Aliens in the Attic Budget
AdventureComedyFamilyFantasyScience Fiction1h 26mUpdated
Synopsis
"Aliens in the Attic" is a family-friendly adventure-comedy that follows the story of the Pearson family, who embark on a summer vacation at their uncle's remote cottage. Their peaceful getaway takes an unexpected turn when a group of mischievous aliens crash-land in the attic. As the extraterrestrial visitors attempt to take over the house, the kids must band together to thwart their plans. Utilizing their creativity and teamwork, the siblings devise clever strategies to outsmart the aliens, all while navigating the challenges of family dynamics and growing up. With humor, heart, and a touch of sci-fi, this film showcases the importance of unity and courage in the face of the unknown.
What is the budget of Aliens in the Attic?
"Aliens in the Attic," an adventure released in 2009, was directed by John Schultz and stars Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler. The production budget was $45,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for adventure productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an adventure 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.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography began at the end of January 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand.
What were the major cost factors in Aliens in the Attic?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Aliens in the Attic."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in adventure productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in adventure productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in adventure productions of this scale.
How Does Aliens in the Attic's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $45,000,000, Aliens in the Attic sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 65 (2023): Budget $45,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,730,568
- Across the Universe (2007): Budget $45,000,000, Worldwide Gross $29,625,761
- 28 Days (2000): Budget $43,000,000, Worldwide Gross $62,198,945
- 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
The median budget for wide-release adventure films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Aliens in the Attic Box Office Performance
"Aliens in the Attic" earned $25,200,412 domestically and $57,881,056 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $45,000,000, 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 "Aliens in the Attic," that break-even threshold was roughly $90,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $57,881,056, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $45,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $57,881,056
- Net Return: $12,881,056
- ROI: approximately 28.6%
At 28.6%, "Aliens in the Attic" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Aliens in the Attic Production History
Principal photography began at the end of January 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland-based production company New Upstairs Productions stated that filming would run for 30 to 40 days from January 28 to April 18, 2008, with no filming in weekends. The film was shot predominantly in a 1915 villa which had been transported from Remuera to rural North Auckland in 1997.
Awards and Recognition
2 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Aliens in the Attic (2009)?
The production budget was $45,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $22,500,000 - $36,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $67,500,000 - $81,000,000.
How much did Aliens in the Attic (2009) earn at the box office?
Aliens in the Attic grossed $25,200,412 domestic, $32,680,644 international, totaling $57,881,056 worldwide.
Was Aliens in the Attic (2009) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $57,881,056 against an estimated $112,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Aliens in the Attic?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Carter Jenkins, Austin Butler, Ashley French); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation; international production across Canada, United States of America.
How does Aliens in the Attic's budget compare to similar adventure films?
At $45,000,000, Aliens in the Attic is classified as a mid-budget production. The median budget for wide-release adventure films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 65 (2023, $45,000,000); Across the Universe (2007, $45,000,000); 28 Days (2000, $43,000,000).
Did Aliens in the Attic (2009) 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 Aliens in the Attic?
The theatrical ROI was 28.6%, calculated as ($57,881,056 − $45,000,000) ÷ $45,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Aliens in the Attic (2009) win?
2 nominations total.
Who directed Aliens in the Attic and who were the key crew members?
Directed by John Schultz, written by Adam F. Goldberg, Mark Burton, shot by Don Burgess, with music by John Debney, edited by John Pace.
Where was Aliens in the Attic filmed?
Aliens in the Attic was filmed in Canada, United States of America. Principal photography began at the end of January 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland-based production company New Upstairs Productions stated that filming would run for 30 - 40 days from January 28 to April 18, 2008, with no filming in weekends. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Aliens in the Attic
Official Trailer
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