At the start of the summer, a friend and I made a bet about which summer film will be the most profitable -- not which one would make the most money, but which one would make the most in comparison to its budget. I voted for Madagascar, and he chose War of the Worlds.

Anyone have any figures about profitability or know where I can find them? The summer's not over yet of course but I was just wondering if either of us could be right.

Forget WEDDING CRASHERS?

I hope part of the bet wasn't that the loser has to dress in drag or as a victorian tb ridden pphantasm?


How much did March of the Penguins cost? That's going to see 10 to the umpeenth power return on its cost of production probably.

Not counting marketing:

Star Wars Episode III - $267 million profit, $380 million gross, $113 million budget

The Wedding Crashers - $120+ million profit, $180+ million gross, $40 million budget

War of the Worlds - $96 million profit, $228 million gross, $132 million budget

The Longest Yard - $75 million profit, $157 million gross, $82 million budget

Mr. and Mrs. Smith - $70 million profit, $180 million gross, $110 million budget

Batman Begins - $55 million profit, $205 million gross, $150 million budget

Fantastic Four - $55 million profit, $155 million gross, $100 million budget

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - $50 million profit, $200 million gross, $150 million budget

Didn't find Madagascar's budget... and of course this is just profit, not multiplier compared to budget.

ROTS was cheaper than a lot of other movies, it only cost 113 mil, while WOTW's cost was around 130m and BB's cost was 150m, and the same for Charlie

I say ROTS made the most money minus its cost, but WC in the other term was most profatable based on a cheap budget (or maybe MotP)

Yeah, that's what I need, the %. We didn't count Star Wars because it was released before Memorial Day.

March of the Penguins could indeed win! That would be interesting. Last year I won the bet, but I can't remember now what won...

the rights to march of the penguins were acquired for less than amillion dollars ... its actual production cost i know nothing about.

Is advertising included in ROTS's 113 million budget?

Nope.

Don't forget marketing budget. And don't studio's get like 50% of the money? So really the only way studio's profit most of the time is World Wide gross.

I think Groucho is looking for a ratio of the gross-to-budget for summer films, excluding distribution and marketing costs, not actual profit.

The Wedding Crashers probably.

War of the Worlds.

Its really hard to know how much WOTW is really making. There were some articles pointing out that WOTW's budget was alot higher than 130 million and the budget doesnt inlude the profit pocketing of Cruise and Spielberg who were rumored to be taking in close to 20% of the total profits each

How do you figure? Even if its budget is "only" $130 million (the Paramount executive at the advance screening I was at joked it was the most expensive film ever made), it's still trailing $170 million behind Star Wars, and cost more to make to boot.

If we mean profit ratio, March of the Penguins will win this one for sure.

I thought this thread was a 'question'?

My answer would be WOTW. If there is only one correct answer then why have there been so many replies? one person said Wedding Crashers, go jump down they're neck.

Well, Wedding Crashers has already grossed twice its budget domestically, but WOTW has not--I'm not sure if we are counting overseas grosses here.

What was March of the Penguins budget?

The question didn't indicate whether it was overseas or domestic grosses.

Wedding Crashers or March of the Penguins or ROTS it depends on how you ask the question.

Wedding Crashers: The most successful film with a small budget

March of the Penguins: The highest ratio

ROTS: The highest net gross

WOTW: Most consistent in all countries.

I can never tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

That's the beautiful thing of it and generally how I plan it.. However, I am.... But the good Doctor does sport quite the Cast for dirt cheap..