Most Expensive Movies Ever Made 2026: Top 10 by Budget

As of October 2026, the most expensive movie ever made is Jurassic World Dominion (2022). UK tax filings reported in June 2026 put its gross production cost at about $658.8 million, ahead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at $638.9 million. Both figures are before UK government rebates.

Studios rarely publish exact budgets. Most of the reliable numbers below come from accounts that Disney, Universal and other studios file in the UK, where many big productions shoot to claim a tax rebate. Where a filing is not available, we use the figure reported by a major trade publication.

The list has changed a lot in recent years. Older entries such as Titanic, Spider-Man 3 and Tangled have dropped out as filings for newer films revealed higher costs.

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The 10 most expensive movies ever made: summary

1. Jurassic World Dominion: $658.8 million

The third film in the Jurassic World trilogy, directed by Colin Trevorrow, became the most expensive film on record in June 2026. Fortune reported that the latest UK filing added $74.9 million to its costs in 2024, taking the gross total to about $658.8 million.

The production received a UK rebate of about $127.8 million, leaving a reported net cost of roughly $531 million. Filming took place largely in the UK during the pandemic, and Covid safety measures added to the bill.

The film earned just over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, so it still made money for Universal once home release and TV sales were counted.

2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens: $638.9 million

J.J. Abrams’ 2015 film held the record for almost a decade. UK filings reported by Forbes showed a gross cost of $638.9 million and a net cost of about $535.5 million after the rebate.

It was Disney’s first Star Wars film after buying Lucasfilm in 2012. The spending paid off: the film grossed about $2.07 billion worldwide and remains the highest-grossing film ever at the North American box office.

3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: $490.2 million

The final film of the Skywalker saga cost a reported $490.2 million net, according to UK filings. Abrams returned to direct after Colin Trevorrow left the project during development.

The 2019 release earned about $1.07 billion worldwide, the lowest total of the three sequel trilogy films.

4. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: $464.5 million

Directed by J.A. Bayona, the 2018 sequel cost a reported $464.5 million net. Later filings pushed its total well above the budget first reported at release.

It grossed about $1.31 billion worldwide, which made the high cost easier for Universal to absorb.

5. Deadpool & Wolverine: $429 million

Marvel’s 2024 team-up of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman cost a reported $429 million net, based on UK filings. It is the most expensive R-rated film on record.

It is also the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, with about $1.34 billion worldwide. Jackman’s return as Wolverine is covered in our Hugh Jackman net worth profile.

6. Fast X: $378.8 million

The tenth main film in the Fast and Furious series cost a reported $378.8 million net. Director Justin Lin left early in production and was replaced by Louis Leterrier, which added to costs.

Fast X earned about $705 million worldwide, a weak return for its budget. The cast included Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa and a cameo by Dwayne Johnson.

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: $378.5 million

For years this 2011 film was called the most expensive ever made. A 2014 Forbes report on UK filings put its cost at $378.5 million, and some lists still rank it at more than $400 million after adjusting for inflation.

Johnny Depp returned as Captain Jack Sparrow alongside Penélope Cruz. The film grossed just over $1 billion worldwide.

8. Avengers: Age of Ultron: $365 million

The 2015 sequel to The Avengers cost a reported $365 million, based on Disney figures and UK filings. Parts of it were shot in the UK, South Korea and Italy.

It grossed about $1.4 billion worldwide and set up later Marvel films, including Captain America: Civil War.

9. Avengers: Endgame: $356 million

Deadline reported a budget of about $356 million for Endgame, which was filmed back to back with Avengers: Infinity War. The two films together are often estimated to have cost more than $650 million.

Endgame grossed about $2.8 billion worldwide and held the all-time box office record until Avatar was re-released in China in 2021.

10. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: $352.3 million

Harrison Ford’s final outing as Indiana Jones cost a reported $352.3 million net, according to UK filings. Production delays and reshoots added to the bill.

The 2023 film earned about $384 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest box office losses on record.

Other big-budget films close to the top 10

Several recent films sit just below the top 10. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) cost a reported $350.6 million net. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) are each reported at about $350 million or more, according to Variety.

Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025) was reported by The Hollywood Reporter to have cost $300 million to $400 million. Final UK filings for some 2025 releases may change their position over the next year or two.

Titanic (1997), once the most expensive film, cost about $200 million at the time. Its star’s career and earnings are covered in our Leonardo DiCaprio net worth article.

How we ranked these

We ranked films by the highest reliable production cost reported as of October 2026. Where UK filings exist, we used them, because they are audited accounts rather than studio estimates. For the top two, we show gross cost before rebates, as that is how the record was reported. On net cost after rebates, the two are almost level.

Figures exclude marketing, which can add $100 million or more to a major release. They are not adjusted for inflation, which would move older films such as On Stranger Tides higher.

Sources: Fortune, June 2026; List of most expensive films (UK filings and trade reports).