Bogus Budget
FantasyComedyFamily1h 50mUpdated
Synopsis
"Bogus" is a whimsical fantasy film that follows the journey of a lonely young boy named Albert, who struggles to fit in after the loss of his mother. His life takes a magical turn when he meets Bogus, an imaginary friend brought to life by his vivid imagination. This charming yet mischievous character, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, helps Albert navigate the challenges of childhood, including bullying and the complexities of growing up. As their bond deepens, Bogus encourages Albert to embrace his creativity and find joy in the world around him. However, the line between reality and imagination begins to blur, leading to a heartwarming climax where Albert must confront his fears and learn to let go of the past. Ultimately, "Bogus" is a touching tale about friendship, healing, and the power of imagination.
What is the budget of Bogus?
"Bogus," a fantasy released in 1996, was directed by Norman Jewison and stars Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu. The production budget was $32,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for fantasy productions of the 1990s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a fantasy production like this include:
- Visual Effects & Creature Design: Fantasy productions require extensive VFX for magical elements, mythical creatures, and fantastical battle sequences.
- Costumes, Prosthetic Makeup & Production Design: Period-inspired or wholly original costumes, elaborate prosthetic and makeup applications, and richly detailed set construction are hallmarks of fantasy filmmaking.
- Music Score & Sound Design: Fantasy epics typically commission full orchestral scores recorded with 80 to 100 piece ensembles, plus extensive sound design for magical effects, creature vocalizations, and immersive world audio.
- Filming & Locations: Although portrayed as Newark, New Jersey, part of the film was filmed in the Van Vorst Park neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City.
What were the major cost factors in Bogus?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Bogus."
- Visual Effects: Visual Effects & Creature Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
- Costumes: Costumes, Prosthetic Makeup & Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
- Music Score: Music Score & Sound Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
How Does Bogus's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $32,000,000, Bogus sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A History of Violence (2005): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $61,477,797
- Alive (1993): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,700,000
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $31,882,724
- Apocalypse Now (1979): Budget $31,500,000, Worldwide Gross $150,000,000
- 21 Bridges (2019): Budget $33,000,000, Worldwide Gross $49,900,000
The median budget for wide-release fantasy films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Bogus Box Office Performance
"Bogus" earned $4,357,406 domestically. Against a production budget of $32,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Bogus," that break-even threshold was roughly $64,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $4,357,406, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $32,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $4,357,406
- Net Return: −$27,642,594
- ROI: approximately -86.4%
At -86.4%, "Bogus" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Bogus Production History
Although portrayed as Newark, New Jersey, part of the film was filmed in the Van Vorst Park neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City. The apartment building that the character, Harriet, lives in at the corner of York Street and Barrow Street is called Madison on the Van Vorst Park. [Filming location] Although portrayed as Newark, New Jersey, part of the film was filmed in the Van Vorst Park neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 3 nominations total
Critical Reception
Rotten Tomatoes reports that 41% of 17 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 5/10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Bogus (1996)?
Bogus was produced on a budget of $25,000,000. Warner Bros. financed the family drama through Regency Enterprises, with Jeff Rothberg, Arne Glimcher, and Norman Jewison serving as producers. Jewison had originally been attached to direct before stepping back into a producer-only role.
How much did Bogus earn at the box office?
The film grossed approximately $4,400,000 domestically against minimal international release. It opened to $1,600,000 in the United States during the weekend of September 6, 1996, finishing tenth, an unusually weak opening for a Whoopi Goldberg vehicle during a period when she was still drawing on the box office strength of Sister Act 2.
Was Bogus a box office bomb?
Yes. Against a $25,000,000 production budget and an estimated $15,000,000 marketing spend, the film returned approximately $0.11 in worldwide gross for every $1 invested. It is among the most decisive Whoopi Goldberg vehicles to flop in the 1990s and effectively ended Norman Jewison's consistent run as a producer of mid-budget studio dramas.
Who directed Bogus?
Norman Jewison directed Bogus from a screenplay by Alvin Sargent, based on a story by Jeff Rothberg and Francis X. McCarthy. Jewison was coming off Only You (1994) and The Hurricane (later, 1999), and Bogus was his attempt at a Capra-style family fable in the late 1990s family-film market.
Who starred in Bogus?
Whoopi Goldberg starred as Harriet "Aunt Harry" Franklin, with French actor Gérard Depardieu as Bogus, an imaginary friend, and Haley Joel Osment as Albert Franklin. Osment, in his second feature role, would go on to receive an Oscar nomination three years later for The Sixth Sense (1999).
Why did Bogus fail at the box office?
Industry analysts pointed to confused marketing (Warner Bros. positioned the film between adult drama and family fantasy without committing to either), weak critical response, and a release date jammed against Tin Cup, A Time to Kill, and Independence Day still in late-summer holdovers. The premise of an imaginary friend played by Depardieu was widely cited as difficult to communicate in a trailer.
What did critics think of Bogus?
The film received largely negative reviews, holding a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 critics. Roger Ebert gave the film two stars and called it "sincere but laborious," while Variety's Todd McCarthy described it as "a misfire of imagination" that wasted its strong cast on a script that could not decide its tone.
Where was Bogus filmed?
Principal photography took place in Newark, New Jersey and Las Vegas, Nevada, with additional photography in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Las Vegas sequences were filmed at the Stardust and surrounding properties before their eventual demolition, lending the film unintentional period-piece value as a record of mid-1990s Las Vegas Strip architecture.
Was this a notable role for Haley Joel Osment?
Yes. Bogus was Haley Joel Osment's second feature role after Forrest Gump (1994), in which he played the young Forrest Junior. His performance opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Gérard Depardieu drew positive notices even amid the film's mixed reception, and the role helped position him for the late-1990s casting trajectory that culminated in The Sixth Sense.
Is Bogus available on streaming?
The film is not currently on any major SVOD streaming service and is generally available only through used DVDs and occasional cable broadcasts. Warner Bros. has not released a Blu-ray restoration, reflecting the film's status as a commercial and critical disappointment within its catalog.
Official Trailer
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