Hollywood's Biggest Blockbusters: The Most Expensive Movies Of The Year

Quick Links

• Elemental

• Killers Of The Flower Moon

• Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

• Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

• The Marvels

• Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One

• Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

• The Little Mermaid

• The Flash

• Fast X

Highlights

• Disney's big-budget films like Elemental and The Little Mermaid disappointed at the box office.
• The superhero genre faced underperformance with films like The Flash and Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom .
• Established franchises like Fast & Furious and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 found success, while independent films made a statement.

2023 painted a fascinating, slightly turbulent picture for Hollywood.

On one hand, moviegoers were treated to a dazzling array of big-budget spectacles, pushing the boundaries of visual effects and action sequences.

Yet, beneath the glitter of CGI and star-studded casts, a different story unfolded – audiences seemed increasingly selective, favoring familiar franchises while leaving others, even established giants, gasping for air at the box office.

2023 highlighted the ever-present gamble studios take with astronomical budgets, revealing both triumphant successes and cautionary tales for the future of blockbuster film-making.

Disney, usually a box office behemoth, saw its reign falter in 2023, with productions such as Elementals and The Little Mermaid failing to meet box office expectations.

According to a Forbes blogger, the entertainment giants spent $965 million on four films in 2023, all of which flopped at the box office. Across the spectrum, the final films of the DC Extended Universe – like The Flash and Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom – underperformed, suggesting a critical moment for the superhero genre to re-evaluate its formula.

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Despite these hiccups, 2023 wasn't all doom and gloom. Established franchises like Fast & Furious proved their enduring appeal, shattering records with their tenth installment.

Independent films also emerged, reminding us that smaller budgets and innovative storytelling can still make box office statements.

10 Elemental

Estimated Production Budget: $200 Million

Pixar's Elemental proved that water and fire can mix, especially at the box office.

Packing a $200 million budget, this vibrant tale whisked audiences away to Element City, where fire, water, land, and air co-existed in precarious harmony.

Despite a lukewarm opening, Elemental found its spark, eventually grossing $154.4 million domestically and $341.9 million internationally, for a global total of $496.3 million, nearly 2.5 times its production cost.

Elemental finished as the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2023.

9 Killers Of The Flower Moon

Estimated Production Budget: $200 Million

Martin Scorsese's neo-Western odyssey Killers Of The Flower Moon proved that cinematic prestige might not always guarantee box office gold.

With a hefty $200 million budget, this historical thriller plunged audiences into the dark underbelly of 1920s Oklahoma, where greed and murder tainted the newly discovered oil wealth of the Osage Nation:

Despite earning rave reviews from critics for its direction, acting, and historical accuracy, Killers Of The Flower Moon struggled to tick a box at the box office.

It landed $156.25 million globally, falling short of recouping its sizable price tag. However, unlike a traditional theatrical release, the film was always intended for a limited run, followed by its premiere on Apple TV+.

This muddies the waters of "success," as streaming metrics and traditional box office numbers paint different pictures. Variety noted that under a traditional theatrical release, the film would need to gross between $500 and 600 million worldwide to break even.

Domestically, the film grossed $67.3 million, while international markets contributed $89 million. While not a staggering return on investment, the critical acclaim and potential viewership on Apple TV+ could pave the way for long-term profitability.

8 Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Estimated Production Budget: $215 Million

Jason Momoa's trident-wielding hero plunged back into the depths in Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, but this time, the budget hit a record-breaking $215 million.

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom carried the weight of both high expectations and the DCEU's grand finale.

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Sadly, the film's journey has been underwhelming so far, falling short of box office predictions.

Despite boasting stunning underwater visuals and an epic showdown between hero and villain, the movie underwhelmed critics and audiences, earning a lukewarm $255 million globally to date.

Domestically, it managed only $81.7 million, while international markets grossed $174 million. This is a significant drop compared to its predecessor's $1.1 billion haul.

The film's opening weekend was a telling sign, landing with a mere $27.7 million – one of the lowest in the DCEU, and a far cry from Aquaman's $67 million debut.

7 Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

Estimated Production Budget: $250 Million

The beloved space misfits returned for one last cosmic adventure in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, directed by James Gunn – in his final hurrah for Marvel.

Fueled by a massive $250 million budget, the film soared past expectations, grossing $845.56 million worldwide —triple its production budget. This epic space opera saw the Guardians face off against the High Evolutionary, while grappling with Rocket's origins and mortality.

The film's blend of humor, heart, and action struck a perfect chord with audiences, propelling it to become the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023.

