Superman Returns Less Than 400 Mill WW....And It Won't Break Even

[DorkyFresh]

very true but you can't forget how popular Superman is. i mean, c'mon....the \S/ is the 2nd most recognizable icon. more popular than Mickey Mouse's face!!! you could goto a tribe in a jungle that hasn't had any contact with outsiders in a hundred years and they could STILL identify the \S/!!! hehe....okay....not really but you get the picture...

...anyway, i DO have my worries about the box office. mainly competition from Pirates of the Caribbean 2, but in the end i think Superman's popularity will bring him back for a sequel.

 

[The Sage]

Personally this sounds kinda false to me. $400 mill to break even?

 

[DorkyFresh]

Personally this sounds kinda false to me. $400 mill to break even?

they're including the money WB spent on the past Superman projects. Superman Returns ITSELF cost around $200 to make...so $400 to make up for the money they spent on both Superman Lives (never made) and Superman Returns.

 

[Robin91939]

Well, another bit of info...It says the game doesn't get released until September. Better than October I suppose. Will they make up their mind and set a release date (that I approve of) in stone?

-R

 

[The Kid]

wow 400 mil? zoinks.well it seems big action and pyro technics are what'll do such big business, and like others have said, supes return is more a character and emotion based story, than action and spectacle.

hhm..Given that the trailer before x3 was seen by the millions who saw that , i'm guessing they'll definitely be there for sr too though. So that combined with the regular attraction it'll have becase it's so iconic should very well blow up the box office because, hey, spidey 1 wasn't that great a movie but because it's spidey, I think that's why it was such a huge success. oh and the marketing was beyond perfect for it too. So i'm absolutely confident in singer's film's potential to make all of its money back and more, if it's handled similarly and becaue it's superman. Everybody loves superman... don't they?.

 

[BareKnucklez]

Apparently, King Kong aint got nuthin' on Supes! [/Denzel]

hehehehe

 

[BareKnucklez]

One thing I have noticed tho is that the recent bash of Superhero movies have made most of their money in the US, and have not done well outside the USA.
Thats where the movie needs to have a good showing in order to be able to brake even or make some profit...

 

[MoreCowbell]

they're including the money WB spent on the past Superman projects. Superman Returns ITSELF cost around $200 to make...so $400 to make up for the money they spent on both Superman Lives (never made) and Superman Returns.

As far as I'm concerned SR has nothing to do with the other failed Superman films. The 50 million WB has lost with past projects won't matter when it comes to SR. That money is long gone...

 

[DorkyFresh]

i totally agree...and i'm pretty sure WB thinks the same way considering they're stating that the budget was around $200 mil.

 

[Fan of Tomorrow]

Regardless of how you look at the budget, I can't see it not breaking 400 million world wide. That's still a ton just to break even mind you, but I've no doubt it'll pass it. Add in DVD and other merchandise sales, and I'm sure if the film's deserving of a sequel (the only reason I actually care about the revenues), we'll get one.

 

[Calendar Man]

I don't know if it will make 400 million worldwide but I know it will make more then 170 million domestic. Really don't be shocked if it doesn't make 400 world wide though. Batman Begins only made 372.

 

[Fanticon]

I for one am really excited to see this movie...just this year alone I revisited all the old Superman movies...and went through all of Smallville on DVD...and I have been all over the boards and forums and behind the scenes stuff and magazine articles...but...BUT...I don't feel like people are as excited to see this as we are...and for this movie to be even a domestic hit...it better be pretty F****** incredible...unlike anything we've ever seen in not just a comic book adaptation, but in a movie in general. On opening night of X3, the trailer for SR's was...giggled at. I mean u could hear people going "um...okay"...or "who cares..." I don't think the WB's has convinced the general public (the same people that turned X3 into a major opening weekend success) that this is the movie to see this summer...I know people that are more excited to see Nacho Libre than they are for Superman. This one is to close too call...if they over hype its earnings like King Kong...it could spell...jinx

 

[darwinwins]

I wouldnt take that number for granted. Batman Begins only made like $372 million worldwide, it was a rousing success in part because it only cost $150 million to make, thats almost a 150% profit.

Say Supes makes $500 million worldwide, thats only a 25% profit, and they spent $400 million to make just $100 million. That's not great business. This film would have to amke $900 million to have the same profitability ratio as Batman Begins...

your math ... it might be a bit ... off.

 

[Supermanila]

Personally this sounds kinda false to me. $400 mill to break even?

I think you have to consider that WB won't be getting all $400 mill to themselves...so it doesn't mean they spent $400 mill to get this movie done. On average, a studio gets around 55% of the total gross (at least in the Domestic scenario, but probably around the same as well Overseas)... so worldwide, they have to make $400 mill (55% of which is $220 million), for them to break even, which actually makes sense. (they claim to have a budget of $208m, ++ marketing).

anything above $400 mill is already a profit for WB... then add the different merchandise, toys, tie-ins, clothing, watches, videogames, and DVD sales... I would say WB stands to make a LOT of money with SR.

