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While movies often require tens of millions of dollars to create, theme park rides—lasting mere minutes—frequently surpass those budgets. Money.co.uk's best value theme park report analyzed 15 iconic rides and their movie counterparts, revealing significant budget disparities. Disney's parks dominate the list, with Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland California, and Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain leading the way. The ride cost $224 million, a stark contrast to the $2.1 million spent on the 1946 film Song of the South. Disney also claims the second-largest gap with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which cost $25 million compared to the $1.5 million budget of 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Universal Studios also features prominently, with Jaws: The Ride exceeding the budget of Steven Spielberg's original film due to its high maintenance and operational costs. Other Universal attractions like Transformers: The Ride and Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure also outpriced their movie inspirations. Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, is the sole non-Disney or Universal entry, with its Saw-themed roller coaster costing $13.7 million more than the 2004 film.
Below is the complete list of 15 movie-themed rides that cost more than their cinematic counterparts. While modern attractions often come with hefty price tags, older rides were built on much smaller budgets and fewer regulations. For a glimpse into the past, here are some less-than-thrilling facts about amusement park history.
- Splash Mountain // Disneyland (Anaheim, California), Tokyo Disneyland, Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train // Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
- Saw: The Ride // Thorpe Park (Surrey, England)
- Jaws: The Ride // Universal Studios Japan
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril // Disneyland Park (Paris, France)
- Indiana Jones Adventure // Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
- Transformers: The Ride // Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure // Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida), Disney California Adventure (Anaheim, California)
- The World of Avatar // Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage // Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
- Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy // Disneyland Park (Paris, France)
- Test Track // Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
- Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure/Jurassic Park: The Ride // Universal Studios Singapore
- Radiator Springs Racers // Disney California Adventure (Anaheim, California)
- Cinderella Castle // Tokyo Disneyland, Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