Domestically, it raked in $359 million, while the international box office came through with another $486.6 million:

6 The Marvels

Estimated Production Budget: $274 Million

The Marvels, helmed by Brie Larson, soared into theaters bearing the heavy mantle of its predecessor's billion-dollar legacy.

The film landed with a thud, setting a record for the worst US opening of any MCU movie:

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Its global haul of $206 million wasn't enough to reach an estimated break-even point of $439.6 million, making it the lowest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a rare financial misstep for the franchise.

Several factors contributed to The Marvels' crash landing. Critics found the story convoluted and the emotional arc lacking compared to other MCU offerings.

Marketing challenges, including a SAG-AFTRA strike limiting pre-release promotion, also likely played a part.

5 Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One

Estimated Production Budget: $290 Million

Tom Cruise's gravity-defying stunts reached new heights and budgets in Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One.

This globe-trotting thriller, with a $290 million production budget, saw Ethan Hunt and his IMF team facing off against a rogue AI.

The pandemic threw unexpected twists into production, further inflating costs, but Cruise's dedication (paying the crew during hiatuses) and a hefty insurance payout helped navigate the turbulence.

Due to its overall budget and competition from the "Barbenheimer" cultural phenomenon, it underperformed at the box office. Variety reported that the film would lose the studio around $100 million if it did not hit $600 million worldwide.

According to Box Office Mojo, the film managed a respectable $567.5 million globally, thanks to an international windfall of $395.4 million.

4 Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny

Estimated Production Budget: $295 Million

Dusting off the bullwhip after 15 years, Indiana Jones returned for one last adventure in this $295 million spectacle.

Spine-tangling action, multiple period settings, and the return of an aged Harrison Ford pushed the budget to dizzying heights.

The film's production budget of $294.7 million, not including marketing costs, makes it the most expensive film in the Indiana Jones franchise.

According to Collider, the film would need to make around $600 million to break even, and $800 million to be considered a success.

Ultimately, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny grossed $174.5 million at the domestic box office and $209.5 million in other territories for a total of $384 million worldwide.

Due to its expensive production cost and marketing budget, the film was deemed a box-office bomb.

3 The Little Mermaid

Estimated Production Budget: $300 Million

Disney dived deep with a live-action Little Mermaid remake, plunging in with photo-realistic sea creatures.

Initial estimates placed its budget at $250 million, but a Forbes blogger reported that the film cost Disney $300 million to produce.

While it avoided sinking entirely by earning $569.62 million worldwide, the film remains an under-performer in the grand scheme of Disney reboots. Moreover, this live-action remake received mixed reviews.

Critics applauded the cast's performances and the dazzling musical numbers, but wrinkled their noses at the visual effects.

Domestically, the film grossed $298 million, and international markets pitched in $271.5 million, failing to match the global dominance of other Disney live-action adaptations.

The Little Mermaid's underwhelming performance can be attributed to various factors, including competition from other family-friendly releases and mixed critical reception.

2 The Flash

Estimated Production Budget: $300 Million

DCEU's The Flash stood as a cinematic spectacle with a colossal budget of $300 million, surpassing initial projections. This DCEU adventure boasted big-name cameos like Michael Keaton and Michael Shannon alongside a dazzling CGI spectacle.

However, even with all that star power and glitz, The Flash didn't quite break the sound barrier at the box office. The story delved into time travel, but audiences got lost in a narrative gone haywire.

Critics offered mixed reviews, appreciating the humor and action but blasting the shaky visuals and messy plot twists.

Domestically, the film sputtered at $108.1 million, while international markets brought in $162.5 million, bringing its global total to $270.6 million.

These numbers pale in comparison to other superhero blockbusters, and analysts predict a devastating $200 million loss for Warner Bros., making it one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time.

1 Fast X

Estimated Production Budget: $340 Million

Fast And Furious roared back onto the scene with a record-breaking $340 million budget, pulling up as the most expensive film of 2023.

This high-octane spectacle, fueled by jaw-dropping car stunts, a suspenseful plot, and an ever-expanding cast (including Jason Momoa as the villain), pushed the franchise's financial limits:

But Dom Toretto and his crew proved their box office dominance, with Fast X cracking the top five highest-grossing films of the year. While critics had mixed feelings about the story, they applauded the action sequences and Momoa's performance.

TheWrap reported that the film would need to gross between $800 and 850 million worldwide in order to turn a profit. Ultimately, the film ended its theatrical run in a gray area.

According to Box Office Mojo, Fast X earned $146.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $559.5 million in foreign markets, for a worldwide total of $714.6 million.

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