Personally, I think $400million worldwide is easy for SR

 

[OzzMosiz]

Comparing Superman Returns and Batman Begins is wrong. A lot of people were put off by the Schumacher Batman films in the 90's and probably didn't even see Begins in the cinema. Superman has been off the big screen for 19 years. Batman was only away for 8.

As for Box Office. If it makes 400 Million worldwide, then half of that goes to the cinemas. The studio recoups about 200 million. BUT with DVD and rentals and TV rights, they will make a lot more money.

I'm betting Superman Returns tops over 500 million worldwide.

 

[ROBOCOP CPU001]

I really don't think the WB expect those kinds of numbers.. i think the previous projects that did not fly is not counted in this budget.

 

[Kane]

They certainly seem positive that SR will soar thanks to this new opening strategy mid-week.

And this:

"Superman" promises to have quite a profitable run, considering that it can attract both older viewers who remember Christopher Reeves as Superman, and young fans of the comic book series. Though the video game won’t be out until September, other licensing potential is huge. There are also Superman toys, apparel and potential spin-offs in the works"

lol, now if Singer didnt have any ties with the Donner film, I dont think those older audiences would be as interested. From a marketing point of view, this movie was solid.

Younger actors for the younger crowd, some vetran actors for the older audience all laced into a film that introduces you to the world of Superman but still has nods to the older films...for the older fans and younger fans alike.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I think you guys are miscalculating. I can understand that it would need to make 400 to break even given the initial costs. Do not forget the cinema, and distributor get takes as well as the Director and sometimes actors. Therefore the studio will not get back 100% of the price of the tickets which is what you see when they say a movie has made $____ worldwide.

It is actually very rare for a studio to make a profit before the movie hits the DVD market. I say this for having analyzed (financially) a movie portfolio for Bain Capital several years ago when I was an investment banker.

In any case, if this movie is very good it should draw big crowds and in all likelyhood it will be profitable.

 

[Matt]

Even Da Vinci is at:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=davincicode.htm

468 Million after 23 days in theatres....

It had controversey on its side. If someone tells you not to do something...your first instinct is to do it and see what all the fuss is about.

 

[Matt]

your math ... it might be a bit ... off.

Hulk's math is right, he rounded a little bit, but it is more or less accurate. Great break down Hulk, I'd expect nothing less from the Hype's smartest lawyer

 

[The Game]

Does anyone else feel that this movie has been marketed as just another comic book movie.

What else can you market it as? I think I know what your are aiming at Superman is a big deal, but I don't get the sense that this movie is a huge event such as LOTR, Matrix or Star Wars.

 

[SatEL]

Do you guys want to know what the problem is its WB darn marketing i mean how far in do they have to go before they start showing superman everywhere, if you guys remember the matrix marketing campaign now that was something else. People that dont go on the fan sites or read magazines are really unaware and people just dont seem to give a dam and we all now superman cant rely on word of mouth it needs to open big at the box office if its to be considered a success,do you guys think warners a cooling on the marketing because they think superman doesnt need any marketing simply because its superman.


Oh and theres also the thing about pirates and i am not talking about POTC2 I am talking about illegal copies of the film thats why they should have a worlwide release theres so much that could hurt this films box office takings. As a fan i hope it does well not only for a sequel but because i dont want it shoved in my face everytime from those spiderman fanboys.

 

[Nivek]

I'm seeing Superman Returns swag EVERYWHERE now. I dont think marketing, specificly a Lack of Marketing, is an issue anymore.

As far as the number crunching mentality behind this thread, the same can be applied to any genre film that lag's in Development Hell for too long. Using the same logic and studio book keeping fiendly mentallity presented here, despite being the #1 box office grossing film ever, Spider-man hasn't broken even because of the pre-production and legal costs of close to 12 years of development.

Same would apply for Fantastic Four, Hulk, Batman, Wonder Woman, ect.

 

[Milkman95]

thats a **** load of cash to make just break even... imagine what it's gonna have to do to be profitbale enough to earn a sequel....

I'm sure it will bring in more than enough to break even, especially if it's a typical quality film from Bryan Singer.

That's what DVD sales, Merchandising, and other special DVD releases are for - to be profitable. Remember, WB knows the Superman franchise is a long-term investment, meaning the real money won't come until sequels.

The reason for this? It's ridiculous production history.

 

[J.Howlett]

Making 400 million worldwide will be easy for Superman Returns. Plus, in today's theatrical cinema, the studios make more off of DVD sales than they do box office receipts.

The film will be massive on DVD. For the sequel, WB will spend wisely. Alot of that budget for Superman Returns involves the constant stop and starts that the franchise was under for 10 years.

It'll be fine. But, of course the media will say something different if it doesn't bring in X3 opening numbers.

It'll be more like Batman Begins. Begins was singled out as a disappointment but the legs and critical praise on that film were very strong. Once it hit DVD, it exploded. That's how Begins made it's profit.