28 Days Budget

2000

ComedyDrama1h 43m

Updated April 25, 2026

Budget

$43,000,000

Domestic Box Office

$37,170,488

Worldwide Box Office

$62,198,945

Synopsis

New York based writer Gwen Cummings knows that she drinks a lot but doesn't believe it's a problem, and if she decides that it is an issue that she could stop drinking on her own. She and her live-in boyfriend Jasper fuel each other's hyperactivity with this excessive alcohol consumption, "a normal life" is not in either's vocabulary. Between Gwen and her older straight-laced sister Lily, Gwen more closely resembles their larger than life mother, who was also an alcoholic and who died because of that when they were children. Lily believes that Gwen's addictions makes her a difficult if not impossible person to love. While Gwen is in a drunken stupor at Lily's wedding, Gwen causes one issue after another, ruining the day for Lily. Gwen is forced to examine her drinking with the culmination of bad events she caused at the wedding, leading to her being court ordered to enter into rehab or jail for twenty-eight days, which is only marginally more tolerable an idea to her than the alternative, which is jail. For Gwen to make any progress, she has to acknowledge that she has a problem which requires the support during those twenty-eight days not only of the facility's staff, but also the other patients, each who is going through his/her own issue with respect to the demons of addiction. If she does eventually acknowledge the problem, she will also have to reconcile the events of her life with Lily, and come to the realization that a life with Jasper is not in her best interest if she has any chance of surviving outside of the facility after those twenty-eight days.

What is the budget of 28 Days?

"28 Days," a comedy released in 2000, was directed by Betty Thomas and stars Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen. The production budget was $43,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for comedy productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a comedy production like this include:

Talent Salaries & Producing Deals: Established comedic talent can command $15 to 20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals.
Production & Location Filming: While comedies generally avoid the VFX costs of action films, location shooting in recognizable cities or exotic locales adds meaningful production expense.
Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising): Comedies rely heavily on marketing to build opening-weekend momentum.
Production: The film was shot in North Carolina. The YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina, served as the Serenity Glen rehabilitation center.

What were the major cost factors in 28 Days?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "28 Days."

Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.

How Does 28 Days's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $43,000,000, 28 Days sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

A Monster Calls (2016): Budget $43,000,000, Worldwide Gross $47,309,313
Along Came Polly (2004): Budget $42,000,000, Worldwide Gross $178,300,000
65 (2023): Budget $45,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,730,568
8 Mile (2002): Budget $41,000,000, Worldwide Gross $242,875,078
Across the Universe (2007): Budget $45,000,000, Worldwide Gross $29,625,761

The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

28 Days Box Office Performance

"28 Days" earned $37,170,488 domestically and $62,198,945 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $43,000,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.

A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "28 Days," that break-even threshold was roughly $86,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $62,198,945, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $43,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $62,198,945
Net Return: $19,198,945
ROI: approximately 44.6%

At 44.6%, "28 Days" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.

28 Days Production History

Singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, who plays one of the center's patients, contributed four songs to the soundtrack.

Awards and Recognition

1 win total

Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 33% approval rating based on 86 reviews with an average rating of 4.9/10. The website's consensus states: "Even though 28 Days is tackling a difficult subject, it comes off light and superficial, and maybe even a little preachy." On Metacritic, it has a score of 46% based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on the scale of A to F.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did it cost to make 28 Days (2000)?

The production budget was $43,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $21,500,000 - $34,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $64,500,000 - $77,400,000.

How much did 28 Days (2000) earn at the box office?

28 Days grossed $37,170,488 domestic, $25,028,457 international, totaling $62,198,945 worldwide.

Was 28 Days (2000) profitable?

The film did not break even theatrically, earning $62,198,945 against an estimated $107,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.

What were the biggest costs in producing 28 Days?

The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns.

How does 28 Days's budget compare to similar comedy films?

At $43,000,000, 28 Days is classified as a mid-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Monster Calls (2016, $43,000,000); Along Came Polly (2004, $42,000,000); 65 (2023, $45,000,000).

Did 28 Days (2000) 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 28 Days?

The theatrical ROI was 44.6%, calculated as ($62,198,945 − $43,000,000) ÷ $43,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.