Here's how much No Time to Die cost to make, and what it needs to earn at the box office to be considered a success. The 25th James Bond movie has had a long and winding road to the big screen. At one point set for release in April 2020, it was the first major studio blockbuster to be delayed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After being pushed back multiple times, No Time to Die is finally set for its premiere, marking the end of Daniel Craig's tenure as 007.

Like so many Hollywood projects that were affected by the pandemic last year, No Time to Die was greenlit and produced well before a global health crisis affected the film industry. That's notable because Bond movies are notoriously costly titles to make, and it's been known No Time to Die was the most expensive yet (even before the delays). Part of the reason why MGM moved forward with the movie's release this fall is because continuously delaying it would only increase expenses. Based on the numbers, the studio will need all the help they can get to recoup their costs.

Related: No Time to Die Could've Broken A Huge Bond Record (Before the Pandemic)

No Time To Die Budget: How Much Bond 25 Cost To Make

James Bond holding a handgun in No Time to Die

No Time to Die's production budget is reportedly within the $250-301 million range. Among the Craig films, Spectre is the one that comes closest to this figure with a $250 million budget of its own. Skyfall and Quantum of Solace both cost $200 million, and Casino Royale had a $150 million price tag.

How Much No Time To Die Needs To Make To Be A Box Office Success

Daniel Craig sitting in a gadget-filled car in No Time To Die

The traditional rule of thumb is a movie has to earn double its production budget at the box office in order to break even. Going by this metric, No Time to Die would have to gross about $602 million just to make its money back. That will be a tall order, given the current state of movie theaters and the box office. Though there have been positive signs exhibitors are on the road to recover amidst COVID-19, attendance is still nowhere near 2019 levels. This year, the only Hollywood release to hit $600+ million globally is F9, which earned $716.5 million. That means it is possible for No Time to Die to reach its target figure, but right now the odds may be stacked against it. Recent box office successes like Shang-Chi and Free Guy hit $300 million worldwide.

No Time to Die does have some factors working in its favor. The James Bond franchise has always been a big draw, especially in the Craig era. Skyfall made $1.1 billion worldwide, and Spectre earned $880 million globally. No Time to Die probably will not approach those numbers, but it shows there's interest in James Bond. Additionally, No Time to Die has been billed as the definitive culmination of Craig's tenure, a rarity for the more serialized franchise. That gives the film more of an "event" feel than previous entries. In the U.K., No Time to Die ticket sales are the biggest since Avengers: Endgame, so it sounds like there could be a strong turnout.

Next: What Would Bond 25 Be Like If Craig Had Left After Spectre?

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