Eon Production’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which opened on 16 April 2002 at the London Palladium, starring Michael Ball (UK), cost £6.2 million (US$8.9 million) to stage, beating the previous record set by Cats of £6 million (then $12.69 million) on 11 May 1981.

The Lord of the Rings will smash this record when it opens in August 2005.