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Movie Budget and Financial Performance Records
Note: Budget numbers for movies can be both difficult to find and unreliable. Studios often try to keep the information secret and will use accounting tricks to inflate or reduce announced budgets.
The data we have is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate but there are gaps and disputed figures. If you have additional information or corrections, please let us know at corrections@the-numbers.com.
A complete list of all movies for which we have budget information can be found here.
Note: The profit and loss figures are very rough estimates based on domestic and international box office earnings and domestic video sales, extrapolated to estimate worldwide income to the studio, after deducting retail costs. Estimated expenses are based on the domestic theatrical distribution pattern of the film. More detailed financial analysis of films is available through our research services.
Biggest Budgets
| Release Date | Movie | Production Budget | Domestic Gross | Worldwide Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12/18/2009 | Avatar | $425,000,000 | $760,507,625 | $2,783,918,982 |
| 2 | 12/18/2015 | Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens | $306,000,000 | $936,662,225 | $2,058,662,225 |
| 3 | 5/24/2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | $300,000,000 | $309,420,425 | $963,420,425 |
| 4 | 11/6/2015 | Spectre | $300,000,000 | $200,074,175 | $879,620,923 |
| 5 | 7/2/2013 | The Lone Ranger | $275,000,000 | $89,302,115 | $260,002,115 |
| 6 | 3/9/2012 | John Carter | $275,000,000 | $73,058,679 | $282,778,100 |
| 7 | 7/20/2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | $275,000,000 | $448,139,099 | $1,084,439,099 |
| 8 | 11/24/2010 | Tangled | $260,000,000 | $200,821,936 | $586,581,936 |
| 9 | 5/4/2007 | Spider-Man 3 | $258,000,000 | $336,530,303 | $890,875,303 |
| 10 | 7/15/2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | $250,000,000 | $301,959,197 | $935,083,686 |
| 11 | 12/14/2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | $250,000,000 | $303,003,568 | $1,017,003,568 |
| 12 | 5/20/2011 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides | $250,000,000 | $241,063,875 | $1,045,663,875 |
| 13 | 12/13/2013 | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | $250,000,000 | $258,366,855 | $960,366,855 |
| 14 | 12/17/2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | $250,000,000 | $255,119,788 | $955,119,788 |
| 15 | 5/1/2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | $250,000,000 | $459,005,868 | $1,404,705,868 |
| 16 | 3/25/2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | $250,000,000 | $330,360,194 | $868,160,194 |
| 17 | 5/6/2016 | Captain America: Civil War | $250,000,000 | $407,616,965 | $1,151,216,965 |
| 18 | 6/28/2006 | Superman Returns | $232,000,000 | $200,120,000 | $374,085,065 |
| 19 | 11/14/2008 | Quantum of Solace | $230,000,000 | $169,368,427 | $591,692,078 |
| 20 | 5/4/2012 | The Avengers | $225,000,000 | $623,279,547 | $1,519,479,547 |
Movies With Lowest Budgets to Earn $1 Million at US Box Office
| Release Date | Movie | Production Budget | Domestic Gross | Worldwide Gross | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2/26/1993 | El Mariachi | $7,000 | $2,040,920 | $2,041,928 |
| 2 | 8/1/1991 | Slacker | $23,000 | $1,227,508 | $1,227,508 |
| 3 | 6/30/1972 | Deep Throat | $25,000 | $45,000,000 | $45,000,000 |
| 4 | 8/1/1997 | In the Company of Men | $25,000 | $2,883,661 | $2,883,661 |
| 5 | 10/19/1994 | Clerks | $27,000 | $3,073,428 | $3,894,240 |
