25 of the Most Expensive Movies Ever, Adjusted for Inflation

Adjusted budget: $416 m

Estimates of Cleopatra’s cost vary significantly, with the studio at the time putting the total at around $35 million. Publicity about cost overruns was hurting the film’s press, and given that 20th Century Fox was in damage control mode, I’m inclined to put the movie’s costs at the higher end of estimates.

Was it worth it? Yes, but only barely, and only thanks to its legacy. A lot of the budget was wasted on avoidable behind-the-scenes problems, but an awful lot of money still made it to the screen. Because it cost so much to make, it took a couple of years and a TV deal to actually earn money, but it was still the top-grossing film of 1963 and received nine Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. Though it gave an awful lot of studio execs nasty headaches, the results remain pretty impressive.

Where to stream: Fubo