The Secrets Behind History’s Most Expensive Movies

[@Lextorias]

The first 500 people to use my link in the description will receive a one month free trial of Skillshare! Get started today! skl.sh/lextorias12241

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

The series "Rings of Power" went over 1 Billion costs right? I'm pretty sure it did. Not a movie though.

[@Lextorias]

@ I’d count prestige TV under the same category as combined film productions. The first season cost an estimated $450 million, the second most likely the same, but that’s across 16 episodes, so it’s not any sort of most expensive individual feature

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

@@Lextorias Good point

[@Iredecent]

your voice sounds pretty close to planet clue

[@alveolate]

@@Lextorias most expensive tv shows in history next?

[@thegreentailedog4870]

Elizabeth Taylor costing so much for just constantly being ill is so funny for no reason

[@67Dragonball]

Like what a drama queen.

[@austins.2495]

She was so beautiful back then

[@SlipMaker]

The first three Pirates movies may be expensive as hell, but by God you can see every penny on screen and those movies still look GORGEOUS.

[@PauLtus_B]

…and then that 4th one is such a shrug on so many levels. It feels so much smaller.

[@SecretMagician]

Unlike most modern movies, which are around the same budget or even exceed it, but has awful quality due to constant reshoots and writing done by the seat of their pants.

[@sweeth4796]

Pirates franchise had some amazing scenes especially with the limited CGI for the time. Well worth the cost in my humble opinion.

[@brianwithay-qm3vz]

Id love to see a video covering the same topic for something like video games or tv shows. I hear the budgets for those are getting increasingly absurd

[@TheNoob.07]

let lex cook 👨‍🍳

[@jamesprumos7775]

I'd like to see one on music albums too. Chinese Democracy, Michael Jackson's albums, etc.

[@alveolate]

yea tv and video games and even music... all getting enshittified by megacorps too

[@MaxwellRomig]

I was about to go to sleep but i have an extra hour

[@whatdoesrsmean3627]

Same😂

[@HERO_DREAMER]

Your summary of Cleopatra's production reminds me of that "I fired and then I missed" bit from the Game Grumps

[@amberhernandez]

I'm reminded of Jericho's whispercasting segment during a game of CS:GO, where it was down to a 1v1 and both players were dogwater with the AWP. It's like, a full minute of Jericho repeating "he's got another opportunity" in between the most polite golf announcer roasts. Every time the production tried to do something, I just kept hearing "another opportunity" lmao

[@bongibot1104]

Lemme know if you can find the clip, that sounds really funny​@@amberhernandez

[@relag4171]

While I generally agree, I also think there's a " They don't make them like they used to" factor to this. Whenever someone laments the death of old Hong Kong Kung Fu movies they usually overlook the fact that a lot of the actors in those films either died young or were beset by crippling disabilities due to the strenuous and dangerous work they performed. You briefly mention this in the Ben Hur section, but if an few extra million was spent ensuring the actors and animals in that film don't die on set then I'm all for it. That said, Hollywood Accounting is bogus and designed to defraud the actual workers from what they're owed.

[@alveolate]

corrupt US gov and late-stage capitalism racing to see who can end the empire first

[@LAK_770]

There's an iconic scene in Cleopatra where she's triumphantly carried into Rome on an ENORMOUS sphinx as a flex, like a 10 meter tall, multi-ton monstrosity rolled in by an entire squad of slaves. During this scene, the procession passes through a massive archway, which was of course actually built IRL. So obviously, they messed up the measurements for the archway and the sphinx didn't fit lol. After a complete panic they settled on partially dismantling the gigantic prop for the archway shot, absolutely gushing money as they decided on this fix. Then once it was fixed, they filmed it during a time of day when the sunlight angle was all wrong. Whoops. ALSO, during this scene there was a fear that Taylor would literally be assassinated by one of the *4000* extras in that scene, with her public image being so tumultuous at the time.

[@MlLFS4L]

Babe wake up lextorias dropped absolute peak in the middle of the night!

[@Kaktanternak]

I don't really watch any movies. But I'm always hyped for a Lextorias video, absolute peak youtube content. I can't imagine the amount of research this took. About the production and history of filming Ran - That's what happens when there's real passion behind something. No greed, no excel spreadsheet to balance, no superstars demanding 100+ mil. It's almost like he was on a mission to create that movie. A sad but beautiful story.

[@malvonanaliseiv8629]

Public domain King Gizzard is everything every video ever needes

[@johnsolorzano6395]

I was starting to get frustrated that you weren't going to bring up Hollywood Accounting, I was a fool to doubt how thorough you are

[@masudashizue777]

I watched "Cleopatra" with my mother back in the 60s and remember almost nothing except Elizabeth Taylor's lavish costumes and extravagant sets.

