Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man Budget
ActionThriller1h 38mUpdated
Synopsis
"Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" is a 1991 action film that follows the adventures of two iconic characters, Harley Davidson, played by Mickey Rourke, and the Marlboro Man, portrayed by Don Johnson. Set against the backdrop of a dystopian Los Angeles, the story revolves around the duo's struggle to save a bar from being taken over by a ruthless corporation.
As they navigate a world filled with corruption and greed, Harley and the Marlboro Man find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes battle that tests their loyalty and courage. With a mix of thrilling motorcycle chases, intense shootouts, and a touch of camaraderie, the film captures the essence of rebellion and the fight for freedom. Ultimately, their journey is not just about saving a bar, but also about standing up against the forces that threaten their way of life.
What is the budget of Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man?
"Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man," an action released in 1991, was directed by Simon Wincer and stars Mickey Rourke, Don Johnson. The production budget was $23,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for action productions of the 1990s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
What were the major cost factors in Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
How Does Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $23,000,000, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- The Secret World of Arrietty (2010): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $149,660,003
- Bad Santa (2003): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $76,500,000
- Chasing Liberty (2004): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,195,626
- Chéri (2009): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,400,000
- Eddie the Eagle (2016): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $46,152,411
The median budget for wide-release action films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man Box Office Performance
"Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" earned $7,434,726 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $23,000,000, 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 "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man," that break-even threshold was roughly $46,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $7,434,726, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $23,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $7,434,726
- Net Return: −$15,565,274
- ROI: approximately -67.7%
At -67.7%, "Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
1 nomination total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)?
The production budget was $23,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $11,500,000 - $18,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $34,500,000 - $41,400,000.
How much did Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) earn at the box office?
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man grossed $7,434,726 domestic, totaling $7,434,726 worldwide.
Was Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $7,434,726 against an estimated $57,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Mickey Rourke, Don Johnson, Chelsea Field); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation.
How does Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man's budget compare to similar action films?
At $23,000,000, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release action films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: The Secret World of Arrietty (2010, $23,000,000); Bad Santa (2003, $23,000,000); Chasing Liberty (2004, $23,000,000).
Did Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) 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 Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man?
The theatrical ROI was -67.7%, calculated as ($7,434,726 − $23,000,000) ÷ $23,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) win?
1 nomination total.
Who directed Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Simon Wincer, written by Don Michael Paul, shot by David Eggby, with music by Basil Poledouris, Ken Tamplin, edited by Corky Ehlers.
Where was Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man filmed?
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Official Trailer
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