Date Movie Budget
ComedyRomance1h 23mUpdated
Synopsis
"Date Movie" (2006) is a romantic comedy that parodies the conventions of the romantic film genre. The story follows Julia Jones, a quirky and somewhat awkward young woman who is desperate to find love. After a series of disastrous dates, she finally meets the charming and handsome Grant Funkyerdoder. Their whirlwind romance seems perfect, but as Julia navigates the ups and downs of their relationship, she must confront her insecurities and the absurdities of modern dating.
The film is filled with over-the-top humor and satirical references to popular romantic comedies, showcasing a variety of eccentric characters and outrageous situations. As Julia and Grant's relationship unfolds, they encounter a host of comedic obstacles, including meddling friends and family, all while delivering laugh-out-loud moments that challenge the typical love story narrative. Ultimately, "Date Movie" serves as both a tribute to and a critique of the romantic comedy genre, leaving audiences entertained and amused.
What is the budget of Date Movie?
"Date Movie," a comedy released in 2006, was directed by Aaron Seltzer and stars Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Griffin. The production budget was $20,000,000, 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: Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg sold an untitled romantic comedy pitch to Regency Enterprises and became attached to helm it. In June 2005, it was announced Alyson Hannigan and Adam Campbell were to star in the film.
What were the major cost factors in Date Movie?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Date Movie."
- 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 Date Movie's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Date Movie sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Date Movie Box Office Performance
"Date Movie" earned $48,548,426 domestically and $85,749,034 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Date Movie," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $85,749,034, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $85,749,034
- Net Return: $65,749,034
- ROI: approximately 328.7%
At 328.7%, "Date Movie" earned roughly $4.29 for every $1 invested in production.
Date Movie Production History
;Track listing # "Milkshake" , Kelis # "Party Hard" , The Perceptionists # "You’re the First, the Last, My Everything" , Barry White # "Toma" , Pitbull feat. Lil Jon # "Funhop" , Todd Schietroma # "Do You Believe in Magic" , The Lovin' Spoonful # "Too Much Booty (In da Pants)" , Soundmaster T # "Break it on Down" , Flii Stylz & Tenashus # "Baby Come Back" , Player (Edit) # "The Price Is Right (Theme)" , David Kitay # "Break It Down" , Alana D. # "Come on Shake" , Classic # "What Will You Do?" , Sparklemotion # "Don't Cha" , Pussycat Dolls.
Awards and Recognition
4 wins & 1 nomination total
Critical Reception
The film did not have advance press screenings. The site ranked the film 77th in the 100 worst reviewed films of the 2000s. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Date Movie (2006)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Date Movie (2006) earn at the box office?
Date Movie grossed $48,548,426 domestic, $37,200,608 international, totaling $85,749,034 worldwide.
Was Date Movie (2006) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $20,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$50,000,000, the film earned $85,749,034 theatrically - a 329% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Date Movie?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Griffin, Sophie Monk); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns; international production across Switzerland, United States of America.
How does Date Movie's budget compare to similar comedy films?
At $20,000,000, Date Movie is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Date Movie (2006) 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 Date Movie?
The theatrical ROI was 328.7%, calculated as ($85,749,034 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Date Movie (2006) win?
4 wins & 1 nomination total.
Who directed Date Movie and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Aaron Seltzer, written by Aaron Seltzer, Jason Friedberg, shot by Shawn Maurer, with music by David Kitay, edited by Paul Hirsch.
Where was Date Movie filmed?
Date Movie was filmed in Switzerland, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Date Movie
Official Trailer
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