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How UK Taxpayers Helped Fund the World’s Most Expensive Film



It has been revealed that British taxpayers contributed £89 million to the production of Jurassic World: Dominion, now considered the most expensive movie ever made, according to a Guardian report. The funding came through the UK’s film and high-end TV tax relief scheme, which offers productions a rebate of up to 25% of their qualifying UK spend.


While Universal Pictures, the studio behind the Jurassic franchise, primarily benefited, supporters of the scheme argue that it is a net positive for the British economy. According to the British Film Institute’s Screen Business report, every £1 paid out in film and high-end TV tax relief generated £8.30 in economic value for the UK. In 2022-2023 alone, tax relief schemes supported over £6.3 billion of film and TV production activity.


However, critics question whether it’s right for billion-dollar corporations to receive public subsidies, especially at a time when the UK faces mounting pressure on public services. The debate taps into wider concerns about how taxpayer support for major industries is structured — and who really profits from it.


In response to recent challenges, including a global slowdown in production and strikes in the US, the UK government has introduced an even more generous incentive. From 2025, a new Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) will offer up to 40% tax relief on eligible UK costs for film and TV projects. The industry hopes this will bolster the UK's competitiveness at a time when rising costs and economic uncertainty are putting pressure on studios and crews alike.


Despite the controversy, it’s clear that Britain’s generous tax incentives have been crucial in making it a global hub for blockbuster filmmaking, with productions like Barbie and Wonka also choosing to shoot in the UK — and more expected to follow under the expanded system.


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