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 DateMovieProduction BudgetDomestic GrossWorldwide Gross
1 Dec 16, 2022 Avatar: The Way of Water $460,000,000 $684,075,767 $2,317,514,386
2 Apr 26, 2019 Avengers: Endgame $400,000,000 $858,373,000 $2,788,912,285
3 May 20, 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides $379,000,000 $241,071,802 $1,045,713,802
4 May 1, 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron $365,000,000 $459,005,868 $1,395,316,979
5 May 19, 2023 Fast X $340,000,000 $146,126,015 $714,601,610
6 Dec 18, 2015 Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens $306,000,000 $936,662,225 $2,064,615,817
7 May 24, 2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $300,000,000 $309,420,425 $960,996,492
8 Jun 30, 2023 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny $300,000,000 $174,480,468 $381,561,976
9 Apr 27, 2018 Avengers: Infinity War $300,000,000 $678,815,482 $2,048,359,754
10 Nov 17, 2017 Justice League $300,000,000 $229,024,295 $655,945,209
11 Jul 12, 2023 Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One $290,000,000 $172,640,980 $566,644,143
12 Dec 20, 2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker $275,000,000 $515,202,542 $1,072,767,997
13 May 25, 2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story $275,000,000 $213,767,512 $393,151,347
14 Nov 10, 2023 The Marvels $274,800,000 $84,500,223 $199,706,250
15 Mar 9, 2012 John Carter $263,700,000 $73,058,679 $282,778,100
16 Mar 25, 2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice $263,000,000 $330,360,194 $872,395,091
17 Dec 15, 2017 Star Wars Ep. VIII: The Last Jedi $262,000,000 $620,181,382 $1,331,635,141
18 Nov 24, 2010 Tangled $260,000,000 $200,821,936 $582,440,151
19 Jul 19, 2019 The Lion King $260,000,000 $543,638,043 $1,646,106,779
20 May 4, 2007 Spider-Man 3 $258,000,000 $336,530,303 $894,860,230
See the complete list

Movies With Lowest Budgets to Earn $1 Million at US Box Office

 Release DateMovieProduction BudgetDomestic GrossWorldwide Gross
1 Feb 26, 1993 El Mariachi $7,000 $2,040,920 $2,041,928
2 Jan 13, 2023 Skinamarink $15,000 $2,052,272 $2,092,787
3 Aug 1, 1991 Slacker $23,000 $1,227,508 $1,227,508
4 Jun 30, 1972 Deep Throat $25,000 $45,000,000 $45,000,000
5 Aug 1, 1997 In the Company of Men $25,000 $2,883,661 $2,883,661
6 Oct 19, 1994 Clerks $27,000 $3,073,428 $3,894,240
7 Aug 9, 1995 The Brothers McMullen $50,000 $10,426,506 $10,426,506
8 Mar 16, 2001 Gabriela $50,000 $2,335,352 $2,335,352
9 May 7, 2004 Super Size Me $65,000 $11,529,368 $22,233,808
10 May 1, 2020 The Wretched $66,000 $1,815,440 $4,594,221
11 Jul 10, 1998 Pi $68,000 $3,221,152 $4,678,513
12 Aug 30, 1972 The Last House on the Left $87,000 $3,100,000 $3,100,000
13 Jan 1, 1977 Eraserhead $100,000 $7,000,000 $7,097,971
14 Sep 29, 2006 Facing the Giants $100,000 $10,178,331 $10,243,159
15 Mar 1, 1987 Hollywood Shuffle $100,000 $5,228,617 $5,228,617
16 Oct 9, 1998 The Mighty $100,000 $2,652,246 $6,121,582
17 Sep 17, 1920 Over the Hill to the Poorhouse $100,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000
18 Jul 10, 2015 The Gallows $100,000 $22,764,410 $41,656,474
19 Jul 7, 2017 A Ghost Story $100,000 $1,594,798 $2,769,782
20 Feb 8, 1915 The Birth of a Nation $110,000 $10,000,000 $11,000,000

Most Profitable Movies, Based on Absolute Profit on Worldwide Gross

 Release DateMovieApprox. IncomeApprox. ExpenseProfit
1 Dec 18, 2009 Avatar $1,894,208,187 $339,782,000 $1,554,426,187
2 Apr 26, 2019 Avengers: Endgame $1,502,317,066 $475,560,000 $1,026,757,066
3 Dec 18, 2015 Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens $1,223,458,553 $381,704,000 $841,754,553
4 Nov 22, 2013 Frozen $1,054,277,378 $251,332,000 $802,945,378
5 Apr 27, 2018 Avengers: Infinity War $1,128,246,611 $368,812,000 $759,434,611
6 Dec 19, 1997 Titanic $1,111,524,393 $386,368,000 $725,156,393
7 May 4, 2012 The Avengers $1,009,517,939 $300,290,000 $709,227,939
8 Jun 12, 2015 Jurassic World $985,227,491 $288,056,000 $697,171,491
9 Dec 17, 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home $999,969,482 $327,176,000 $672,793,482
10 Jul 15, 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II $813,939,713 $177,306,000 $636,633,713
11 Dec 16, 2022 Avatar: The Way of Water $1,171,633,990 $556,702,000 $614,931,990
12 Jul 3, 2013 Despicable Me 2 $737,704,312 $143,056,000 $594,648,312
13 Apr 3, 2015 Furious 7 $828,335,961 $245,578,000 $582,757,961
14 Nov 22, 2019 Frozen II $807,257,769 $226,594,000 $580,663,769
15 Jul 7, 2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest $863,842,836 $293,790,000 $570,052,836
16 Jul 10, 2015 Minions $704,398,397 $141,424,000 $562,974,397
17 Jul 18, 2008 The Dark Knight $800,608,102 $263,340,000 $537,268,102
18 Jul 19, 2019 The Lion King $875,153,663 $341,924,000 $533,229,663
19 Jun 18, 2010 Toy Story 3 $794,440,817 $267,398,000 $527,042,817
20 Apr 5, 2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie $698,816,335 $180,454,000 $518,362,335

