Summer Movies 2006

[Ananas]

Let's just do a bit of speculative math.

Superman Returns:

Domestic Tally To Date - $164,316,103

International Tally To Date - $77,000,000

Worldwide Total - $241,316,103

The studio's take is usually half of that, so the low number in studio revenue so far is $120,658,051.50. However, with a frontloaded blockbuster like Superman I can see the take being as high as 2/3, due to the studio taking it's highest percentage on opening weekend, and to the fact that blockbusters occasionally get better revenue deals. We can probably put the high number at around $160,877,402.

Now for the costs. The budget was originally reported at $260,000,000, but Bryan Singer claimed it was a more modest $185,000,000. In addition, I'll make the conservative estimate that the marketing budget was about $25 million, which is pretty much standard fare for the July 4th blockbusters. So going in, you're looking at anywhere between $210,000,000 and $285,000,000 as the total cost (and that's not including the hundred and fifty million in developing the aborted projects, as since Singer seems attached to a sequel I doubt we'll see that problem).

With that, the amount of cash they're in the whole on box office alone is anywhere from $50 million to $165 million. Logic seems to cast doubt on the higher budget estimate, so we'll say realistically that the numer is in fact between $50-90 million. Whether merchandise is on its own enough to tip the scales and put the film in the black is one thing, but then again you've gotta include DVD sales as well. Successful DVD releases can match, and even exceed a film's box office totals, and this applies to more than just indy releases. The first "Lord Of the Rings" film did $315 million dollars at box office, but on DVD it did a further $500 million in sales. The first "Pirates Of the Caribbean" took in $305 million in theatres, but when it hit DVD it sold over $324 million in DVD's. If the "Superman Returns" DVD is marketed in even a decent way, it should more than recoup the film company's costs.

So in short, nah, it won't impact the sequel. >_>

[Pepsi]

I predict people were just anxious to see Pirates and didn't bother with Superman. Had the film opened maybe in the beginning of June I'm sure it would have been a huge hit.