Avengers: Endgame was released in 2019, and it turned out to be one of the top-grossing movies over the years. MCU produced the biggest blockbuster hits with the Infinity Saga, which were released in consecutive years. These movies offered the accumulation of the biggest superheroes of all time. The MCU movies’ combined gross income was approximately $4.8 billion.
The visuals, cinematography, sound effects, the action and so many other bits combined to produce an epic movie. Hence, it was already assumed the budget of Avengers: Endgame would be massive.
Also read- Avengers: Endgame – There’s A Missing Iron Man Story
Avengers: Endgame’s massive budget
Avengers: Endgame is considered among the top 5 movies made ever, which passed the benchmark of $2 billion. Endgame was titled the highest-grossing film of all time for almost two years, before the re-release of James Cameron’s Avatar with 3D effects.
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame director Joe Russo shared in an interview at Sands International Film Festival of St. Andrews, about the cost of the movies. He shared that the movies cost more than $500 million each for making. He said,
“I don’t know if these numbers have ever been accurately reported but in the case of Avengers: Endgame or Infinity War, each of those movies was $500 million plus. So this is an incredible amount of money that is being spent on these films.”
Director Joe Russo also shared that due to the massive budget for the movies, he and his brother Anthony felt responsible to deliver quality content.
He said,
“And you have responsibility, if you have a conscience to in some way deliver a return on that investment for the people that gave you that money.”
The budget may seem unbelievable, but the scenario for massive casts and big-budget movies has changed over time.
Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson’s Salaries in Avengers: Endgame
Scarlett Johansson made her debut in the MCU with the film Black Widow. The actress was paid $400,000 for Iron Man, but in the Avengers series, there was a significant increase in her income which rounded off to seven figures. Johansson has approximately earned $15 million for Infinity War and Endgame. It was reported that she made around $35 million as compensation from Avengers after adding the bonuses.
Robert Downey Jr., our beloved Iron Man’s salary for Infinity War was reportedly over $75 million. In Avengers: Endgame, he was given a base salary of $20 million, which automatically reached approx $75 million as he was given 8% of the profits.
The two Avengers movies took up massive funding of ten figures, which is a risk for any producer. As Infinity War and Endgame were shot back-to-back, the poor performance of the first one would have eventually affected the performance of the next one. Luckily, Disney and Marvel Studios head Joe and Anthony Russo understood their responsibility and delivered two of the most watched and money-spinning films.
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are available on Disney+.
Source- The Direct