Charting the Summer’s Blockbuster Sequels

These monster reboots offer several reasons to mob the multiplex this summer.

“I’ll be back.” So said a great man—or more precisely, a state-of-the-art killing machine built to resemble a man—back in 1984. Now we know what he meant. Not only is “The Terminator” getting a reboot, but so are “Mad Max” and “Star Wars,” two of the other most beloved, record-shattering franchises of all time. In addition to effects that will make the originals look hopelessly dated, the films feature a few of our favorite young actors—Nicholas Hoult (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), Jai Courtney (“Terminator Genisys”), and Domhnall Gleeson (“Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens”). Financially, they look like sure bets. Here’s how the budgets stack up.

“Mad Max“

“Mad Max” (1979)


Production budget: $380,000

“Mad Max 2“ (1981)


Production budget: $2,000,000

“Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome“  (1985)


Production budget: $12,000,000

“Mad Max: Fury Road“(2015) 


Production budget: $150,000,000

“Terminator”

“The Terminator” (1984)


Production budget: $6,400,000

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)


Production budget: $102,000,000

“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003)


Production budget: $200,000,000

“Terminator Salvation” (2009)


Production budget: $200,000,000

“Terminator Genisys” (2015) 


Production budget: $170,000,000

“Star Wars”

“Star Wars Episode IV — A New Hope“(1977)


Production budget – $11,000,000

“Star Wars Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)


Production Budget: $18,000,000

“Star Wars Episode VI — Return of the Jedi” (1983)


Production Budget: $32,500,000

“Star Wars Episode I — The Phantom Menace” (1999)


Production Budget: $115,000,000

“Star Wars Episode II — Attack of the Clones” (2002)


Production Budget: $115,000,000

“Star Wars Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” (2005)


Production Budget: $113,000,000

“Star Wars Episode VII — The Force Awakens” (2015) 


Production Budget: $200,000,000

Check out the rest of the Hot List.