12/7/2009

in

Avatar is the costliest film Fox has ever made

Allison Manchel

Fox Features has reportedly spent hundreds of millions of dollars on their newest 3D sci-fi flick, "Avatar," directed by James Cameron.  
  
James Gianopulos, the co-chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed entertainment, would not reveal the exact budget spent on this movie in an interview with [CNN](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/07/avatar.gianopulos/), but he did say that "it is the most expensive film we've made, but now, having the luxury of hindsight, it is money well spent, so I'm not concerned about it."  
  
The estimated budget speculated by the Wall Street Journal was that it would cost upwards of $300 million, which would pass the current record for most expensive film ever made: "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."  
  
Fox couldn't have expected a much lower budget though, having worked with Cameron before on "Titanic" in 1997, which cost a record-breaking $200 million at the time. "Titanic" paid off, bringing in more than $1.8 billion worldwide.  
  
"Avatar" hits theaters December 18.