Terminator 2: Judgment Day

When Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) came out, it gained notoriety as the first movie with a budget exceeding $100 million; however, today, T2 doesn't even crack the top 200 in terms of the highest budgets and, in fact, 45 of the 50 most expensive films ever made were produced in the last 10 years (Buchman, 2014, para. 1). But why are today's movies so costly to make? The information that follows will attempt to answer this question. However, before that, we'll see how movies are financed, marketed, and distributed in the studio and independent systems. Finally, we'll conclude with a short look at how these aspects have changed over time. The general rule when it comes to funding movies, whether produced by a major studio or an independent entity, is that there is no general rule--money can come from studios, investors, various producers, or, most likely, a combination of these--likewise, there isn't a set timetable for securing the financing (Barsam & Monahan, 2013, p. 505). However, having said that, large studios typically have an advantage in securing money due to the inclusion of big-name movies stars and directors, as well as more opportunities to partner with large companies for sponsorships and backing. But no matter who is making the movie,
As Lewis points out, the studio films of the 1980s and 1990s were put together as packages based more on profit than artistry, while the marketing and promotion resembled that of a political campaign, with as much as one-third of the budget going to advertising costs (2008, p. 399). Today, however, with no norm being the norm, especially in the realms of financing and marketing, films are advertised and distributed individually--sometimes based on the target audience or projected success of the film--in arrangements worked out by the studios, producers, and