SPECTRE by the numbers (and not just 007)

SPECTRE teaser poster

SPECTRE is starting production in Rome, for a five-week shoot, including a car chase, that will cost almost as much (if not more) than some movies.

So, here’s a breakdown of the kind of spending that’s known about the 24th James Bond film. We’ll assume a total production budget of $300 million.

According to information from hacked Sony documents, the budget was on pace to well exceed that, but there were also efforts to rein it in. We’ll assume the trends cancel themselves out so we’ll go with a nice round number with $300 million.

For the purposes of this post, we’ll assume a 30-week shooting schedule. Principal photography began on Dec. 8 and is supposed to run seven months. Actual total may run a week or two less than 30 weeks, but some filming was done before principal photography began. So, again, we’ll use a round number.

Cost per week, total: $10 million.

Cost per week, Rome shoot: $12 million (five weeks, $60 million, according to figures reported by Variety.com)

ESTIMATED COST OF NOTABLE JAMES BOND MOVIES (not adjusted for inflation)

Dr. No: $1 million

From Russia With Love: $2 million

Goldfinger: $3 million

You Only Live Twice: $9.5 million (Ken Adam’s volcano set alone cost more than Dr. No)

The Spy Who Loved Me: $14 million

Moonraker: $31 million to $34 million, depending on estimate (Initial plan was to keep it close to Spy’s budget but it was evident that wouldn’t hold)

Tomorrow Never Dies: $110 million (first to exceed $100 million)

Quantum of Solace: $230 million (first to exceed $200 million)

SPECTRE: $300 million (first to reach $300 million).

One week’s shooting on SPECTRE costs more than You Only Live Twice, which had the one set that cost more than Dr. No.

Put another way, each day’s shooting on SPECTRE costs more than Dr. No. At $10 million a week, if you shot seven days a week, equals $1.43 million daily.

ESTIMATED COST OF OTHER 2015 SPY MOVIES

Taken 3: $48 million

Kingsman: The Secret Service: $81 million

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: $75 million

To be fair, none of this takes into account 50 years of inflation. At the same time, this exercise is also a reminder that studios don’t play with Monopoly money. Studios don’t get to spend, or receive, inflation-adjusted dollars.

SPECTRE shifts to Rome; Craig, Bellucci pose for pictures

Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci, part of the cast of SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond movie, posed for pictures in Rome as the production gears up there.

Among the media outlets publishing pictures were YAHOO NEWS (Craig and Bellucci together), GETTY IMAGES (Bellucci alone, plus THIS ONE), I.IMGUR.COM (Craig and Belluci, different shot).

Also Zimbio put up A 16-PICTURE SLIDESHOW of Craig and Bellucci either together or separate.

VARIETY.COM also published a story the Rome filming. There are some mild spoilers, but those not wanting to know *anything* would be advised not to click on the link.

According to Vareity, the Rome shoot is scheduled for five weeks. Variety reported IN DECEMBER that SPECTRE would spend $60 million in Rome. The movie has a budget exceeding $300 million, making it one of the most expensive films of all time.

UPDATE: The official 007 Twitter feed later put out a photo:

Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci in Rome overlooking the Forum #SPECTRE pic.twitter.com/aUJWhfEfTT

— James Bond (@007) February 18, 2015