Jurassic World: Dominion Overtakes Star Wars as Most Expensive Movie Ever Made

NBCUniversal's "Jurassic World: Dominion" has officially become the most expensive film ever produced, with a total production cost of $658.8 million, according to recently filed financial statements. This surpasses the previous record held by Disney's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which cost $638.9 million. The revelation comes from documents filed by Arcadia Pictures, the U.K.-based subsidiary set up by Universal specifically for the Jurassic World sequel, which must disclose expenses to qualify for British tax incentives.

The vast majority of the film's record-breaking budget was driven by the challenges of filming during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Universal incurred substantial costs for enhanced safety protocols, personal protective equipment, and maintaining production readiness during extended lockdowns. Rather than dismantle sets and risk losing access to soundstages and equipment, the studio continued to pay rent on facilities at Pinewood Studios and salaries for key cast and crew to ensure a swift return when filming could resume.

Cast members, including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and original Jurassic Park stars Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill, were housed for five months at Marriott's Langley Hotel in the U.K., where rooms cost over $600 per night. During this quarantine period, Goldblum and Neill gained viral fame for impromptu piano performances in the hotel's lounge. Universal's monthly payroll during peak production averaged 454 employees, with total staff costs reaching approximately $36.2 million, not counting freelancers and contractors.

The financial details became public because Arcadia Pictures filed statements with U.K. authorities to qualify for the government's Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC), which reimburses studios up to 25.5% of qualifying spending. The latest filing in 2026 added $74.9 million to previously reported costs, bringing the total to $658.8 million. The U.K. tax credit ultimately reimbursed Universal about $127.8 million, reducing the net cost to roughly $531 million.

Despite the staggering production expense, "Jurassic World: Dominion" grossed just over $1 billion at the global box office. However, since theaters typically keep about half of ticket sales, Universal's theatrical revenue was approximately $500 million. While this suggests a potential loss on the theatrical run alone, the film is expected to have turned profitable through Blu-ray sales, merchandising, and streaming licensing deals.