Rising costs are real, and not just in terms of day-to-day life. Between production costs, actor and staff salaries, set designs, marketing expenses, and more, filmmaking has become more expensive than it’s ever been, and Jurassic World: Dominion is leading the charge.
According to recently filed financial statements (via Fortune), Universal Pictures spent around US$658.8 million on the 2022 action-adventure pic, surpassing the previous record of US$638.9 million held by Disney’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Pandemic conditions accounted for a large part of the budget, including safety protocols adopted during filming, which took place in 2020; prolonged equipment and soundstage leasing; and extended accommodation costs for the A-list cast with rooms that can cost more than US$600 a night.
The article also notes that both movies were made in the U.K., as studios filming there are entitled to up to 25.5 per cent in cash reimbursement under the government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) — but with a catch. Per Universal’s filings, Jurassic World: Dominion had the highest expenditure among the three most recent films in the franchise, followed by Fallen Kingdom (US$606.3 million) and Rebirth (US$254.2 million).
Released in 2022, Dominion sees Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, and Omar Sy reprise their roles from the two previous instalments, alongside Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill, who reunited for the first time since the original Jurassic Park. It follows Owen Grady and Claire Dearing as they embark on a rescue mission, while Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm work to expose a conspiracy by the genomics corporation Biosyn. A fourth entry, which will serve as the sequel to Rebirth, is currently in development.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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Kevin Low
