It is not easy to know if a film is actually financially successful blockbuster. Between the production budget (including studio costs and fees of the top cast/actors/actresses/director) and the box office revenue (takings from theatres/cinemas), there are other costs such as promotion and marketing and cuts from the movie theaters. A broad rule of thumb of possible profitability could be the box office revenue being double that of production costs.

In this list, we look at some of the costliest movies (mostly in Hollywood) ever made, especially in recent history.

*Cost figures not adjusted for inflation.