Biggest Budget Movies of 2022: Cost vs Box Office
1,476 of the 8,624 films released in 2022 have a reported production budget. Avatar: The Way of Water cost the most at $460M, and earned $2.3B worldwide. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is next at $414.9M. The 20 most expensive cost $3.9B together.
- films with a budget
- 1,476
- most expensive
- $460M
- top 20 combined
- $3.9B
- median budget
- $200K
The 20 Most Expensive Movies of 2022: Budget vs Box Office
Avatar: The Way of Water cost $460M and earned $2.3B worldwide (5.1× its budget). 8 of the 20 earned at least 2.5 times their budget, a common rule of thumb for breaking even once marketing and cinema shares are paid; 3 films took less than their budget. 5 films have no box office record here.
Which 2022 Movies Made the Most, and Least, for Their Budget?
Smile earned 13× its $17M budget, the best return of any 2022 film that cost $10M or more. At the other end, Turning Red took $21.8M on a $175M budget (0.1×). Worldwide cinema gross only; home video, streaming and marketing are not included.
Biggest hits for their cost
| Film | Budget | Worldwide | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smile $17M budget | $17M | $217.4M | 13× |
| The Black Phone $16M budget | $16M | $161.4M | 10× |
| Minions: The Rise of Gru $100M budget | $100M | $940.5M | 9.4× |
| Ticket to Paradise $20M budget | $20M | $168.8M | 8.4× |
| Jackass Forever $10M budget | $10M | $80.6M | 8.1× |
| Lost in the Stars $70M budget | $70M | $487.6M | 7.0× |
| K.G.F: Chapter 2 $13M budget | $13M | $89.1M | 6.9× |
| Where the Crawdads Sing $24M budget | $24M | $144.4M | 6.0× |
Biggest flops for their cost
| Film | Budget | Worldwide | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turning Red $175M budget | $175M | $21.8M | 0.1× |
| Crimes of the Future $35M budget | $35M | $4.6M | 0.1× |
| Fireheart $35M budget | $35M | $6.2M | 0.2× |
| Notre-Dame on Fire $30M budget | $30M | $6.1M | 0.2× |
| Devotion $90M budget | $90M | $21.8M | 0.2× |
| Bheemla Nayak $60M budget | $60M | $15.2M | 0.3× |
| Redeeming Love $30M budget | $30M | $9.5M | 0.3× |
| Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery $40M budget | $40M | $13.3M | 0.3× |
How Much Did 2022 Movies Cost to Make?
1,476 films released in 2022 have a reported budget, 17% of all 8,624. Most cost under $10M (86%); the median is $200K, and 20 films cost $100M or more.
- Under $10M 1,270 films · 86%
- $10M–$50M 154 films · 10%
- $50M–$100M 32 films · 2%
- $100M–$200M 12 films · <1%
- $200M and up 8 films · <1%
Are Movie Budgets Growing? Top-10 Average by Year
The ten most expensive films of 2022 cost $259.5M on average, the highest of any year since 2000. Each year links to its own list.
- 2000 #1: The Perfect Storm$112.4M
- 2001 #1: Pearl Harbor$118.9M
- 2002 #1: Die Another Day$121.3M
- 2003 #1: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines$142.7M
- 2004 #1: Spider-Man 2$147.5M
- 2005 #1: King Kong$151M
- 2006 #1: Superman Returns$169.4M
- 2007 #1: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End$182.3M
- 2008 #1: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian$172.5M
- 2009 #1: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince$196.2M
- 2010 #1: Tangled$186M
- 2011 #1: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides$176.3M
- 2012 #1: The Dark Knight Rises$210.4M
- 2013 #1: Man of Steel$196.5M
- 2014 #1: Transformers: Age Of Extinction$178.1M
- 2015 #1: Avengers: Age of Ultron$186.6M
- 2016 #1: Captain America: Civil War$194.8M
- 2017 #1: Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi$223.1M
- 2018 #1: Avengers: Infinity War$203.1M
- 2019 #1: Avengers: Endgame$234.4M
- 2020 #1: Tenet$155.5M
- 2021 #1: Zack Snyder's Justice League$215M
- 2022 #1: Avatar: The Way of Water$259.5M
- 2023 #1: Fast X$251.8M
- 2024 #1: Red One$200.8M
- 2025 #1: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning$255.5M
- 2026 #1: Spider-Man: Brand New Day$207M
- 2000 (#1: The Perfect Storm): $112.4M
- 2001 (#1: Pearl Harbor): $118.9M
- 2002 (#1: Die Another Day): $121.3M
- 2003 (#1: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines): $142.7M
- 2004 (#1: Spider-Man 2): $147.5M
- 2005 (#1: King Kong): $151M
- 2006 (#1: Superman Returns): $169.4M
- 2007 (#1: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End): $182.3M
- 2008 (#1: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian): $172.5M
- 2009 (#1: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince): $196.2M
- 2010 (#1: Tangled): $186M
- 2011 (#1: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides): $176.3M
- 2012 (#1: The Dark Knight Rises): $210.4M
- 2013 (#1: Man of Steel): $196.5M
- 2014 (#1: Transformers: Age Of Extinction): $178.1M
- 2015 (#1: Avengers: Age of Ultron): $186.6M
- 2016 (#1: Captain America: Civil War): $194.8M
- 2017 (#1: Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi): $223.1M
- 2018 (#1: Avengers: Infinity War): $203.1M
- 2019 (#1: Avengers: Endgame): $234.4M
- 2020 (#1: Tenet): $155.5M
- 2021 (#1: Zack Snyder's Justice League): $215M
- 2022 (#1: Avatar: The Way of Water): $259.5M
- 2023 (#1: Fast X): $251.8M
- 2024 (#1: Red One): $200.8M
- 2025 (#1: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning): $255.5M
- 2026 (#1: Spider-Man: Brand New Day): $207M
Which Genres Got the Biggest Budgets in 2022?
Action films account for the most spending in 2022: $5.3B across 138 films, $38.4M on average. Drama follows with $4.7B. A film with several genres counts in each.
-
Action $5.3B138 films · $38.4M average -
Drama $4.7B606 films · $7.7M average -
Adventure $4.6B78 films · $58.6M average -
Fantasy $3.8B97 films · $39.3M average -
Comedy $3.8B360 films · $10.5M average -
Sci-Fi $3.1B90 films · $35M average -
Thriller $3.1B247 films · $12.7M average -
Family $2.3B65 films · $34.9M average -
Animation $1.4B52 films · $27.2M average -
Crime $1.3B82 films · $15.9M average
Biggest Budget Movies of 2022: Questions & Answers
Quick answers about what 2022's films cost and earned, from the lists above.
What was the most expensive movie of 2022?
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), with a reported production budget of $460M. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is second at $414.9M.
About Avatar: The Way of Water Which 2022 movie made the most money for its budget?
Among 2022 films that cost $10M or more, Smile (2022) earned $217.4M worldwide on a $17M budget, 13× what it cost.
What was the biggest box office flop of 2022?
Measured by worldwide gross against budget, Turning Red (2022) took $21.8M on a $175M budget (0.1×), the weakest return of any 2022 film that cost $30M or more.
How much did a 2022 movie cost to make?
The median reported budget of the 1,476 films released in 2022 with one is $200K. The 20 most expensive cost $3.9B together, and 20 films cost $100M or more.
Which budgets are counted?
Reported production budgets up to $500M. A budget of $30M or more also needs a box office record, a Metascore or an award nomination, and a budget of $100M or more that earned back less than 15% of it only counts for a widely seen English-language film. These checks filter out budgets stored in another currency. Marketing costs are not included.