This game could get the most expensive video game movie of all time

As we reported earlier this spring, FromSoftware's hit action RPG Elden Ring is getting a movie adaptation. While the plot remains a mystery, we already know that several big names are involved. Now we also have an idea of how much production studio A24 might be willing to spend. According to industry publication Deadline, the movie could cost between $175 million and $200 million to produce, with the budget reportedly leaning toward the upper end of that range. That could make Elden Ring the most expensive video game movie of all time.

For comparison, the 2016 Warcraft movie had a production budget of around $160 million, while the Uncharted movie from 2022 cost approximately $120 million. The strongest contender for the title of most expensive video game adaptation is 2010's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which reportedly cost $200 million to make and is widely considered the most expensive video game movie to date. Whether that investment was worthwhile is debatable, especially considering the movie's poor reviews. If the Elden Ring movie ends up costing slightly more than expected, which isn't unusual for Hollywood productions, it could take the title outright. Even if it simply reaches the upper end of its reported budget, it could at least tie with Prince of Persia.

Why is the budget so high?

One major reason for the substantial budget could be the movie's length. According to Deadline, the screenplay is reportedly around 180 pages long, suggesting that the Elden Ring movie could run for approximately three hours. The world of Elden Ring (PS5 version currently $40 on Amazon) also offers plenty of opportunities for elaborate visual effects and large-scale set pieces. Vast landscapes, monstrous enemies and spectacular battles could easily consume a significant portion of the production budget. The involvement of Industrial Light & Magic, one of Hollywood's most renowned visual effects studios, further supports that assumption.