[@WOMFT]

Bro is also increasing his budget for video production

[@jerryp.927]

As someone attempting to be a director/filmmaker, I'm thankful for videos like this that talk about WHY movies cost so much. Cinema is without a doubt the most expensive medium of art, and I think to others like myself that will never get the opportunity to even attempt to put their ideas into the world. At the same time, I think back to what Spike Lee has said in interviews (paraphrased as I cannot remember the actual quote): There's kids in their basement with phones and an idea, don't let not having the budget or gear stop you.

[@TheOrian34]

Well, I gotta say it might just be a myth, and budget isn't a necessity after all. Maybe even a sort of gatekeeping from Hollywood. You might already know, but if you don't, definitely go check out Joel Haver.

[@alveolate]

the big budget crapola is really nothing more than media moguls and oligarchs doing cash grab schemes. the real art is always still being made, just mostly without the capitalist fanfare. the real sadness begins when even film festivals are starting to fall under the influence of billion dollar studios. the oscars have been tarred for a while now, but even cannes et al are becoming mere vehicles for hollywood dark money. this is why indie media on youtube is really the way forward. granted, the platform is (yet again) a megacorp property, but so far at least, good art can and does succeed (aka get a wide audience) on youtube.

[@brandonwiley5372]

28:28 "even the smoother sailing titanic" PHRASING

[@Red_Lanterns_Rage]

he meant the production! not the historic failed voyage.... we hit something cap'n we can take it! we're sinlkin' cap'n abandon ship? are you mad? i have no ending for this joke!

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

The "Shady Accounting" practices not only happen in the movie industry, but we see in games as well. We see all the time AAA games with records sales being described as "below profit margins". Guess crypto scammers aren't the only ones doing rug pulls out there.

[@bahamutbbob]

Square Enix always disappointed in the Eidos games selling MILLIONS OF COPIES, so they sold them off.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

@@bahamutbbob Now the Eidos company is owned by Embracer, the private equity that owns Dark Horse too. It’s just sad.

[@Luke-mb4rw]

First saw the title of the video and thought "meh, don't care". Then saw that it was from Lextorias and immediately knew I had to watch the whole thing immediately. Was not disappointed.

[@User-kw5bk]

Ran is so peak.

[@RileyGee4484]

It's very impressive how you're able to make such extensive videos on various topics all within a short period of time between one another. I've seen channels that do the same thing and upload every 2 months or so. Keep up the incredible work sir.

[@kxuydhj]

"so how are we going to properly film a sinking ship?" "rhetorical question, my friend."

[@Red_Lanterns_Rage]

we CG is to hell, dats how we do it! so the ship, the outside, the iceberg, even the actors up to their heads all CGI sounds like a lame ass movie to me...and typical no I'm not cynical what gave you that idea? but I have lost complete faith....

[@bahamutbbob]

Remember, most of The Abyss was filmed in a giant water tank. Of course he was going to go all out for Titanic!

[@QuickQuips]

I wonder what's the biggest ratio of cost to opening weekend earnings is. That Wives seems to beat even Megaopolis.

[@Lextorias]

Wikipedia has a list of box office bombs. I think John Carter or Lone Ranger might be the biggest total loss. But my favorite is the Chinese blockbuster Asura from 2018, which cost $113 million and only made $7 million opening weekend, before it was pulled from theatres entirely and never seen again

[@cheesypoohalo]

@@Lextorias That's surprising, I actually quite liked the Lone Ranger, did it just pick a bad time to release?

[@matteodigallo561]

@@cheesypoohalo yes summer 2013 was a clusterfuck of big tentpoles and everyone suffered for it

[@gerardoalexandergarciamend7053]

​@@Lextorias I'm sure that it was recently reported that The Marvels is Disney's biggest bomb in terms of estimated loss, which would put it above those two

[@hestolemyballoons]

>click on video >King Gizzard BGM Instant like

[@herzberd]

it’s so fucking cool that they released polygondwanaland to the public to use royalty free

[@laioren]

Brah. Your flix are SO GOOD. Have you come up with a good origin story for why you're so good at video essays yet? I vote "bitten by a radioactive KZbinr." But you can come up with whatever works best for you. Anyway, keep up the great work!

[@drewlosthisaccount]

OH MY GOD GIZZARD NEEDLE DROP

[@Jiggy...]

That was awesome lol

[@jacklincoln3]

I was so confused I thought I had my music playing in the background lmao

[@zangetsuCBA]

Man, I need to watch Ran. The clips shown of the behind the scenes made me emotional, the movie shots are breathtakingly beautiful and even the poster is gorgeous.

