‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’ Gets a $71 Million Boost Thanks to Insurance

In the World of Blockbusters: A Surprise Windfall for Paramount

In a plot twist worthy of the silver screen, Paramount Pictures recently found itself on the receiving end of a generous £57 million (approximately $71 million) insurance payout from Swiss insurer Chubb. The reason? None other than the infamous COVID-19 pandemic, which threw a monkey wrench into the production of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.’ This revelation is making waves in Hollywood and beyond.

A Glamorous Film, But Not Without Its Challenges

Tom Cruise and his elite team of spies returned to the big screen in ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ the seventh installment of the iconic action series. With a star-studded cast that includes Cruise himself, along with talents like Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg, the film promised to be a blockbuster hit.

Despite its exotic filming locations in Abu Dhabi, Rome, and Venice, a surprising revelation came to light: the majority of the movie’s production actually took place in the rather unglamorous settings of Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire and Longcross Studios in Surrey. It seems that even the most action-packed films have their behind-the-scenes secrets.

Pandemic Woes and Insurance Battles

The pandemic’s global health restrictions posed significant challenges during the production of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.’ These unforeseen delays prompted Paramount to turn to their insurance policy with Chubb for compensation. However, the insurance payout received was a mere £4.4 million ($5.5 million), a fraction of the potential £80 million ($100 million) coverage for production interruptions.

Unsatisfied with this outcome, Paramount decided to take legal action, filing a lawsuit against Chubb’s parent company, the Federal Insurance Company, in 2021. The heart of the dispute? Chubb’s claim that there was no concrete evidence that cast and crew members couldn’t continue their duties despite being infected with SARS-CoV-2.

The Resolution and Hidden Finances

The legal battle between Paramount and Chubb reached its conclusion in July 2022, with the details of the settlement finally coming to light. In the world of film financing, financial figures are typically closely guarded secrets. Studios bundle the costs of their movies into overall expenses without revealing specific amounts. However, there is an exception for movies shot in the UK, which benefit from the government’s film tax relief scheme.

To qualify for this scheme, movie studios set up separate companies for each film, disclosing details such as staff numbers, salaries, costs, and the amount of taxpayer money received. These companies often use code-names to keep a low profile when applying for location filming permits.

For instance, ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,’ as well as its predecessor, ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout,’ and an upcoming sequel, were all produced by Jupiter Spring Productions, one of Paramount’s UK subsidiaries. Recent financial filings reveal that Jupiter Spring received a hefty $58 million in insurance income in the year ending December 31, 2022, bringing its total payout to a staggering $71 million. Since its inception in 2016, the company has received a total of $140 million in taxpayer funds, providing a significant cushion for the blockbuster costs associated with producing these three Mission: Impossible movies.

The Price of Blockbuster Entertainment

But what does it really cost to create these high-octane spectacles? The financial records lay bare the eye-popping expenses, with a jaw-dropping $905 million spent on making the three movies thus far. Costs peaked at $221 million in the previous year when production of ‘Dead Reckoning Part One’ was in full swing. And the saga continues as filming for Part One and its sequel extends well into the future. Unfortunately, the production of ‘Dead Reckoning Part Two’ has faced delays due to ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

In this thrilling tale of movie-making, even the most iconic franchises face unexpected challenges. It’s a reminder that behind the dazzling stunts and on-screen heroics lies a world of financial intricacies and insurance battles that can rival the excitement of the silver screen itself. The show must go on, pandemic or not, and ‘Mission: Impossible’ continues to prove that it’s not just a title—it’s a promise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about blockbuster film finance

More about blockbuster film finance

• Paramount Pictures
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Chubb Insurance
• Federal Insurance Company
• UK Film Tax Relief Scheme
• Jupiter Spring Productions
• Writers Guild of America (WGA)
• Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)