Universal's 'Jurassic World: Dominion' Sets Record as Most Expensive Film Ever
Universal Pictures' 2022 action-adventure film "Jurassic World: Dominion" has become the most expensive movie of all time, with production costs reaching $658.8 million. This figure surpasses the previous record held by Disney's 2015 release, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which cost $638.9 million. The significant expenses for "Dominion" were largely attributed to pandemic-related safety protocols, filming delays, and the extended quarantine of its A-list cast in the United Kingdom during its 2020 production.
NBCUniversal has taken the title of making the most expensive movie ever, according to an analysis of recently filed financial statements. The filings reveal that Universal Pictures spent $658.8 million on the 2022 action-adventure film “Jurassic World: Dominion.”
This cost exceeds the previous record-holder, Disney’s 2015 “Star Wars” reboot “The Force Awakens,” which had a production cost of $638.9 million. “Dominion” was the third installment in Universal’s “Jurassic World” series, featuring stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Lara Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill.
Filmed in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Universal implemented costly safety protocols and faced months of delays, pushing the movie's premiere back by a year to June 2022. Maintaining productions in a state of readiness during downtime led to surging costs for studios, including continued payments for soundstages, leased equipment, security staff, and high-level producers and department heads to ensure their availability.
The A-list cast underwent a five-month quarantine period at Marriott’s Langley Hotel in the U.K., near Pinewood Studios where filming occurred. Rooms at the hotel, an 18th-century manor, cost over $600 per night, contributing to the film's expenses. During lockdown, Jeff Goldblum played jazz on the hotel’s piano, with Sam Neill singing alongside him in viral social media videos.
While exact movie production costs are often undisclosed in the U.S., the situation differs in the U.K., where both “Dominion” and “The Force Awakens” were made. Studios filming in the U.K. can benefit from the government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC), which provides a cash reimbursement of up to 25.5% of their U.K. expenditure as an incentive to utilize British talent and locations.
To qualify for this reimbursement, a movie must pass a points test based on factors such as the number of U.K. lead actors, U.K. content, and the extent of U.K. filming. Scenes for “Dominion” were shot in south-east England woods, and Wolfson College at Oxford University was used as a location. The presence of British actress Isabella Sermon also contributed to Universal’s points tally.
Furthermore, at least 10% of a production’s core costs must be incurred in the U.K. To demonstrate this, studios establish a separate Film Production Company (FPC) in the U.K. for each film. These FPCs are required to file financial statements, which provide details on staffing, social security payments, reimbursement amounts, and total production costs. FPCs often use codenames, such as Arcadia Pictures for “Dominion,” to avoid public attention when filing for shooting permits.
Universal and Disney have been contacted for comment. According to Fortune, NBCUniversal has surpassed Disney's previous record.
