10 INSANE Reasons Movies Were So Expensive
9. Cast & Director Salaries Cost $50 Million - How Do You Know
Rom-coms are historically on the cheaper end of genres even when huge stars are involved, but 2010's How Do You Know ended up with a budget running just shy of the price tag for the first Iron Man.
Despite its lack of complex visual effects or time-consuming camera setups, How Do You Know cost a ludicrous $120 million - an outrageous figure any way you slice it. For context, last year's hit rom-com Anyone But You was made for just $25 million.
Ultimately more than 40% of the budget paid the humungous salaries of the cast and legendary director James L. Brooks, with Brooks pocketing $10 million while Reese Witherspoon took $15 million, Jack Nicholson got $12 million, Owen Wilson $10 million, and Paul Rudd $3 million.
All the same, that leaves $70 million on the table for shooting, which still seems like an absurd figure.
The budget reportedly ballooned due to Brooks' meticulous approach to shooting and post-production, with filming lasting around eight months, while it was another 14 months before the film was finally released.
To rub salt in the wound, Brooks' film was largely panned by critics and ultimately grossed just $48.7 million globally - barely a third of its budget.