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. The highlighted records in above table are movies that were recently released and/or movies for which we do not have complete data yet. More data and/or additional revenue can result into this movie making more profit and moving up on this list. Movies released in 2005 or earlier are highlighted because we don't have home market data before 2006.

Most Profitable Movies, Based on Return on Investment

 Release DateMovieApprox. ProfitProduction BudgetRoI
1 Mar 21, 1980 Mad Max $49,675,000 $200,000 24,738%
2 Sep 29, 2006 Facing the Giants $24,786,600 $100,000 24,687%
3 Sep 25, 2009 Paranormal Activity $89,958,563 $450,000 19,891%
4 Oct 6, 2009 A Charlie Brown Christmas $23,847,569 $150,000 15,798%
5 Feb 26, 1993 El Mariachi $1,013,964 $7,000 14,385%
6 Jul 14, 1999 The Blair Witch Project $83,224,000 $600,000 13,771%
7 Oct 17, 1978 Halloween $33,250,000 $325,000 10,131%
8 May 7, 2004 Super Size Me $6,427,904 $65,000 9,789%
9 Sep 26, 2008 Fireproof $47,706,466 $500,000 9,441%
10 Jul 10, 2015 The Gallows $6,929,451 $100,000 6,829%
11 Jan 1, 1977 Eraserhead $5,311,434 $100,000 5,211%
12 May 9, 1980 Friday the 13th $27,073,301 $550,000 4,822%
13 May 24, 2006 An Inconvenient Truth $48,251,935 $1,000,000 4,725%
14 May 1, 1981 Graduation Day $11,697,000 $250,000 4,579%
15 May 16, 2007 Once $6,667,635 $150,000 4,345%
16 Apr 23, 2009 Home $21,868,584 $500,000 4,274%
17 Apr 15, 1983 The Evil Dead $14,325,000 $375,000 3,720%
18 Jan 6, 2012 The Devil Inside $37,481,882 $1,000,000 3,648%
19 Oct 7, 2005 Waiting... $38,010,028 $1,125,000 3,279%
20 Mar 21, 2014 God’s Not Dead $36,754,018 $1,150,000 3,096%

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. The highlighted records in above table are movies that were recently released and/or movies for which we do not have complete data yet. More data and/or additional revenue can result into this movie making more profit and moving up on this list. Movies released in 2005 or earlier are highlighted because we don't have home market data before 2006. For this list only movies with an initial release in 1977 or more recently are considered.

Biggest Money Losers, Based on Absolute Loss on Worldwide Earnings

 Release DateMovieApprox. IncomeApprox. ExpenseProfit
1 Mar 11, 2022 Turning Red $8,255,310 $181,240,000 -$172,984,690
2 Jul 30, 2021 Jungle Cruise $114,036,792 $264,216,000 -$150,179,208
3 Mar 11, 2011 Mars Needs Moms $26,784,165 $170,166,000 -$143,381,835
4 Sep 4, 2020 Mulan $59,318,366 $200,000,000 -$140,681,634
5 Feb 4, 2022 Moonfall $32,747,694 $170,784,000 -$138,036,306
6 Dec 25, 2020 Wonder Woman 1984 $122,391,410 $258,940,000 -$136,548,590
7 Nov 23, 2022 Strange World $36,478,421 $172,646,000 -$136,167,579
8 Dec 22, 2021 The Matrix Resurrections $88,339,451 $218,710,000 -$130,370,549
9 Mar 6, 2020 Onward $87,038,732 $217,240,000 -$130,201,268
10 Jun 17, 2022 Lightyear $112,950,867 $235,160,000 -$122,209,133
11 Aug 5, 2021 The Suicide Squad $99,417,543 $218,942,000 -$119,524,457
12 Mar 9, 2012 John Carter $183,342,307 $295,824,000 -$112,481,693
13 May 12, 2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword $87,172,723 $199,580,000 -$112,407,277
14 Sep 30, 2016 Deepwater Horizon $77,109,407 $189,348,000 -$112,238,593
15 Mar 5, 2021 Chaos Walking $16,840,673 $128,552,000 -$111,711,327
16 Jul 16, 2021 Space Jam: A New Legacy $76,533,947 $187,638,000 -$111,104,053
17 Jan 13, 2017 Monster Trucks $40,615,484 $149,450,000 -$108,834,516
18 Dec 10, 2021 West Side Story $38,788,648 $143,240,000 -$104,451,352
19 Dec 17, 2010 How Do You Know? $36,192,184 $140,454,000 -$104,261,816
20 Mar 1, 2013 Jack the Giant Slayer $125,653,823 $228,504,000 -$102,850,177

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.