| 6 | 8/9/1995 | The Brothers McMullen | $50,000 | $10,426,506 | $10,426,506 |
| 7 | 3/16/2001 | Gabriela | $50,000 | $2,335,352 | $2,335,352 |
| 8 | 5/7/2004 | Super Size Me | $65,000 | $11,529,368 | $22,233,808 |
| 9 | 7/10/1998 | Pi | $68,000 | $3,221,152 | $4,678,513 |
| 10 | 8/30/1972 | The Last House on the Left | $87,000 | $3,100,000 | $3,100,000 |
| 11 | 1/1/1977 | Eraserhead | $100,000 | $7,000,000 | $7,000,000 |
| 12 | 9/29/2006 | Facing the Giants | $100,000 | $10,178,331 | $10,243,159 |
| 13 | 3/1/1987 | Hollywood Shuffle | $100,000 | $5,228,617 | $5,228,617 |
| 14 | 10/9/1998 | The Mighty | $100,000 | $2,652,246 | $6,121,582 |
| 15 | 9/17/1920 | Over the Hill to the Poorhouse | $100,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| 16 | 7/10/2015 | The Gallows | $100,000 | $22,764,410 | $41,753,881 |
| 17 | 2/8/1915 | The Birth of a Nation | $110,000 | $10,000,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 18 | 10/1/1968 | Night of the Living Dead | $114,000 | $12,000,000 | $30,000,000 |
| 19 | 6/15/2012 | Your Sister's Sister | $120,000 | $1,597,486 | $3,090,593 |
| 20 | 11/16/1942 | Cat People | $134,000 | $4,000,000 | $8,000,000 |
Most Profitable Movies, Based on Absolute Profit on Worldwide Gross
| Release Date | Movie | Approx. Income | Approx. Expense | Profit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12/18/2009 | Avatar | $1,785,589,784 | $516,262,000 | $1,269,327,784 |
| 2 | 12/18/2015 | Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens | $1,176,383,020 | $381,704,000 | $794,679,020 |
| 3 | 11/18/2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | $995,723,785 | $208,064,000 | $787,659,785 |
| 4 | 11/22/2013 | Frozen | $1,009,044,427 | $245,904,000 | $763,140,427 |
| 5 | 5/4/2012 | The Avengers | $992,227,437 | $300,290,000 | $691,937,437 |
| 6 | 6/12/2015 | Jurassic World | $961,222,059 | $287,756,000 | $673,466,059 |
| 7 | 7/15/2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II | $831,795,171 | $177,306,000 | $654,489,171 |
| 8 | 7/3/2013 | Despicable Me 2 | $731,578,935 | $143,056,000 | $588,522,935 |
| 9 | 4/3/2015 | Furious 7 | $826,930,837 | $245,576,000 | $581,354,837 |
| 10 | 7/7/2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest | $856,572,077 | $293,790,000 | $562,782,077 |
| 11 | 7/18/2008 | The Dark Knight | $817,275,593 | $263,340,000 | $553,935,593 |
| 12 | 7/10/2015 | Minions | $689,956,321 | $141,424,000 | $548,532,321 |
| 13 | 7/11/2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | $727,662,045 | $202,594,000 | $525,068,045 |
| 14 | 6/18/2010 | Toy Story 3 | $782,245,781 | $267,398,000 | $514,847,781 |
| 15 | 6/15/1994 | The Lion King | $673,018,209 | $197,724,000 | $475,294,209 |
| 16 | 5/1/2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | $778,458,970 | $310,218,000 | $468,240,970 |
| 17 | 11/20/2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | $565,836,902 | $103,444,000 | $462,392,902 |
| 18 | 7/2/2007 | Transformers | $657,037,232 | $202,632,000 | $454,405,232 |
| 19 | 11/19/2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I | $634,152,190 | $180,774,000 | $453,378,190 |
| 20 | 6/30/2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | $566,733,565 | $117,520,000 | $449,213,565 |
Note: The profit and loss figures are very rough estimates based on domestic and international box office earnings and domestic video sales, extrapolated to estimate worldwide income to the studio, after deducting retail costs. Estimated expenses are based on the domestic theatrical distribution pattern of the film. More detailed financial analysis of films is available through our research services.
