1408 Budget
HorrorMystery1h 44mUpdated
Synopsis
Renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin believes only in what he can see with his own two eyes. After a string of bestsellers discrediting paranormal events in the most infamous haunted houses and graveyards around the world, he has no real proof of life after life. But Enslin's phantom-free run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel for his latest project, "Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms." Defying the warnings of the hotel manager, the author is the first person in years to stay in the reputedly haunted room. Another bestseller may be imminent, but like all Stephen King heroes, first he must go from skeptic to true believer -- and ultimately survive the night.
What is the budget of 1408?
"1408," a horror released in 2007, was directed by Mikael Håfström and stars John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson. The production budget was $25,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for horror productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a horror production like this include:
- Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup: Horror productions invest disproportionately in practical effects , prosthetic applications, animatronics, blood and gore effects, and creature suits. A single hero creature suit can cost $50,000 to 200,000.
- Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography: Creating dread through environment is essential. Abandoned locations must be secured and dressed, lighting rigs designed for shadow and tension, and sets built to enable specific camera movements and reveals.
- Sound Design & Score: Horror is arguably the most sound-dependent genre. Foley work, ambient textures, frequency manipulation, and jump-scare stingers require specialized sound designers working with unconventional techniques.
- Filming & Locations: According to Cusack, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York was used for some of the exterior shots of the Dolphin. The lobby scenes were filmed at the Reform Club in London.
What were the major cost factors in 1408?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "1408."
- Practical Effects: Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Atmospheric Production Design: Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Sound Design: Sound Design & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
How Does 1408's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000,000, 1408 sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Rounds (2009): Budget $22,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,280,326
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 127 Hours (2010): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $35,700,000
The median budget for wide-release horror films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
1408 Box Office Performance
"1408" earned $71,985,628 domestically and $133,000,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "1408," that break-even threshold was roughly $50,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $133,000,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $25,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $133,000,000
- Net Return: $108,000,000
- ROI: approximately 432%
At 432%, "1408" earned roughly $5.32 for every $1 invested in production.
1408 Production History
According to Cusack, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York was used for some of the exterior shots of the Dolphin. The lobby scenes were filmed at the Reform Club in London. [Filming] According to Cusack, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York was used for some of the exterior shots of the Dolphin. The lobby scenes were filmed at the Reform Club in London.
Awards and Recognition
4 wins & 12 nominations total
Critical Reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 1408 holds a rating of 80% based on 176 reviews, with the site's critical consensus reading: "Relying on psychological tension rather than overt violence and gore, 1408 is a genuinely creepy thriller with a strong lead performance by John Cusack." On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 64 out of 100, based on 27 reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make 1408 (2007)?
The production budget was $25,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $12,500,000 - $20,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $37,500,000 - $45,000,000.
How much did 1408 (2007) earn at the box office?
1408 grossed $71,985,628 domestic, $61,014,372 international, totaling $133,000,000 worldwide.
Was 1408 (2007) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $25,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$62,500,000, the film earned $133,000,000 theatrically - a 432% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing 1408?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack); practical creature effects, atmospheric cinematography, and psychologically engineered sound design.
How does 1408's budget compare to similar horror films?
At $25,000,000, 1408 is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release horror films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Rounds (2009, $22,000,000); 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 127 Hours (2010, $18,000,000).
Did 1408 (2007) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for 1408?
The theatrical ROI was 432.0%, calculated as ($133,000,000 − $25,000,000) ÷ $25,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did 1408 (2007) win?
4 wins & 12 nominations total.
Who directed 1408 and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Mikael Håfström, written by Larry Karaszewski, Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, shot by Benoît Delhomme, with music by Gabriel Yared, edited by Peter Boyle.
Where was 1408 filmed?
1408 was filmed in United States of America. According to Cusack, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York was used for some of the exterior shots of the Dolphin. The lobby scenes were filmed at the Reform Club in London. [Filming] According to Cusack, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York was used for some of the exterior shots of the Dolphin. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
1408
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