Access Top Ten: The Most Expensive Movies Ever Made

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Movies have captivated audiences around the world with blockbuster hits from "King Kong" to "Titanic." These films not only wowed the crowds, but they also cost several millions upon millions of dollars to create, market and produce.

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With big buzz circulating around the release of James Cameron's "Avatar," a film that cost $190 million to make and 15 years of patience for technology to advance, Access Hollywood takes a look at the films with the highest production costs.

So, grab your popcorn and come watch as AccessHollywood.com counts down the Top Ten Most Expensive Movies Ever Made!

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10. "Spider-Man 2"
Year of Release: 2004
Director: Sam Raimi
Cost of Production: $200 million
Box Office Gross: $783 million
The second installment of the comic book turned movie had a budget of $200 million to work with, it made over $88 million on its opening weekend, and it grossed over $783 million worldwide. What made this film a success is the whopping personal battles Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) faces as a vulnerable human being and as a superhero trying to protect the citizens of the world.

9. "Superman Returns"
Year of Release: 2006
Director: Bryan Singer
Cost of Production: $200 million
Box Office Gross: $391million
Another comic book movie, "Superman Returns" cost $200 million to create, it had an opening weekend consisting of $52 million, and it ended up making $391 million worldwide. Superman has become one of the most iconic of superhero film characters, and this incarnation did not fall short; it had the thrills, the romance, and the action all embedded into a nicely fitted storyline.

8. "Quantum of Solace"
Year of Release: 2008
Director: Mark Forster
Cost of Production: $200 million
Box Office Gross: $586 million
The 22nd Bond film made, and the second one for Daniel Craig, this 007 installment cost $200 million to produce, it made $67 million on its opening weekend, and overall it grossed $586 million worldwide. Because of its serious tone, extra-tough Bond babes, and dark humor, "Quantum of Solace" also provided a huge amount of excitement and suspense. 

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7. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"
Year of Release: 2008
Director: Andrew Adamson
Cost of Production: $200 million
Box Office Gross: $419 million
"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" is another one of our films with a $200 million budget, it made $55 million during its opening weekend, and it collected $419 million overall. Based on the 2nd of the C.S. Lewis novels, this film is a religious allegory that proved much easier to follow than the first. It used fantasy and magic to captivate it viewers. 

6. "King Kong"
Year of Release: 2005
Director: Peter Jackson
Cost of Production: $207 million
Box Office Gross: $550 million
Though this remake was set in the Great Depression, it probably did not feel that way on set. With a budget of $207 million, director Peter Jackson's follow-up to his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy opened with $50 million, and ended up grossing over $550 million worldwide. This remake became an epic through its visual beauty. Fans were drawn to its love storyline between Ann Darrow, a famous actress played by Naomi Watts, and the giant ape.

5. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Year of Release: 2006
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cost of Production: $225 million
Box Office Gross: $1.06 billion
The second installment in the "Pirates" franchise spent $225 billion on production, it had an opening weekend of over $135 million, and it eventually grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. It became the third film to ever gross over $1 billion in the worldwide box office making it Disney's most successful film to date. "Dead Man's Chest" received praise for its special effects and for presenting each character with deeper and darker desires.

4. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Year of Release: 2009
Director: David Yates
Cost of Production: $250 million
Box Office Gross: $928 million
Harry Potter has created a world of its own - and the sixth film deepened that notion. It had a $250 million production cost, made $77 million on its opening weekend, and overall grossed more than $928 million worldwide. Though all of the movies have been a success, the romantic couplings and the storyline involving Harry, Hermione and Ron not returning to Hogwarts in order to seek and destroy the remaining Horcruxes pushed this installment into a darker and more mature setting. 

3. "Spider-Man 3"
Year of Release: 2007
Director: Sam Raimi
Cost of Production: $258 million
Box Office Gross: $890 million
"Spider-Man 3" cost $258 million to create ($58 million more than the second), it made $151 million on its opening weekend, and overall it collected $890 million worldwide (an increase of more than $100 million from the second). The third film took the story to another level because not only was Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) battling two criminals, but he became his own worst enemy when a substance bonds with him and influences his behavior for the worse. 

2. "Titanic"
Year of Release: 1997
Director: James Cameron
Cost of Production: $285 million
Box Office Gross: $1.8 billion
The film that captured the world's heart, "Titanic," was created with a budget of $285 million, and made only $28 million on its opening weekend. However it ended up with the largest box office gross of all time- over $1.8 billion worldwide! It was also one of the only three films to ever win 11 Academy Awards. The story of Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) falling in love on a ship, yet never having the chance to see where their relationship could go, is devastating, admirable, and for all but the strongest souls… tear-inducing.

1. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Year of Release: 2007
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cost of Production: $300 million
Box Office Gross: $960 million
The most expensive film ever made, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" was a box office hit, becoming the most successful film of 2007, opening with $114 million, and eventually grossing more than $960 million worldwide. The third installment in the "Pirates" franchise was bigger and bolder than both previous films and relied heavily on Johnny Depp's versatile acting to pull audiences through along with him on his journey.

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