‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Surpasses ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ as Most Expensive Movie
‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ has officially claimed the title of the most expensive movie ever made, overtaking ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ after new financial details emerged about the dinosaur blockbuster’s staggering budget.
Recent analyses of financial records indicate that Universal Pictures allocated approximately $658.8 million for the 2022 film. This figure surpasses Disney’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, which previously held the record with a production cost of $638.9 million.
As the third installment in Universal’s Jurassic World series, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ featured a star-studded cast, including Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, alongside original ‘Jurassic Park’ actors Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill.
The film’s exorbitant budget was primarily attributed to the complications of filming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Production occurred in 2020, a time when studios had to implement stringent safety protocols, manage delays, and maintain access to costly equipment and locations for extended periods.
According to the financial details, Universal continued to incur costs for soundstages, rented equipment, security teams, and essential production crew members while awaiting the resumption of filming. The movie faced a year-long delay before its release in June 2022.
During filming in the United Kingdom, the cast underwent extended quarantine. They resided at the Langley Hotel near Pinewood Studios, where the production was based. The high cost of accommodations, with rooms reportedly exceeding $600 per night, contributed significantly to the overall budget.
Tracking the true costs of major Hollywood films can be challenging, as studios often do not disclose every budget detail. However, films produced in the UK must submit financial information to qualify for government tax incentives, making their production expenses more transparent.
The UK’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit program allows film companies to recoup a percentage of their spending if they meet specific criteria, including utilizing British locations, workers, and talent. ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ qualified for this program due to filming in the UK, including sites like Oxford University’s Wolfson College.
The production company, Arcadia Pictures, detailed its final costs in financial filings, revealing that Universal spent millions on staffing, transportation, equipment, security, and other production necessities. At its peak, the film employed an average of 454 workers each month.
The UK reimbursement significantly reduced Universal’s final expenditure. The company received approximately $127.8 million back, lowering its net spending to around $531 million.
Despite its massive budget, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ grossed nearly $1 billion globally at the box office. However, after theaters took their share of ticket sales, the film did not yield a significant profit from cinema revenues alone. Like many major Hollywood releases, it also generated income through streaming deals, home entertainment, and merchandise.
The financial records further revealed that other films in the Jurassic World franchise were also costly. ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ reportedly had a budget of $606.3 million, while ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ had a comparatively lower budget of around $254.2 million.
The success of the UK’s film incentives has established the country as a key production hub for Hollywood studios. Major companies like Disney, Netflix, and Amazon have made significant investments in British studios and locations.
However, the future of productions may face uncertainties. Former U.S. President Donald Trump previously suggested imposing a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States, a move that could impact international filming plans.
For now, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ stands as the most expensive movie ever made, highlighting the soaring costs associated with modern blockbuster filmmaking.
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