Ant-Man and the Wasp Budget
ActionAdventureScience Fiction1h 59mUpdated
Synopsis
In the aftermath of “Captain America: Civil War,” Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to re-balance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from their past.
What is the budget of Ant-Man and the Wasp?
"Ant-Man and the Wasp," an action released in 2018, was directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly. The production budget was $140,000,000, 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.
- Pre-Production: At the start of November 2016, Reed said that the film's production would transition from "the writing phase" to "official prep" that month, beginning with visual development.
What were the major cost factors in Ant-Man and the Wasp?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Ant-Man and the Wasp."
- 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 Ant-Man and the Wasp's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $140,000,000, Ant-Man and the Wasp sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 6 Underground (2019): Budget $150,000,000
- After Earth (2013): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $243,843,127
- Angels & Demons (2009): Budget $150,000,000, Worldwide Gross $485,930,816
- Ant-Man (2015): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $519,311,965
- Alexander (2004): Budget $155,000,000, Worldwide Gross $167,298,192
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Box Office Performance
"Ant-Man and the Wasp" earned $216,648,740 domestically and $622,674,139 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $140,000,000, 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 "Ant-Man and the Wasp," that break-even threshold was roughly $280,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $622,674,139, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $140,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $622,674,139
- Net Return: $482,674,139
- ROI: approximately 344.8%
At 344.8%, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" earned roughly $4.45 for every $1 invested in production.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Production History
Principal photography began on August 1, 2017, Filming also took place in Metro Atlanta, with filming locations including the Atlanta International School, the Midtown and Buckhead districts of Atlanta, and the Samuel M. Inman Middle School in the city's Virginia-Highland neighborhood; as well as Emory University and the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Additional filming took place in San Francisco in September 2017, in Savannah, Georgia in late October, and in Hawaii.
In June 2017, Reed confirmed that Christophe Beck, who composed the score for Ant-Man, would return for Ant-Man and the Wasp. Beck reprised his main theme from Ant-Man, and also wrote a new one for Wasp that he wanted to be "high energy" and show that she is more certain of her abilities than Lang. When choosing between these themes for specific scenes throughout the film, Beck tried to choose the Wasp theme more often so there would be "enough newness in the score to feel like it's going new places, and isn't just some retread." Hollywood Records and Marvel Music released the soundtrack album digitally on July 6, 2018..
Awards and Recognition
2 wins & 21 nominations total
Critical Reception
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of , with an average score of , based on reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A lighter, brighter superhero movie powered by the effortless charisma of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man and The Wasp offers a much-needed MCU palate cleanser." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 56 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, down from the "A" earned by the first film.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Ant-Man and the Wasp cost to make?
The production budget was $162,000,000. Marvel Studios financed the sequel with Walt Disney Studios distributing. The figure represents a $32,000,000 increase from the original Ant-Man (2015) budget of $130,000,000, reflecting expanded visual effects work.
How much did Ant-Man and the Wasp earn at the box office?
The film grossed $216,648,740 domestically and $406,500,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $623,100,000. It opened to $75,812,000 on July 6, 2018, the franchise's second-best Ant-Man opening behind only Quantumania.
Who directed Ant-Man and the Wasp?
Peyton Reed directed the film, returning from Ant-Man (2015). Reed went on to direct the third installment Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) along with two episodes of The Mandalorian on Disney+.
Who stars in Ant-Man and the Wasp?
Paul Rudd returns as Scott Lang opposite Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, the Wasp herself. Michael Douglas reprises Hank Pym, with Michelle Pfeiffer joining as Janet van Dyne, Hank's wife trapped in the Quantum Realm. Hannah John-Kamen plays the antagonist Ghost.
Where does Ant-Man and the Wasp fit in the MCU?
The film takes place between Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), explaining Scott Lang's absence from the latter film. The post-credits scene directly connects to the events of Infinity War and Endgame, with the Quantum Realm establishing the time-travel mechanic.
Where was Ant-Man and the Wasp filmed?
Principal photography took place at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayette County, Georgia, taking advantage of Georgia's 30% Film Tax Credit. Additional location work was done in San Francisco, Atlanta, Hawaii, and Savannah, with the production taking advantage of Georgia and Hawaii incentives.
What did critics think of Ant-Man and the Wasp?
The film received positive reviews, with an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 70 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised the lighter tone after the heavier Infinity War and the chemistry between Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly. Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore.
Was Ant-Man and the Wasp profitable?
Yes. Against the $162,000,000 production budget and an estimated $120,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $623,100,000 produced a strong theatrical profit. Disney+ subscription value and home-video revenue have added considerably to aggregate franchise returns.
How does it compare to the first Ant-Man?
Ant-Man and the Wasp's $623,100,000 worldwide outperformed Ant-Man (2015, $130,000,000 budget, $519,300,000 worldwide) by about 20%. The third installment Quantumania (2023, $200,000,000 budget, $476,100,000 worldwide) underperformed both predecessors despite higher spend.
Who plays the villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp?
Hannah John-Kamen plays Ava Starr, also known as Ghost, a young woman with molecular-instability powers she can only manage through Hank Pym's technology. The villain dynamic is more sympathetic than antagonistic, a choice that helped distinguish the film tonally from heavier MCU entries.
Official Trailer
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