[@funebure]

I wonder if filmmakers of the past were told about todays’ budgets or shown this video, if their reaction would have been akin to that scene of Austin Powers 2 when they laugh at dr evil saying “is 1969 that amount of money doesn’t even exist”

[@WahWahWaaahhhh]

Bro I LOVE your content. Definitely my favourite on KZbin atm. Great work.

[@MrMetal-xe8lg]

I will now pray that this video reaches one of the heads of the film industry. It probably won't change things, but it'll shake someone, and knowing that would give me peace.

[@ReinBelmont]

28:31 I want to take a second to appreciate the line: "Even the smoother sailing, Titanic"

[@NeoBlueCD]

gotta give props, that title drop went SO hard

[@src248]

I started watching this thinking "I'll watch a few minutes and finish it later" but it never stopped being interesting; the entire hour flew by. Incredible work!

[@JustCassually]

Just wanna tell you, I'm subscribed for a year now, the way you present and break down all the data you've gathered after extensive research is nothing short of MASTERFUL!!! 👏

[@RumBuDum]

This was just a great video for an hour. Good shit. Love seeing stuff like this drop at midnight.

[@verymelonman12]

I know I'm saying this before I finish the video, but it's been more than obvious over the years how expensive so many blockbuster are to make in a vain attempt to attract the same audiences back again and again without considerations for why past blockbusters actually worked as films, or even just the idea that having a blockbuster every month of the year leads to diminishing returns.

[@Ashtarte3D]

To me Hollywood is the same thing as the AAA gaming scene. Sure we get some good stuff here and there but they will never create my favorite things. The LoTR movies are good but they hold no sway over me like Hard Candy or District 9, films that live rent free in my brain and were made with small independent productions. Also side note, Gitaroo Man's Resurrection is a banger music choice for end credits. A man of culture for knowing that game.

[@rayok_zed]

45:15 Why is there a lady eating trash in the background?? 😂

[@WeazelBeatsOfficials]

I think it's footage from the game Dead Island 2. I have not fact-checked this but I have played and loved this game about a year ago

[@rustyrayz1]

First vid of yours I’ve seen. Well researched, well delivered! Subbed and exited to watch more.

[@austins.2495]

Awesome video man! Thank you I really enjoyed it 🙏

[@sebastianagnalt]

never really watch long form content on youtube... but you somehow hook me on every video. interesting topics and a good structure, great work!

[@Capt_Cepheus]

I just love the fact that you're sitting there on your Couch with a Zombie Apocalypse in the background. :D

[@Egavans]

The biggest wastes, imo, are the Disney "live action"/photorealistic remakes. Giant money sinks all committed to making objectively worse looking movies all based upon the idea that animation is somehow inferior as an art form.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Same for me, even I think the photorealistic live action person+cgi setting remakes are so mid as hell! They’re such money sinks.

[@lpnp9477]

The music is worse too

[@jamesprumos7775]

Disney nowadays is the king of overspending on mediocre films

[@jessip8654]

Man I wish more bad movies had tell-all books written about them. I'd really love to know how a movie like, say, Wish went from having cool concepts and plot ideas to the bland disaster it turned into.

[@radomirzhuravlev1256]

Your videos are the best! Thank you for the effort you put in them ❤

[@yoshimurahirihito]

I'm liking this (and love this video) simply because you include adjusted, which it seams no one does, but is so important.

[@ejs_ethan]

Its actually really funny, I wanted to watch one of your video essays this morning. Lo and behold!

[@snacktime2497]

Last year, I was able to see Ran in a theater on my birthday. It was an absolutely incredible experience to see on the big screen.

[@andycanoy863]

Expensive movies whether good or bad are worth giving historical accounts of their production history like a documentary

[@zombie_dinosaur96]

Man.. i fucking love this channel

[@MotoCat91]

Ah shit I was just about to start Witcherin', oh well.. guess Geralt has to wait now

[@MotoCat91]

yup, 'twas another banger indeed

[@picklenik9658]

Such a high quality video Lex, I hope the algorithm realizes and picks it up more, it deserves it

[@siandien5]

What an interesting video. You should make more of these movie history videos! Any other youtube channels that do these?

[@nightmayor6114]

Lemme just download this. Because this must have ton of copyright shit.

[@MikaPietkiewicz]

wow you're truly good at what you're doing, definitely one of the best on the platform! Love seeing these videos keep it up!

[@maple_twig]

Great video with great research as usual, thank you @Lextorias. Next movie to watch is Ran.

