Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Budget
FamilyComedy1h 39mUpdated
Synopsis
As he begins seventh grade, Greg and his older brother - and chief tormentor - Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond.
What is the budget of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules?
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules," a family released in 2011, was directed by David Bowers and stars Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick. The production budget was $18,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for family productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a family 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: Talks of a sequel were announced after the release of the first, but was not officially announced until May 12, 2010, announcing that it would be released on March 25, 2011.
What were the major cost factors in Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
How Does Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $18,000,000, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 127 Hours (2010): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $35,700,000
- A Dog's Way Home (2019): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,643,857
- Amadeus (1984): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $90,007,557
- And So It Goes (2014): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $25,312,387
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004): Budget $18,000,000 , Gross $65,070,412
The median budget for wide-release family films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules Box Office Performance
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules" earned $52,698,535 domestically and $72,200,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $18,000,000, 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 "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules," that break-even threshold was roughly $36,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $72,200,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $18,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $72,200,000
- Net Return: $54,200,000
- ROI: approximately 301.1%
At 301.1%, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules" earned roughly $4.01 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
2 wins & 5 nominations total
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 99 reviews and an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Moderately witty and acceptably acted, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 isn't much worse than the first installment." On Metacritic, it has a score of 51 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Rodrick Rules cost to make?
The production budget was $18,000,000. Twentieth Century Fox produced the sequel through Fox 2000 Pictures, maintaining the disciplined budget approach that made the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) franchise viable on a $15,000,000 budget.
How much did Rodrick Rules earn at the box office?
The film grossed $52,698,535 domestically and $21,700,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $74,400,000. It opened to $24,397,000 on March 25, 2011, finishing second behind Sucker Punch.
Is Rodrick Rules based on a book?
Yes. The film adapts the second novel in Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2008), with elements from The Last Straw (2009). Kinney remained closely involved as an executive producer.
Who stars in Rodrick Rules?
Zachary Gordon returns as Greg Heffley and Devon Bostick plays Rodrick, the older brother whose forced bonding with Greg drives much of the plot. Robert Capron plays Rowley, with Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris as Greg's parents.
Who directed Rodrick Rules?
David Bowers directed the film, replacing Thor Freudenthal from the original. Bowers had previously directed Flushed Away (2006) for DreamWorks Animation and Astro Boy (2009).
Where was Rodrick Rules filmed?
Principal photography took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, taking advantage of the province's Film Incentive BC tax credit. Vancouver doubled for the suburban midwestern American setting of the source material.
What did critics think of Rodrick Rules?
Reviews were mixed, with a 56% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film an A- CinemaScore, indicating strong family-audience satisfaction. Reviewers praised the brotherly relationship dynamic between Gordon and Bostick.
How does Rodrick Rules compare to the original film?
Rodrick Rules grossed $74,400,000 worldwide against $75,700,000 for Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), an essentially flat performance with a higher $18,000,000 budget compared to $15,000,000 for the original. Both films delivered solid theatrical profit before home video.
Was Rodrick Rules profitable?
Yes. Against a $18,000,000 production budget and an estimated $20,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $74,400,000 produced a clear theatrical profit. Strong home video, cable broadcast, and later streaming revenue extended the financial return substantially.
Was there a Rodrick Rules remake?
Yes. Disney+ produced an animated adaptation Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022), directed by Luke Cormican, as the third entry in the streamer's animated Wimpy Kid series. The animated version is unrelated to the 2011 live-action film.
Official Trailer
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