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The 25 Most Expensive Music Videos Ever Made

Filmed music "promos" got their start in the '60s as a cheap way for bands to do TV appearances without all the hassles of travel. But the birth of MTV in 1981 turned music videos into big business, with blockbuster sized budgets to match! From Michael Jackson to Madonna, TLC to MC Hammer, check out the 25 most expensive music videos of all time! Were they worth all that money? We'll let you decide...

25. "The Wild Boys" by Duran Duran (1984)

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Directed by Russell Mulcahy for $1,100,000 ($2,209,801 in 2013)

24. "Stronger" by Kanye West (2007)

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Directed by Hype Williams for $1,200,000 ($1,328,647 in 2013)

23. "Here Comes The Hammer" by MC Hammer (1991)

Directed by MC Hammer for $1,300,000 ($2,284,437 in 2013)

22. "Give Me All Of Your Luvin" by Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. (2012)

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Directed by Megaforce for $1,500,000 ($1,530,843 in 2013)

21. "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" by Blackstreet featuring Janet Jackson (1999)

Directed by Joseph Kahn for $1,500,000 ($2,067,219 in 2013)

20. "November Rain" by Guns 'n' Roses (1992)

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Directed by Andy Morahan for $1,500,000 ($2,453,996 in 2013)

19. "Unpretty" by TLC (1999)

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Directed by Paul Hunter for $1,600,000 ($2,205,034 in 2013)

18. "My Name's Women" by Ayumi Hamasaki (2005)

Directed by Wataru Takeishi for $2,000,000 ($2,350,997 in 2013)

17. "Freeek!" by George Michael (2002)

Directed by Joseph Kahn for $2,000,000 ($2,430,937 in 2013)

16. "She's A Bitch" by Missy Elliot (1999)

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Directed by Hype Williams for $2,000,000 ($2,756,292 in 2013)

15. "Miami" by Will Smith (1998)

Directed by Wayne Isham for $2,000,000 ($2,878,171 in 2013)

14. "Remember The Time" by Michael Jackson (1992)

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Directed by John Singleton for $2,000,000 ($3,271,994 in 2013)

13. "Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys (1999)

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Directed by Joseph Kahn for $2,100,000 ($2,894,107 in 2013)

12. "Bad" by Michael Jackson (1987)

Directed by Martin Scorsese for $2,200,000 ($4,445,753 in 2013)

11. "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" by Celine Dion (1996)

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Directed by Nigel Dick for $2,300,000 ($3,366,794 in 2013)

10. "What's It Gonna Be!?" by Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson (1999)

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Directed by Hype Williams and Busta Rhymes for $2,400,000 ($3,926,393 in 2013)

9. "Heartbreaker" by Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z (1999)

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Directed by Brett Ratner for $2,500,000 ($3,445,366 in 2013)

8. "Too Legit To Quit" by MC Hammer (1991)

Directed by Rupert Wainwright for $2,500,000 ($4,089,993 in 2013)

7. "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring the Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes (1998)

Directed by Marcus Nispel for $2,700,000 ($3,803,042 in 2013)

6. "Estranged" by Guns 'n' Roses (1993)

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Directed by Andy Morahan for $4,000,000 ($6,357,061 in 2013)

5. "Black Or White" by Michael Jackson (1991)

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Directed by John Landis for $4,000,000 ($6,742,243 in 2013)

4. "Bedtime Story" by Madonna (1995)

Directed by Mark Romanek for $5,000,000 ($7,533,304 in 2013)

3. 'Express Yourself" by Madonna (1989)

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Directed by David Fincher for $5,000,000 ($9,260,403 in 2013)

2. "Die Another Day" by Madonna (2002)

Directed by Traktor for $6,100,000 ($7,786,105 in 2013)

1. "Scream" by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson  (1995)

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Directed by Mark Romanek for $7,000,000 ($10,546,626 in 2013)

Honorable Mention:

Michael Jackson's "Captain EO"

Not technically a music video, this 17-minute Francis Ford Coppola directed short film was shown at Disney theme parks in the late '80s and early '90s. It only had one network television airing and isn't available on home video, which is pretty amazing when you consider it cost a whopping $30 million to produce! At $1.76 million a minute, it was the most expensive screen time ever.

[Photo: Epic Records/Columbia/Sire-Warner Brothers/Geffen]