Netflix Original, The Electric State, made headlines upon its release, just not for the reasons you might think. Despite being one of the most expensive movies ever made, the Russo Brothers’ adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s well-loved graphic novel has failed to create a stir among viewers or critics. With CGI and expensive set pieces driving up costs, superhero, sci-fi, and action movies of the last decade rank among Hollywood’s most expensive, and these days, getting profitable returns has become a much riskier game.
Wondering which titles had the biggest costs? Here are the 10 most expensive movies ever made without adjusting for inflation. The JustWatch guide below will also spotlight where to watch them across streaming platforms like Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
You know it. You’ve heard of it, and you most likely watched it. The Star Wars movies rank among the most popular of all time. They’re also some of the most expensive. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is currently the most expensive movie ever. The film’s nominal cost of $447 million puts Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’s $11 million cost to shame. Introducing Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) as the saga’s next wave of heroes, Star Wars: The Force Awakens remains the best-received film in the divisive sequel trilogy. After a decade of no mainline Star Wars movies, fans eagerly flocked to the theaters, and the film grossed over $2 billion at the box office.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
It’s no surprise that the second most expensive movie ever made also belongs to a beloved franchise. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the sequel to 2015’s Jurassic World, the modern reboot of the Jurassic Park franchise. After its predecessor’s success, Fallen Kingdom spent a hefty $432 million to return Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Owen (Chris Pratt) to the dinosaur-infested Isla Nublar. Although the script lacks oomph, the movie undoubtedly shines when it comes to cinematography. While some audiences walked away disappointed, Fallen Kingdom was still a $1.31 billion success.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker spent $416 million to close out the franchise’s sequel trilogy. The film continues Rey (Ridley) and company’s resistance against the First Order. The movie saw the return of legacy cast members, including Mark Hammil (Luke), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Bill Dee Williams (Lando), and Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine). Funny enough, The Rise of Skywalker reportedly came in under budget (according to Forbes), despite ranking as the third most expensive movie ever made. This primarily stemmed from post-production costs coming in lower than anticipated. Regardless, The Rise of Skywalker grossed over $1 billion in theaters, making it another massive win for Disney.
Fast X (2023)
After 11 mainline movies, the Fast & Furious franchise shows no signs of slowing down. And why would it? Fast X raked in a substantial $714 million after costs of $379 million. The story continues with the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) seeking vengeance against Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family for killing his father. Despite a relatively simple plot, Fast X’s cost came down to retaining and acquiring talent and high production costs. Flashy action sequences and stunt spectacles clearly don’t come cheap. Still, longtime fans expect nothing but over-the-top when it comes to the franchise.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
The fifth most expensive movie ever made might come as a surprise to some. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides typically ranks at the bottom of the barrel for fans of the Disney franchise. Picking up after Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, the sequel movie sees Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) questing for the Fountain Youth. Visual effects, an abundance of film locations, and the use of 3D cameras drove up costs to $379 million. While on par with Fast X, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides grossed substantially more, with just over $1 billion at the box office. Critics might not have loved the film, but it didn’t stop Disney from producing yet another franchise installment in 2017.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) rules as the most successful film franchise of all time, and The Avengers series plays a major role in that triumph. Avengers: Age of Ultron chronicles the titular heroes’ fight against Ultron, Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) peacekeeping program turned bad. From large-scale CGI and special effects to multiple shooting locations and top-of-the-line camera tech, Age of Ultron cost around $365 million and grossed $1.4 billion. With names like Samuel L. Jackson, RJD, Chris Hemsworth, and Scarlett Johansson, the cost of star power also contributed to significant dollar signs for Disney.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Skipping over Avengers: Infinity War (2018) brings us to Avengers: Endgame, Disney and Marvel’s record-breaking film. Here, the remaining heroes grapple with the effects of the Snap and rally to reverse the devastation Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) caused. Once again, The Avengers series proves retaining big-name actors isn’t cheap. Ranking just under Age of Ultron, Endgame spent around $356 million to bring its superhero epic to life. The detail involved with the movie’s big final battle alone required a host of visual effects (and dollars) to achieve. Luckily, the movie grossed $2.8 billion in theaters, putting it as the second highest-grossing film of all time under Avatar (2009).
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Another visually stunning feat from Marvel and Disney, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sees Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) team up with America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) to restore a fractured reality and stop a multiverse-level threat. Actor salaries and the complexities of the multiverse-hopping CGI contributed to the movie’s $351 million cost. Bringing in horror director Sam Raimi resulted in a darker entry that ultimately paid off, even with studio meddling. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness grossed $956 million, making it one of Marvel’s most successful and profitable movies.
Avatar: The Way of the Water (2022)
The sequel to James Cameron’s sci-fi epic, Avatar, took over a decade to hit the big screen after the director announced sequel plans in 2010. Avatar: The Way of Water returns to Pandora, where Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family must confront another RDA invasion. Like its predecessor, the sequel became a quick box office success after grossing $2.3 billion in theaters. As for its costs, $350 million went to producing a visually stunning world worthy of its Best Visual Effects win at the 2023 Oscars. Capturing the movie’s underwater scenes also required the expensive creation of new motion capture technology never before used.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Marvel’s reputation for producing expensive movies continues with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The third movie after Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) follows Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) adventures as the titular hero. This time, he finds himself in the Quantum Realm alongside Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton). The visual effects and CGI involved in fleshing out the Quantum Realm pushed Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania well above its pre-production budget. Ultimately, the movie cost $330 million and grossed just $476 million at the box office. While not technically a flop, Quantumania is one of Marvel’s less successful movies in the money department.
Where To Watch The Most Expensive Movies Of All Time Streaming Online
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