300: Rise of an Empire Budget
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Synopsis
This new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. This pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.
What is the budget of 300 Rise of an Empire?
"300 Rise of an Empire," an action released in 2014, was directed by Noam Murro and stars Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green. The production budget was $110,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for action productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
- Development: In June 2008, producers Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, and Bernie Goldmann revealed that work had begun on a sequel to 300.
What were the major cost factors in 300 Rise of an Empire?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "300 Rise of an Empire."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
How Does 300 Rise of an Empire's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $110,000,000, 300 Rise of an Empire sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 10,000 BC (2008): Budget $105,000,000, Worldwide Gross $269,784,201
- 1917 (2019): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $446,064,352
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
300 Rise of an Empire Box Office Performance
"300 Rise of an Empire" earned $106,580,051 domestically and $337,580,051 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $110,000,000, 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 "300 Rise of an Empire," that break-even threshold was roughly $220,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $337,580,051, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $110,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $337,580,051
- Net Return: $227,580,051
- ROI: approximately 206.9%
At 206.9%, "300 Rise of an Empire" earned roughly $3.07 for every $1 invested in production.
300 Rise of an Empire Production History
In June 2008, producers Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, and Bernie Goldmann revealed that work had begun on a sequel to 300. Legendary Pictures announced that Frank Miller, who wrote the 1998 comic book limited series on which the film 300 was based, was writing a follow-up graphic novel, and Zack Snyder, co-screenwriter and director of 300, was interested in directing the adaptation, but instead chose to develop and direct the Superman reboot Man of Steel. Noam Murro directed instead, while Snyder produced and co-wrote.
Principal photography commenced in early July 2012 at the Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia, Bulgaria. Underwater greenscreen scenes were also filmed at Leavesden Studios. On May 10, 2013, it was announced the film's release date would be pushed back from August 2, 2013, to March 7, 2014.
The film's score was composed by Junkie XL, being the first film in an ongoing partnership with Snyder. He attempted to research on the ancient Persian and Greek music instrumentation to match the time period and culture, while also being a fantasy film, he tried to blend the sounds with electronic instruments here and there. The album featuring Junkie XL's score was released by WaterTower Music on March 4, 2014.
Awards and Recognition
2 wins & 7 nominations total
Critical Reception
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 45% based on 197 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "It's bound to hit some viewers as an empty exercise in stylish gore, and despite a gonzo starring performance from Eva Green, 300: Rise of an Empire is a step down from its predecessor." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 48 out of 100 score, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did 300: Rise of an Empire cost to make?
The production budget was $110,000,000. Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures co-financed the sequel, with extensive practical and digital effects work scaled up from the original 300 (2007) budget of $65,000,000.
How much did 300: Rise of an Empire earn at the box office?
The film grossed $106,580,051 domestically and $231,300,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of $337,880,051. It opened to $45,038,000 on March 7, 2014, finishing first but well below the $70,900,000 opening of the original 300 (2007).
Who directed 300: Rise of an Empire?
Noam Murro directed the film, replacing Zack Snyder, who had directed the original 300 (2007). Snyder produced and co-wrote the screenplay with Kurt Johnstad. Murro had previously directed the indie comedy Smart People (2008, $25,000,000 worldwide).
Who stars in 300: Rise of an Empire?
Sullivan Stapleton stars as the Athenian general Themistocles. Eva Green plays the Persian naval commander Artemisia, with Lena Headey reprising her Queen Gorgo role from the original 300, Hans Matheson as Aeschylus, Rodrigo Santoro returning as Xerxes, and Jack O'Connell as Calisto.
When does 300: Rise of an Empire take place relative to the original?
The film runs parallel to and immediately after the events of 300 (2007). It depicts the Athenian naval Battle of Artemisium concurrent with the Spartan land Battle of Thermopylae, followed by the decisive Battle of Salamis. The events span roughly the same week of August 480 BC.
Where was 300: Rise of an Empire filmed?
Principal photography took place at Nu Boyana Film Studios in Sofia, Bulgaria, from August to December 2012. Bulgaria's lower production costs and Nu Boyana's large water tanks for the naval sequences were key cost drivers in the location decision.
What did critics think of 300: Rise of an Empire?
Reviews were mixed-to-negative, with a 43% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised Eva Green's villainous performance and the practical-digital naval battle aesthetics but objected to the lack of a charismatic central hero compared with Gerard Butler's Leonidas.
Was 300: Rise of an Empire profitable?
Yes. Against the $110,000,000 production budget and an estimated $100,000,000 in worldwide marketing spend, the $337,880,051 gross delivered modest theatrical profit. Home video, premium cable, and digital revenue extended overall profitability comfortably.
How does Rise of an Empire compare to the original 300?
The sequel underperformed the original substantially. 300 (2007) grossed $456,100,000 worldwide on a $65,000,000 budget, making it one of the most profitable R-rated films of the decade. Rise of an Empire's $337,880,051 against a $110,000,000 budget reflected sharper diminishing returns.
Will there be a 300 sequel?
A third film, 300: Blood and Ashes, was in development with Zack Snyder set to direct, but the project stalled in the mid-2010s and has not been revived. Snyder has periodically referenced the project in interviews without giving a specific release timeline.
Official Trailer
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