The Price Tag on "Superman Returns"

Is anyone else astonished that the budget for "Superman Returns" was allowed to balloon up to a reported $290 million, making it the most expensive movie ever? If I were Warner Bros. position, I'd be a tad anxious about its release.

-Kurtis

Jesus vs. Superman - sounds like a future film franchise to me.

There is actually a current comic book called "Loaded Bible: Jesus vs. Vampires." I hope Mel Gibson adapts that one.

i don't like "heroes" who wear their underwear on the outside of their pants.

I would have to agree with Jason that someone, perhaps a few more, is losing sleep. Granted the latest previews of this film look quite tempting, but previews have been known to fool us all from time to time. It is quite a risk these days to do a superhero film on such an enormous budget. We've only been burried in the *superhero* genre for the past six-years and you would think the excitement would be wearing off by now. However, it is *Superman* and that has one of the biggest fan base in all comic book history. So, we'll see what happens.

Nevertheless, considering what would actually bring in record ticket sales, I would have done a little research and perhaps added a twist to Superman. It appears these days that films dealing with *religion* tend to sell the record tickets. I would have made *Superman* spin around the Earth thus making time go in reverse. I would then have Superman go clear back to the time of Christ, have him rescue Jesus and save the day! Now that would be a *for sure* bet that you could never lose sleep over. ;) :D

Tim ;)

With all the effects..plus the (quite possibly bogus) rumors about WB insisting on some post production coverage of Brandon...and the advertising (dude, there was a Superman ad during every single Piston commercial break last night)...I have no doubt someone's losing sleep right now.

And their head if this movie doesn't knock the ball out of the galaxy.

It would appear the high price of gas is catching up to Hollywood budgets.

Unfortunately, I can guarantee that I will be there on opening night with my usual movie goon squad, ready to lampoon this thing to kingdom come. :)

However, back to the subject of the price tag...even if the final budget stays at the $290 million, does anyone have any idea how many tickets this has to sell in order to just break even, let alone make a profit? Even when you factor in the built in audience and the repeat viewers, its still going to be a stretch.

Then add in the expenses in the (inevitable) eight DVD versions of this movie, plus its advertising campaign...jesus, if this thing bombs, it will be the biggest failure in movie history.

Let's set the budget at $300 mil. Prints and advertising will cost about $60 mil. Bryan Singer, various actors, and various producers will have about 20% gross points.

Let's say that the movie grosses $1 bil worldwide. Half of that goes back to the studio (movie theatres keep the other half). $500 minus $360 is $140. 20% of $1 bil is $200 mil. $140 minus $200 is negative $60.

If the movie generates $1 bil at the box office, it will be $60 mil in the red. That's not so bad. Still, it will take Warner about two years of cable, pay-per-view, TV, and DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-ray/etc. sales before it will make any money on this movie.

(In comparison, "Spider-man" had a world-wide gross of $821 mil, and "X2" had a world-wide gross of $407 mil. "Superman Returns" will not likely make more than $850 mil world-wide.)

Not if they make $400-$500 mill on DVD sales (doubtless in at least two releases), which is not out of the question. DVDs really have changed the entire equation for the studios. They can build models where they actually lose money in theatrical distribution and still turn out tidy profits overall.

Chris,

Unless Warner is releasing the DVD on the same day as it is releasing the movie in theatres, it will still take some time before Warner makes a profit off of "Superman Returns".

Eddie