"Half Past Dead" is an action-packed thriller that follows the story of a tough undercover cop, Sascha, played by Steven Seagal. When a high-security prison is taken over by a group of ruthless criminals led by a notorious gangster, Sascha finds himself in a race against time to thwart their plans. The gang's objective is to retrieve a hidden fortune that is locked away within the prison's walls. As chaos ensues, Sascha must navigate through a web of deception and danger, relying on his combat skills and quick thinking to save the hostages and bring the criminals to justice. With intense action sequences and a gripping plot, "Half Past Dead" keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as the battle between good and evil unfolds in a confined and perilous environment.

What is the budget of Half Past Dead?

"Half Past Dead," a crime released in 2002, was directed by Don Michael Paul and stars Steven Seagal, Morris Chestnut. The production budget was $25,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for crime productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a crime production like this include:

Talent & Director Compensation: Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
Cinematography & Location Photography: Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages , surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
Editorial & Sound Post-Production: Precision editing , controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals , requires extended post-production schedules.

What were the major cost factors in Half Past Dead?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Half Past Dead."

Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.

How Does Half Past Dead's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $25,000,000, Half Past Dead sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $133,000,000
A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,700,000
Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,719,357
All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,000,000
August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $66,122,026

The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Half Past Dead Box Office Performance

"Half Past Dead" earned $15,567,860 domestically and $19,233,280 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, 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 "Half Past Dead," that break-even threshold was roughly $50,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $19,233,280, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $25,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $19,233,280
Net Return: −$5,766,720
ROI: approximately -23.1%

At -23.1%, "Half Past Dead" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.