it received generally favorable reviews and still became one of the highest grossing films ever, Age of Ultron failed to top the earnings and fan enthusiasm of its predecessor. While James Spader’s Ultron is not regarded as one of the best MCU villains, the film marked the debut of the fan-favorite character Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen).

Avengers: Age of Ultron When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.Release Date May 1, 2015 Director Joss Whedon Runtime 141 minutes Writers Joss Whedon , Stan Lee , Jack Kirby

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4 ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ (2011)
$410 million
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Following the massive success of the original trilogy, Disney quickly planned a fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — and a $410 million one at that — offering more of Johnny Depp’s iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow. While the general consensus was that Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was an overindulgent mess that stretched the narrative, it didn’t fail on a financial level and became yet another film in the series to cross the $1 billion box office mark. However, good will for the series didn’t last, as the fifth installment, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, was a critical and financial disappointment that effectively marked the conclusion of the series.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides The checkered past of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) catches up to him when he encounters Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a beautiful pirate that Jack once loved then left. Angelica forces him to accompany her to the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the notorious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Accompanied by a zombie crew, the trio sets sail to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. However, Jack’s rival, Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), also seeks the fountain, as does a ship from Spain.Release Date May 14, 2011 Director Rob Marshall Runtime 137 minutes Writers Ted Elliott , Terry Rossio , Stuart Beattie , Jay Wolpert , Tim Powers

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3 ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)
$416 million
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Where to start with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? The production of the final installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy was hit with setbacks at the very beginning due to the tragic loss of Carrie Fisher, and they swapped Colin Trevorrow out for J.J. Abrams in a last-minute change. Unfortunately, The Rise of Skywalker was a major blunder that squashed the inventiveness of The Last Jedi. While the film still managed to cross the box office $1 billion mark, it’s notably the last theatrical Star Wars film that we’ve seen in theaters. The underwhelming reaction to The Rise of Skywalker may have inspired Disney to put more emphasis on Star Wars streaming shows instead of theatrical films.

Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker In the riveting conclusion of the landmark Skywalker saga, new legends will be born-and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.Release Date December 18, 2019 Runtime 155 Writers Chris Terrio , J.J. Abrams , Derek Connolly , Colin Trevorrow , George Lucas

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2 2. ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ (2018)
$516 million
Image via Universal Pictures

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the second installment in the rebooted trilogy, and is arguably the weakest film in the Jurassic Park franchise. Fallen Kingdomtakes the saga in a darker direction and brings dinosaurs outside the park itself. Director J.A. Bayona put a greater emphasis on horror and suspense, and beefed up the roles of the new characters Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who had been introduced in 2015’s Jurassic World. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom managed to generate enough enthusiasm for the series that its sequel, Jurassic World: Dominion, also crossed the $1 billion mark. The films together cost a reported $844.7 million, with $516 million attributed to Fallen Kingdom,according to Forbes.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom In the follow-up to Jurassic World, Claire Dearing and Owen Grady aim to save the dinosaurs of Jurassic World from an impending volcanic eruption. Though some would see the creatures die and others aim to sell them on the black market, Owen and Claire hope to see humans and dinosaurs live alongside each other.Release Date June 22, 2018 Runtime 2h 18m

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1 ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015)
$533 million
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the first Star Wars film released by Walt Disney Studios, and immediately proved thatthe acquisition of Lucasfilm had been a success. Despite a massive budget that exceeded $500 million, The Force Awakens’s marketing campaign emphasized nostalgia for the original Star Wars trilogy with its prominent focus on the return of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). The Star Wars franchise may have suffered critical backlash within the last few years due to the overabundance of Disney+ content, but for a brief instance, The Force Awakens proved that the franchise was still worth celebrating.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.Release Date December 18, 2015 Runtime 138 minutes Main Genre Sci-Fi

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