12 Incredibly Expensive Movie Sets That Blew Past Budgets

If you thought that every movie was either filmed in a pre-existing location or totally designed by CGI, allow us to enlighten you. As it turns out, creating movie sets can be an extravagant and expensive endeavor, with many sets reaching well into the millions for just one scene in a movie. Here are some of the most expensive examples we could find.

1. The Jungle in ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ (2025)

Evidently, jungles aren’t like rooms you can reserve. To film elaborate jungle scenes — while simultaneously mitigating the threat of and to wild animals, among other environmental hazards — the crew for “Jurassic World’s” latest installment paid a hefty sum to transform a corner of Watford in England into a makeshift jungle, complete with authentic-looking exotic flowers, trees, and a fake canopy. The over-the-top set was partially funded with UK taxpayers’ money.

2. The Ship in ‘Titanic’ (1997)

We all know the story of the grandiose Titanic, which was the most extravagant ship when it was built in 1912. As expensive as the original ship was to construct, though, it was a mere drop in the bucket (even when adjusted for inflation) compared to the “Titanic” movie’s $200 million budget. Now, when most people think about the infamous ship, they think more about Jack and Rose and not the history of the actual vessel; it appears James Cameron usurped his inspiration. Adding to the irony of it all, even the ship built for the movie cost a whopping $40 million to build, compared to the $7.5 million it took to get the real thing up and running (err, sailing?). 

3. Alexandria in ‘Cleopatra’ (1963)

There was no expense spared when making “Cleopatra” in the early ’60s, and Elizabeth Taylor’s elaborate costumes were dwarfed in cost compared to the money it took to create the iconic Alexandria city setting for the film. The set spanned 20 acres and featured 52-foot-tall sphinxes and other ornate architecture, which cost a modest $600,000 to construct.

4. The Floating Atoll in ‘Waterworld’ (1995)

Right from the start, it was apparent that the budget for “Waterworld” needed to be substantial due to its elaborate sets. Of the $100 million budget, the floating atoll — built in Kawaihae Harbor in Hawaii — cost an obscene $22 million. The price tag’s heftiness was due in part to the fact that all of the steel used had to be flown in from the mainland. 

5. The Freeway in ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003)

“The Matrix: Reloaded” couldn’t use any plain stretch of freeway for its iconic chase scene. Instead, they built a 1.4 mile, three-lane loop highway on Alameda Point Navy Base, which cost $2.5 million — just to be destroyed after filming was complete.

6. The Chariot Arena in ‘Ben-Hur’ (1959)

The chariot race scene in “Ben-Hur” included more than 70 horses and thousands of extras (each with dollar signs looming over their heads). To shoot the scene, the crew spent 5 weeks and $1 million.

7. 14th Street in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ (1969)

To recreate 1890s New York, Fox built a sprawling 15-acre set on its backlot (in Los Angeles), complete with 60 detailed buildings, an elevated railroad, and even a refurbished steam locomotive shipped from Hawaii. The elaborate construction cost over $2.25 million.

8. NORAD in ‘WarGames’ (1983)

Instead of filming inside the real NORAD facility, MGM built a full-scale replica of the command center. With its massive wall of blinking lights, 12 giant projection screens, and rows of computer stations, the set cost nearly $1 million.

9. The Great Wall in ‘The Great Wall’ (2016)

Out of “The Great Wall’s” massive $150 million budget, $20 million was devoted to building a large-scale recreation of the Great Wall of China itself. The towering structure provided the backdrop for elaborate battle sequences, making it one of the most expensive sets ever constructed in China.

10. Brethren’s Court in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ (2007)

Disney built the Brethren’s Court on a repurposed 007 soundstage in London. The dim, cavernous chamber may look simple on screen, but its scale and nautical detail made it one of the most expensive sets in the franchise, with a staggering $16 million price tag.

11. The Batcave in ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)

Director Zack Snyder wanted a Batcave unlike any seen before, so he built one from scratch along with Wayne Manor. The sprawling, high-tech set cost an estimated $15 million, nearly five times more than Christopher Nolan’s version.

12. The Home Tree in ‘Avatar’ (2009)

“Avatar” was chock full of impressive sets. The massive Home Tree, also known as the Tree of Souls, was built as a full-scale set at a cost of $1.2 million. While small compared to Avatar’s $237 million budget, the intricately detailed tree was a standout centerpiece for the movie.

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