Question about multimillion dollar sci-fi movies

[toys2cool]

I can't imagine CGI costing more then physically building a Death Star model, filming it, and blowing it up in real life.

you'd be surprised bro,I remember the CGI used in LOTR's cost some where over $30 mil or something like that

[Mikey]

CGI is super expensive bro

I can't imagine CGI costing more then physically building a Death Star model, filming it, and blowing it up in real life.

and if CGI does cost more, those computer geeks surely have a racket going

[toys2cool]

CGI is super expensive bro

[Mikey]

This question isn't specifically about the Star Trek movie, but I do admit a comment on another thread about it being a "big budget" movie got me thinking ...

In this day and age where almost all special effects are created in a computer for Sci-Fi movies, what justifies the high prices in producing the movies ?

It seems today, the quality of most "big budget" sci-fi movies are on par with current sci fi TV shows.

It can't be sets running up the bill, because I think with today's computer animation there's less and less real life sets being built.

So where is all this "big budget" money going ?
To the actors, writers and directors ?
Or straight in the studios pocket ?