Master director Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel Gladiator 2 has become one of the most expensive movies ever made, raising concerns after the recent box office fiasco.
Napoleon fizzled out
The 2023 film Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, was an impressive action epic from start to finish, but its massive $200 million budget made it difficult for the film to turn a profit at the box office.
Napoleon earned just $61.5 million at the US box office and grossed a total of $218 million worldwide.
Thus, 86-year-old Scott’s last biopic, which cost $200 million, was a flop at the box office.
Production on Gladiator 2 began in June 2023. But it has not been an easy or cheap journey.
The movie started with a production budget of $165 million, but new reports have revealed that Gladiator 2’s budget has skyrocketed to $310 million, suddenly making it one of the most expensive movies ever made.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount insists that the net cost of the movie does not exceed 250 million dollars.
Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars
Still, a budget of $310 million made the movie the first Pirates of the Caribbean: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Justice League and Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Napoleon’s cost placed it second only to Robin Hood at $210 million, making it one of the most expensive Ridley Scott films ever made.
It will be Scott’s costliest movie
Gladiator 2 will be Scott’s most expensive movie yet. If the movie fails to achieve the success of Gladiator, the director could be in serious trouble.
When Gladiator was released in 2000, it grossed $452 million worldwide on a budget of $103 million.
According to Scott, some unforeseen circumstances contributed to the inflation of Gladiator 2’s $165 million budget.
Strikes and accidents on set
Hollywood strikes delayed production, which significantly inflated the budget.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that some of the justifications for the $310 million cost include “accidents on set and complaints about animal abuse.”
The most expensive movie of all time is Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens stands out as the most expensive movie of all time. It is stated that the budget of the 2015 movie directed by J.J. Abrams was 447 million dollars.
ScreenRant, Hollywood Reporter, CBR.com
