Have you ever wondered what goes into the cost of making a movie? Specifically, a blockbuster of epic proportion that incorporates massive set pieces spanning across the globe with A-list talent and stunning visual effects. In short, it’s not cheap to make a movie of this scale. There was once a time when $200 million was considered an expensive film. Now, $200 million is the standard as studio budgets continue to increase past $300, even $400 million.
Johnny Depp was at the peak of his star power, which meant the actor needed to be paid like one, earning an estimated $55 million paycheck before backend points. The budget reached $300 million, but the investment paid off as At World’s End became the highest-grossing film of 2007, with $960 million worldwide.
The A-list cast and legacy members of the franchise also command high salaries, as nearly one-third of the budget goes to the actors. Diesel is rumored to make $20 million for his work on the film, which will only increase with backend points. Fast X also ran into directorial problems when Justin Lin left one week into production on April 25, 2022, after rumored clashes with Diesel over the script and film’s direction.
If those numbers are accurate, over $150 million of the rumored $356 million budget went to six actors. Filming took nearly six months and included a battle scene with nearly every character alive in the MCU taking on Thanos’s army. Endgame became the peak for superhero films, as it became the highest-grossing film of all time for about two years before Avatar regained the top spot.