The 10 Most Expensive Movies Ever Made (Without Adjusting For Inflation)
Netflix Original, The Electric State (2025), 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. In other words, it's a big flop!
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 you can find them across platforms like Disney+, Apple TV+, and more.
The sequel to James Cameron's sci-fi epic, Avatar (2009), 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. For anyone who loved the first movie, The Way of the Water is an epic sci-fi tale well worth watching.
Adding to Marvel and Disney's visually stunning filmography, 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. Multiverse of Madness grossed $956 million, making it one of Marvel's most successful and profitable movies to date. Those who love flashy sci-fi or fantastical superhero tales will find a lot to love here; however, consider watching Doctor Strange (2016) first for the full experience.
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 Avengers: Age of Ultron (next on this list), 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. Marvel fans will tell you that if you're going to watch any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, make it The Avengers trilogy. As one of the most beloved MCU films of all time, Endgame is perfect for superhero fans in search of competent storytelling and plenty of action.
The MCU rules as the most successful film franchise of all time. With Multiverse of Madness and Endgame already mentioned, just look at this list for proof. While Endgame spent and made a lot of money, Avengers: Age of Ultron had a slightly larger budget to chronicle 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, which is a hefty haul until realizing that it's half of what Endgame made. Still, 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. Like its sequel movies, Age of Ultron is the ultimate treat for superhero fans who like their films chock full of action, spectacle, and a little heart.
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, although it's wild to think a Fast & Furious movie cost more than Avengers: Endgame. 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.
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. As such, Fast X will appeal to longtime franchise fans more than anyone else. However, if you're just curious about the over-the-top action and visual effects, you could give it a try, just don't expect a true standalone experience.
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 (2007), the sequel sees Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) questing for the Fountain of 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, On Stranger Tides ranks higher solely because of its return on investment. Grossing just over $1 billion at the box office, the sequel managed to break records despite its mixed reception. Critics might not have loved the film, but it's still a solid pick for Pirates of the Caribbean fans who don't mind some silly plot points.
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 fourth 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. With returning characters and an abundance of plot callbacks, this one is for veteran Star Wars fans. You'll at least want to have watched the previous two movies, The Force Awakens (next on this list) and The Last Jedi (2017), but really, knowledge of the original and prequel trilogies is best.
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, as we've already learned from The Rise of Skywalker. Currently, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the third most expensive movie ever made. The film's nominal cost of $447 million puts the $11 million cost of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) to shame.
Introducing Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) as the saga's next wave of heroes, 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. Again, this trilogy is for the Star Wars nerds out there, but if you want to jump into the modern movies to see what all the fuss is about, The Force Awakens is the place to start.
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 $465 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. If you want big-budget dinosaur action, you can't do much better. The plot and character development aren't perfect, but action movie fans might be able to overlook them in favor of all the spectacle.
While Star Wars: The Force Awakens reigned as the most expensive movie ever made since 2015, Jurassic World Dominion overthrew it with a $465 million budget. Both are sci-fi. Both are visually stunning. But, apparently, CGI dinosaurs cost a whole lot more than lightsabers and starships. The film also incurred costs due to filming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another factor to consider is the return of legacy characters Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), and Alan Grant (Sam Neill). For longtime franchise fans who still consider Jurassic Park (1993) one of the greatest movies ever made, Dominion is worth watching just for more time with your favorite characters. It doesn't hurt that it's visually captivating, either.