Most Profitable Movies, Based on Return on Investment
| Release Date | Movie | Approx. Profit | Production Budget | RoI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9/25/2009 | Paranormal Activity | $89,334,336 | $450,000 | 19,752% |
| 2 | 7/10/2015 | The Gallows | $6,774,488 | $100,000 | 6,674% |
| 3 | 1/6/2012 | The Devil Inside | $37,316,634 | $1,000,000 | 3,632% |
| 4 | 2/5/1953 | Peter Pan | $140,081,004 | $4,000,000 | 3,402% |
| 5 | 6/16/1978 | Grease | $185,384,358 | $6,000,000 | 2,990% |
| 6 | 3/21/2014 | God’s Not Dead | $34,550,646 | $1,150,000 | 2,904% |
| 7 | 5/25/1977 | Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope | $322,962,735 | $11,000,000 | 2,836% |
| 8 | 10/20/2010 | Paranormal Activity 2 | $77,144,539 | $3,000,000 | 2,471% |
| 9 | 4/1/2011 | Insidious | $34,732,003 | $1,500,000 | 2,215% |
| 10 | 1/1/1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | $66,464,917 | $3,180,000 | 1,990% |
| 11 | 12/15/1974 | Young Frankenstein | $57,611,893 | $2,800,000 | 1,958% |
| 12 | 10/23/1992 | Reservoir Dogs | $22,452,279 | $1,200,000 | 1,771% |
| 13 | 6/20/1975 | Jaws | $223,550,689 | $12,000,000 | 1,763% |
| 14 | 10/3/2014 | Annabelle | $101,598,290 | $6,500,000 | 1,463% |
| 15 | 11/13/1991 | Beauty and the Beast | $297,509,164 | $20,000,000 | 1,388% |
| 16 | 4/17/2015 | Unfriended | $13,385,468 | $1,000,000 | 1,239% |
| 17 | 11/26/2010 | The King’s Speech | $196,508,925 | $15,000,000 | 1,210% |
| 18 | 6/29/2012 | Magic Mike | $91,014,874 | $7,000,000 | 1,200% |
| 19 | 6/6/2014 | The Fault in Our Stars | $149,642,554 | $12,000,000 | 1,147% |
| 20 | 5/25/2012 | Chernobyl Diaries | $12,348,678 | $1,000,000 | 1,135% |
Note: The profit and loss figures are very rough estimates based on domestic and international box office earnings and domestic video sales, extrapolated to estimate worldwide income to the studio, after deducting retail costs. Estimated expenses are based on the domestic theatrical distribution pattern of the film. More detailed financial analysis of films is available through our research services.
Biggest Money Losers, Based on Absolute Loss on Worldwide Earnings
| Release Date | Movie | Approx. Income | Approx. Expense | Profit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3/11/2011 | Mars Needs Moms | $26,332,643 | $170,166,000 | -$143,833,357 |
| 2 | 3/9/2012 | John Carter | $179,289,163 | $307,124,000 | -$127,834,837 |
| 3 | 7/2/2013 | The Lone Ranger | $176,203,561 | $301,886,000 | -$125,682,439 |
| 4 | 3/1/2013 | Jack the Giant Slayer | $123,044,399 | $228,504,000 | -$105,459,601 |
| 5 | 12/17/2010 | How Do You Know? | $35,506,947 | $140,454,000 | -$104,947,053 |
| 6 | 10/9/2015 | Pan | $74,024,414 | $174,726,000 | -$100,701,586 |
| 7 | 12/25/2013 | 47 Ronin | $92,233,151 | $189,988,000 | -$97,754,849 |
| 8 | 2/6/2015 | Jupiter Ascending | $109,119,577 | $206,582,000 | -$97,462,423 |
| 9 | 7/19/2013 | R.I.P.D. | $54,599,823 | $147,884,000 | -$93,284,177 |
| 10 | 5/22/2015 | Tomorrowland | $113,507,541 | $205,644,000 | -$92,136,459 |
| 11 | 11/23/2011 | Hugo | $124,146,318 | $215,796,000 | -$91,649,682 |
| 12 | 6/22/2007 | Evan Almighty | $125,391,753 | $212,964,000 | -$87,572,247 |
| 13 | 2/26/2016 | Gods of Egypt | $75,065,940 | $161,930,000 | -$86,864,060 |
| 14 | 5/9/2008 | Speed Racer | $69,200,575 | $149,420,000 | -$80,219,425 |
| 15 | 2/12/2010 | The Wolfman | $98,244,603 | $174,496,000 | -$76,251,397 |
| 16 | 5/12/2006 | Poseidon | $118,109,464 | $194,338,000 | -$76,228,536 |
| 17 | 8/17/2007 | The Invasion | $24,954,249 | $96,162,000 | -$71,207,751 |
| 18 | 5/9/2014 | Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return | $11,900,499 | $82,674,000 | -$70,773,501 |
| 19 | 6/17/2011 | Green Lantern | $161,908,227 | $231,524,000 | -$69,615,773 |
| 20 | 11/1/2013 | Ender's Game | $70,895,090 | $139,462,000 | -$68,566,910 |
Note: The profit and loss figures are very rough estimates based on domestic and international box office earnings and domestic video sales, extrapolated to estimate worldwide income to the studio, after deducting retail costs. Estimated expenses are based on the domestic theatrical distribution pattern of the film. More detailed financial analysis of films is available through our research services.