Improving The Oscars, Also: 12 Most Expensive Movies of all Time

In Need of a Revamp

If you read CMG with any regularity you know how much I believe that the Oscar TV-fiasco needs a revamp.  Apparently, I'm not the only one.

Recently Edward Norton, himself a three-time nominee for the Oscar came out with some very bold ideas on how to improve the Academy's Oscar giving system and show. Norton has criticized the "monetization" of the pre-awards season, whereby very major Guide having it own televised awards show.  He says, "The Academy, which is a private organization, could easily say that, its own award and any film putting out paid solicitation ads of any kind, would disqualify that film from receiving an Oscar."

The chase for an Oscar is not a cottage industry.  The run-up to the award show costs mega-millions and support a cadre of Hollywood minions.  I guess the real question about the Oscars is "Does anyone outside of Hollywood and a handful of film-geeks, really care?  None of the big box office bruisers ever get nominated and the audience for the Oscars (never mind the Guide shows) drop every year.  That's not saying much for an industry that will be breaking box office records this year.

For sure, the Oscars needs a revamp.  It has to become more than a black-tie, backslap affair or runway show for H'wood insiders.  It has to be reflective of what is happening at the box office and which movies people actually go to see at their local cinema.

Most Expensive Movies Ever Made

These days, really good movies cost a lot to produce. You know, the good movies - the ones people flock to the cinema to see.  Ever wonder what they cost and how much of a crap-shoot H'wood films really are?  Here is a list of the top 12 most expensive movies ever made (to date) and what they earned.

The Amazing Spider Man (2012) Columbia/Marvel   $230m cost  $758m earned
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Warner Bros.  $231m cost  $1.1b earned
Avatar (2009) Fox  $237m cost  $2.78b earned
Harry Potter & The Half  Blood Prince (2009) Warner Bros.  $250m cost  $934m earned
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (2014)  MGM/New Line  $250m cost  $965 earned
Amazing Spider Man 2 (2014)  Columbia  $255m cost  $709m earned
Spider-Man 3 (2007) Columbia  $258m cost  $891m earned
Tangled (2010) Disney  $260m cost  $592m earned
John Carter (2012) Disney  $263m cost  $284m earned
Avengers: Age of Ultron Disney  $280m cost  $1.4b earned
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End  Disney  $300m cost  $963m earned
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides  Disney  $378m cost  $1.5b earned

So, it appears that spending money begets more money.  None of the top 12 most pricey pics lost money. Some fared much better then others, but none were total busted, box office bombs.  Disney takes the most risks and is willing to gamble the most and the most often.  The results are consistent with the notion that movie-folks crave the high-impact fantasy and action films with the odd animated or comedy thrown in.  Happy movie going.