[@boyad4338]

Bro dropped peak in the middle of the night and thought we wouldn’t notice

[@skraxaxxaxa484]

Always fun to hear king gizz in videos, particularly when it's my favourite album :)

[@MrSharpShooterMan77]

This would be a great topic to venture out into other mediums and the budgets they can accrue, such as Video Games.

[@anthonytrevino2546]

Love your style of video essay

[@KapiteinKrentebol]

14:00 Was miss Taylor also insured by UnitedHealtcare?

[@RoyThomas-c7h]

another day another Lextorias banger

[@FriendlyKitten]

Am here for the long form essays. Keep up the amazing work

[@carson2258]

the end credit sequence is chefs kiss

[@Gotenham]

Great vid, real interesting cheers

[@ianmcgary9395]

What a video. Speechless

[@TheFinalFrontiersman]

2:28 I'm stoned enough that I thought he was going to say 'house'

[@whatdoesrsmean3627]

I was about to go to bed when I stumbled upon this video and immediately knew I had to postpone my sleep. Yet another great essay, thank you!

[@juanitoarcoiris5824]

Good vid bro

[@savhavz]

I love this but the part about Hollywood Accounting with the woman eating trash on a loop in the background is sending me lmao it’s so distracting and just keeps going

[@Model4]

I enjoyed this video quite a bit, thank you.

[@davec8385]

Incredible video thanks for sharing!

[@AugustRx]

This had no right being this entertaining

[@enricohepner]

1:21 Oh, "Ran", not "Ren"

[@Miraihi]

Pronounced more like "run".

[@Tarodenaro]

45:15 54:38 Truly sneaky & sublime cinematography; this mimics the real world in the finest most applicable, both metaphorical and literal sense of storytelling 10/10 pure kino 👌

[@ty_sylicus]

Huge budget films or production nightmares are a bit like care collisions, it's awful but hard to look away.

[@kylespevak6781]

38:32 A tenth of a billion dollars for a role is INSANE! That's generational wealth numbers! Your great grandchildren will be rich

[@anaveragegamer359]

thanks for this been wondering about this forever

[@lefebvrexavier1404]

Great video, thanks.

[@happytrips6844]

Horology heard. King Gizzard music noticed. Subscription earned. Time to binge content.

[@galaga2x808]

dude why am i not subscribed, great content

[@JimNoBoDie]

Heyyyy Crumbling Castlessss!!!! Great video as usual!

[@ggnegrao]

starting with King Gizz in the background? ok, got my attention IMEDIATELY

[@wispyone3702]

Wonderful video. I don't really have much else to say because yeah spitting, love the conclusion, but that that credits theme hit, love gitaroo man.

[@TheGlowingManYT]

Yooo Lextorias is a King Gizz fan? Loved hearing Crumbling Castle during the intro

[@adamtapparo2168]

I watched the show “the movies that made us” about the making of classic films and between that and this video, it’s amazing to me that any good movies actually come out. The amount of shit that can and does go wrong at every level is staggering to think about.

[@Gotenhanku]

Movie rarely being wrong bout the too big to fail is mirrored recently with Video showing that you can NEVER be too big to fail massively. Just this year we have had some massively huge failures like Concord.

[@sillyheet]

your best video yet

[@aronbartal]

All I hear with the transition song is Star Fetchers

[@somefella6989]

>Cleopatra broke even Are you forgetting theater cost multiplication? You need like 2-3x budget back to actually break even.

[@Lextorias]

Nope. Wanger and others who worked on the movie confirm it passed the breakeven point

[@sillyheet]

and this is decades back. the film industry was very different back then.

[@ty_sylicus]

I fell asleep before Chapter 4 last night and I'm surprised that heavy metal didn't wake me up.

[@lillyrichter3383]

Great video!

[@ogun6464]

Just starting, let's see how this one goes...

[@themultiverse5447]

Whoever's going through the trash @39:00 is doing a really bad job at it LOLOL

[@THEONETRUEOVERLORD]

And that’s why I love foreign films

[@bobokitty123]

Great and insightful video! I now need to go down a rabbit hole about Hollywood accounting and probably scream

[@waymonstoltz5001]

22:39 I loved Waterworld

[@deltacharlieecho4732]

James Cameron saying “I’m not a perfectionist, I’m a rightist” is possibly the most based thing I’ve ever heard a director say.

[@wmv8996]

The scale of Ben Hur is sick.

[@hsemicolonc413]

My GOAT dropping in the dead of night like a vampire.😭🙏

[@ka-nv9xn]

Hyyype!! A Lextorias Video before christmas :)))) How are you?