What If Avengers Damage Was Real?

Whisper it gently, but those behind films sometimes like to crank up the action onscreen for dramatic effect. Yes, we know, shocking news.

And when it comes to movies of a superhero bent this is a given. If destroying an entire city will help propel the plot forward then so be it and damn the consequences.

But what if there were consequences (ok, we know it’s all make believe, but just bear with us for a sec)? What if the destruction of New York seen in, say, The Avengers (or Avengers Assemble to give it its correct UK title) had to be cleaned up/repaired/replaced in reality?

Well, wonder no more. For sheer want of something better to do, a US disaster cost prediction firm, Kinetic Analysis Corporation (sounds like something from The Dark Knight), has put the cost of the clean-up at a staggering $160 billion (£99 billion).

To put that into some perspective, that’s more than the costs incurred in the Hurricane Katrina salvage operation and last year’s Japanese tsunami.

The folk at KAC state that the physical damage seen on film would cost around $60-70 billion, while economic and clean-up costs would come in at a not inconsiderable $90 billion. And, what’s more, insurers wouldn’t stump up the cash, claiming it to be an act of God.

So, the next time you’re gawping at all that wanton obliteration in the movies, just think on. Someone will have to clean it all up. And you will probably have to pay for it.

Oh, hang on…

[via Hollywood Reporter]

(Image: All Star)