Blades of Glory Budget
Comedy1h 33mUpdated
Synopsis
"Blades of Glory" is a hilarious sports comedy that follows the fierce rivalry between two male figure skaters, Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder). After a scandalous incident at the World Championships leads to their disqualification, the duo finds themselves banned from competing as singles skaters. However, they discover a loophole that allows them to team up and compete in the pairs category.
As they navigate the challenges of their newfound partnership, including their clashing personalities and the complexities of figure skating, the two must learn to work together to reclaim their glory. With the help of their eccentric coach and a series of outrageous training montages, Chazz and Jimmy embark on a journey filled with comedic mishaps, unexpected friendships, and a fierce determination to win. Ultimately, "Blades of Glory" is a story about redemption, teamwork, and the pursuit of dreams, all set against the backdrop of the glamorous yet cutthroat world of competitive figure skating.
What is the budget of Blades of Glory?
"Blades of Glory," a comedy released in 2007, was directed by Josh Gordon, Will Speck and stars Will Ferrell, Jon Heder. The production budget was $53,000,000, 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 based on Busy Philipps' idea and she worked on the screenplay.
What were the major cost factors in Blades of Glory?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Blades of Glory."
- 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 Blades of Glory's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $53,000,000, Blades of Glory sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 16 Blocks (2006): Budget $55,000,000, Worldwide Gross $65,664,721
- Any Given Sunday (1999): Budget $55,000,000, Worldwide Gross $100,230,832
- Angela's Ashes (1999): Budget $50,000,000, Worldwide Gross $13,042,112
- All the Pretty Horses (2000): Budget $57,000,000, Worldwide Gross $18,133,495
- 15 Minutes (2001): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,359,980
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Blades of Glory Box Office Performance
"Blades of Glory" earned $118,594,548 domestically and $118,200,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $53,000,000, 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 "Blades of Glory," that break-even threshold was roughly $106,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $118,200,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $53,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $118,200,000
- Net Return: $65,200,000
- ROI: approximately 123%
At 123%, "Blades of Glory" earned roughly $2.23 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 10 nominations total
Critical Reception
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 70% based on 188 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Thanks to the spirited performances of a talented cast , particularly Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as rivals-turned-teammates , Blades of Glory successfully spoofs inspirational sports dramas with inspired abandon." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Blades of Glory cost to make?
The production budget was $61,000,000. Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures co-produced the comedy through Red Hour Films, Ben Stiller's production company, with MTV Films co-financing.
How much did Blades of Glory earn at the box office?
The film grossed $118,594,548 domestically and $26,400,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $145,000,000. It opened to $33,014,000 on March 30, 2007, debuting at number one.
Who stars in Blades of Glory?
Will Ferrell plays Chazz Michael Michaels and Jon Heder plays Jimmy MacElroy, rival figure skaters forced to compete as the first all-male pairs team. Will Arnett and Amy Poehler play the antagonist Van Waldenberg siblings, with Jenna Fischer, Craig T. Nelson, Romany Malco, and William Fichtner in supporting roles.
Who directed Blades of Glory?
Will Speck and Josh Gordon co-directed the film, their feature debut. The pair had previously directed acclaimed commercials and the Oscar-nominated short film Culture (1998). They later directed The Switch (2010) and Office Christmas Party (2016).
Where was Blades of Glory filmed?
Principal photography took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, with skating sequences shot at the Utah Olympic Oval and other Olympic venues from the 2002 Winter Games. Montreal also hosted additional skating sequences.
How did Will Ferrell prepare for the skating scenes?
Ferrell and Heder trained for several months with professional figure skaters and the production used doubles for the most complex spins and lifts. Olympic skater Sasha Cohen provided technical consultation and appears briefly in the film. The famous "Iron Lotus" finale was a CGI-assisted composite.
What did critics think of Blades of Glory?
The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 63 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film a B+ CinemaScore. Critics praised the chemistry between Ferrell and Heder while objecting to a relatively conventional sports-comedy structure.
Was Blades of Glory profitable?
Yes. Against the $61,000,000 budget and an estimated $40,000,000 to $50,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of approximately $145,000,000 produced a clear theatrical profit. Strong home video and cable revenue extended profitability significantly.
How does Blades of Glory compare to other Will Ferrell sports comedies?
Blades of Glory ($61,000,000 budget, $145,000,000 worldwide) sits between Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006, $72,500,000 budget, $163,400,000 worldwide) and Semi-Pro (2008, $55,000,000 budget, $44,500,000 worldwide). It tracks closer to Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004, $26,000,000 budget, $90,600,000 worldwide).
Did Blades of Glory get a sequel?
No. Despite the strong opening, neither Paramount nor DreamWorks pursued a sequel, with both Ferrell and Heder moving onto other projects. The first weekend's $33,014,000 was the film's commercial peak.
Official Trailer
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