Which Marvel Movie Had the Biggest Budget?
Superheros aren’t born overnight. The production of Marvel films costs millions of dollars, from creating CGI effects to paying the actors’ salaries. The result, however, is some of the highest grossing superhero movies of all time. These are the Marvel flicks with the most impressive spending budgets, including Black Panther, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Avengers: Endgame.
‘Avengers: Endgame’
It only fits that this list includes the highest grossing superhero film of all time. Avengers: Endgame is one of the only superhero movies to pass $2 billion in box office sales.
As of May 2019, this movie could potentially surpass the domestic box office sales of James Cameron’s Avatar. According to Vanity Fair, Avengers: Endgame made more money during its opening weekend than Captain America: Civil War did in its entire box office run.
According to the New York Times, this mega-superhero flick cost $350 million to make and cost $150 million to market worldwide. A sizable chunk of the production cost includes Robert Downey Jr.’s estimated $75 million salary, according to the Guardian.
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’
There’s some debate regarding the total cost of Avengers: Age of Ultron, as there is no official document released regarding the total cost of production, including marketing costs. According to the Observer, Avengers: Age of Ultron cost an estimated $250 million to produce.
Conversely, executive vice president of physical production for Marvel Studios, Victoria Alonso, stated the budget is actually “upwards of $300 million,” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Forbes stated this was one of the most expensive Marvel movies, costing the company $495.2 million to make.
The film’s large budget paid off. According to boxofficemojo.com, Age of Ultron earned a domestic total gross of $459 million.
‘Black Panther’
According to the Hollywood Reporter, this movie cost Marvel an estimated $200 million to make, before marketing. It earned over $1 billion in box office sales, making it one of the highest grossing superhero films of all time. Although fans met T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, this was the first Marvel film that featured a predominately African American cast.
“There is [a] pressure that comes with that security,” said Black Panther Director, Ryan Coogler in an interview with IndieWire. “All creatives get into our own heads; we tend to be nervous, think of all the ways it can go wrong before the ways it can go right. There were pressures being with a successful company. You don’t want to be the one who doesn’t work when you come on board.”
Although there is no definitive news, fans expect a Black Panther sequel to release during the next wave of Marvel movies.
‘Avengers: Infinity War’
This film was the beginning of the end. With an impressive cast and CGI effects, this film cost Disney a few million to produce. According to Forbes, Avengers: Infinity War cost an estimated $321.2 million to make.
Before Avengers: Endgame, this was the highest grossing superhero film of all time. It also surpassed the $2 billion in box office sales. It also won the 2018 People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Movie.”
