'King Kong' sixth most expensive film: Forbes

A new version of "King Kong" to be released for the holiday season, from New Zealand director Peter Jackson, is reportedly the sixth most expensive film in Hollywood history.

The adventures of the giant gorilla are shown through special effects costing 207 million dollars, compared with the 10 million dollars, in today's money, spent on the original by Merian Cooper in 1933, according to the New York-based business magazine Forbes.

Forbes said Hollywood spent an average of 64 million dollars per film in 2004.

The most expensive ever was "Cleopatra," with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz in 1963, for 286.4 million dollars (in 2005 money).

Second was "Titanic," by James Cameron (1997) for 247 million dollars.

Two years later, "Waterworld," directed by Kevin Costner, cost 229 million dollars.

And "Terminator 3," the latest film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger before he become California governor, cost 216 million dollars in 2003.

"Spider-Man 2" was made in 2004 for 210 million dollars, "Wild Wild West" with Will Smith for 203.8 million dollars in 1999 and "Speed 2" in 1997, cost 198.8 US dollars.