Skyfall may be the most-anticipated Bond film ever with as much marketing hype as any installment in the series’ 50-year history, but many of you will be surprised to hear it was not the most expensive one to date. At the same price of Casino Royale six years ago, 007′s latest trip to the big screen cost $200 million to produce.
Just second on the all-time list, the largest price tag goes to Quantum of Solace which landed in theaters four years ago. The poorly-received Marc Forster-directed actioner cost a whopping $200 million and banked a shade less than its predecessor worldwide ($586 million.) Needless to say, Sony was wise enough to show a bit of concern and dropped the budget when the reins shifted to Road to Perdition helmer Sam Mendes.
Not known for his skills with the genre, the studio played it safe by reverting back to a lower budget despite some blaming the writers’ strike for 2008′s poor showing. They did not stop there though as they also bolstered the film’s financial viability by selling out via Daniel Craig’s newfound love of Heineken. What did it cost to get in on one of November’s biggest films? The Dutch beer company paid an incredible $45 million for its place in pop culture history. While outrage persisted, critics did not discount the film due to its product placement which may mean more of it could be coming the public’s way.
In terms of the marketing budget, that still remains fluid at this time although we have our suspicions of a number. Sony and Disney like to throw down about $100 million on their biggest films, so that seems appropriate although this is a November release, and we already established the studio uncertainty with Daniel Craig’s third outing following Quantum of Solace. That said, $75 million seems close and anything north of that could be possible. It is always hard to find those figures as they are not really finalized until the movie has run its course.
Ultimately, it would not be far-fetched to assume Skyfall will make its investment back and then some as the $300 million combined cost of production, advertising, and distribution seems fairly low for such a blockbuster. The rule of thumb for profit is double the budget worldwide and there you go. Considering tracking has Bond 22 performing above its predecessors, this should be cake thus why we are already seeing that Sony has eyes set on a 2014 return for their British spy.
Read More: ‘Skyfall’ Writer to Scribe Follow-Up, Next ‘Bond’ Targeted for Fall 2014