Scream – Michael & Janet Jackson ($7 million)
Michael Jackson was a pioneer in music videos, always eager to make his next one bigger and better. This reached its pinnacle on Scream, his 1995 collaboration with sister Janet Jackson. Directed by Mark Romanek, the monochrome, anime-inspired video utilised cutting edge CGI, although Romanek blamed the record-breaking $7 million price tag on the short deadline he was given by the record label.
Die Another Day – Madonna ($6.1 million)
Madonna’s title song for 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day was, and remains, one of the most controversial Bond themes ever. The video from director Traktor cost a hefty $6.1 million as, rather than simply using footage from the movie, they chose to recreate scenes from scratch with Madonna replacing 007. Expensive CGI was needed for moments where Madonna crosses swords with herself.
Express Yourself – Madonna ($5 million)
Directed by none less than future big screen auteur David Fincher, the video for Madonna’s 1989 hit Express Yourself was the costliest ever made at the time at $5 million. Much of this went on the promo’s lavish sets, which draw heavily on the epic industrial/futuristic aesthetic of the classic 1927 silent science fiction film Metropolis.
Bedtime Story – Madonna ($5 million)
Mere months before Mark Romanek directed the single most expensive music video ever in Michael and Janet Jackson’s Scream, he had already made another of the costliest examples of the format with Madonna’s 1995 single Bedtime Story. Bringing to life Romanek’s surrealist art-inspired vision wound up costing $5 million, thanks to the complex sets and visual effects.
Estranged – Guns N’ Roses ($5 million)
In the early 90s, Guns N’ Roses were the biggest rock band in the world, hence they were able to command a $5 million budget for their 1993 music video Estranged. Treated as the closing chapter in a trilogy that began with Don’t Cry and November Rain, the video casts Axl Rose as a troubled man who is arrested and institutionalized.
Black or White – Michael Jackson ($4 million)
Michael Jackson reunited with Hollywood filmmaker John Landis – director of the famous Thriller – for his 1991 video Black or White, which sees the King of Pop traverse the globe (although it was shot entirely in California). Much of the $4 million budget went on the then-groundbreaking CGI; it was the first music video to make use of morphing FX.
Make Me Like You – Gwen Stefani ($4 million)
Directed by Sophie Muller, the video for Gwen Stefani’s 2016 single Make Me Like You proved expensive thanks to the unique way it was made: it was shot and broadcast live, as part of the Grammy Awards broadcast. Costing $4 million to produce, a further $8 million was reportedly spent on buying TV airtime, which could technically make it the number one costliest music video.
Cartoon Heroes – Aqua ($3.5 million)
90s Europop ensemble Aqua are often thought of as one-hit wonders thanks to 1997’s Barbie Girl, but they still pulled enough weight in 2000 to get one of the biggest music video budgets ever. For their single Cartoon Heroes, the quartet shot an old school sci-fi epic complete with lavish spaceships, weightless scenes and battles with a giant squid, reportedly adding up to $3.5 million.
Rollin’ – Limp Bizkit ($3 million)
Directed by frontman Fred Durst himself, the video for Limp Bizkit’s 2000 single Rollin’ clocked up the unusually high budget of $3 million in part thanks to its lavish choice of location. The video sees the rap-metal band performing on the roof of the World Trade Center’s south tower.
Victory – Puff Daddy ($2.7 million)
Before Marcus Nispel directed the hit remakes of horror movies The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, he called the shots on this epic video for Puff Daddy’s 1998 single Victory. A lengthy homage to The Running Man and other dystopian sci-fi movies, it cost $2.7 million to make. However, featured actors Dennis Hopper and Danny DeVito reportedly agreed to appear for free.
