We're all guilty of the odd overspend but buying a few too many rounds at your local is a puny scarp of seaweed in the ocean compared to some of the money that's thrown around Hollywood. And while we can often see the money on-screen, during that fight between a monster and a giant robot for example, sometimes it's often harder to understand just were it all went.
We've gone through the cash-burning annals of cinematic history to bring you seven examples of films with surprisingly large budgets. Accountants, look away.
CHECK OUT SEVEN ACTORS WHO ONLY MADE MOVIES FOR CONTRACTUAL REASONS
(Images: All Star)
Town & Country
Budget: $90 million
Ever wonder why you don't see Warren Beatty on the big screen these days? Well, here's your answer. Originally budgeted at just $44 million, this romantic comedy started production in summer 1998 but Beatty's demand for more takes and a script that was constantly undergoing rewrites meant that more money was being invested in what should have been a modest film. Ten months later and the film was still unfinished. The director Garry Shandling had to leave to do another film and once the cast were all reunited for reshoots, the film was finally released in 2001, nearly three years after production started. It only brought in $10m worldwide and Beatty hasn't made a film since.
_______________________________________________________
Sex and the City 2
Budget: $95 million
What most people remember about this misjudged sequel is how mind-numbingly awful it is but the situation worsens tenfold when you learn just how much money they spent making it. Essentially a film about four women who go on holiday, inflated wages ($15 million for Sarah Jessica Parker) and exotic locations helped to push the budget up to more than $30 million what it cost to make the first film. Ultimately, despite vicious reviews, it still turned a profit, making $288 million worldwide. But a third chapter seems less and less likely by the day.
_______________________________________________________
Fun With Dick & Jane
Budget: $100 million
A remake of a 70s comedy about a couple who turn to robbery to solve their financial woes doesn't sound like it's in need of a mammoth budget but when you have a star like Jim Carrey attached, costs start to rise. There were also problems with the script, written by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller, which meant that 60 pages of rewrites led to five whole weeks of reshoots. Ultimately, a lukewarm critical response and a decent worldwide showing, doubling the production budget, meant that all was not totally lost. Although Carrey's position as Hollywood's favourite funnyman has since waned.
_______________________________________________________
The Tourist
Budget: $100 million
A rather troubled pre-production saw stars such as Charlize Theron, Tom Cruise and Sam Worthington attached while directors from Alfonso Cuarón to Lasse Hallström were involved before the seemingly perfect combination of Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and The Lives of Others director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck jumped onboard. But a hasty rewrite, coupled with a swift turnaround (there was just 11 months between Henckel von Donnersmarck signing on and the film's premiere) meant that the budget ballooned out of control. The film was loathed by critics but, thanks to the international star power of the leads, it still managed to make $278 million.
_______________________________________________________
How Do You Know
Budget: $120 million
With plenty of good will left from the Oscar-winning success of As Good As It Gets, James L Brooks was allowed a rather extravagant budget for this star-studded misfire back in 2010. With $50 million for the salaries of Brooks and the four stars (Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Owen Wilson and Paul Rudd), another $70 million was put towards a "slow and meticulous" production. The film failed to impress either critics or audiences and only made $48 million worldwide, putting into question the star power of Witherspoon, who is only now making a real comeback.
_______________________________________________________
Rush Hour 3
Budget: $140 million
Arriving a tardy six years after Rush Hour 2, anticipation for yet another chapter of the casually racist mismatched buddy comedy franchise was muted at best. But that didn't stop New Line assembling a slightly unhinged budget that totalled more then the other two movies put together. Part of this was down to the lead actors with Chris Tucker netting $20 million and Jackie Chan making $15 million. It turned out to be a decent success and made $258 million worldwide but less than the second film. Rumours of a fourth chapter have gone quiet. Which is nice.
_______________________________________________________
Evan Almighty
Budget: $175 million
After Bruce Almighty made a whopping $484 million at the global box office, Universal were keen for Jim Carrey to reprise his role in the sequel. But he turned it down, leaving co-star Steve Carell, untested as a lead, to take over. The Noah's Ark-esque premise pushed the initial budget up to $140 million although after issues, such as shooting the animals, added time and money to the schedule, another $35 million was incurred, making it the most expensive comedy of all time. While Carrey nabbed $25 million for Bruce, Carell was left with just $5 million for Evan. The film ended up making just under its production budget worldwide.
Latest
Related Reviews and Shortlists
