Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Haunt?

Directed by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, with Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Lauryn McClain leading the cast, Haunt was produced by Broken Road Productions with a confirmed budget of $5,000,000, placing it in the micro-budget category for horror films as part of the Haunt Collection.

At $5,000,000, Haunt was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $12,500,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Come and See (1985): Budget $5,000,000 | Gross $20,929,648 → ROI: 319% • Cinema Paradiso (1988): Budget $5,000,000 | Gross $35,962,062 → ROI: 619% • Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985): Budget $5,000,000 | Gross $502,758 → ROI: -90% • Once Upon a Time in the West (1968): Budget $5,000,000 | Gross $5,380,118 → ROI: 8% • A Separation (2011): Budget $5,000,000 | Gross $24,426,169 → ROI: 389%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup Horror productions invest disproportionately in practical effects — prosthetic applications, animatronics, blood and gore effects, and creature suits. A single hero creature suit can cost $50,000–200,000.

▸ Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography Creating dread through environment is essential. Abandoned locations must be secured and dressed, lighting rigs designed for shadow and tension, and sets built to enable specific camera movements and reveals.

▸ Sound Design & Score Horror is arguably the most sound-dependent genre. Foley work, ambient textures, frequency manipulation, and jump-scare stingers require specialized sound designers working with unconventional techniques.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Lauryn McClain, Shazi Raja, Andrew Lewis Caldwell Key roles: Katie Stevens as Harper; Will Brittain as Nathan; Lauryn McClain as Bailey; Shazi Raja as Angela

DIRECTOR: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ryan Samul MUSIC: tomandandy, Andy Milburn EDITING: Terel Gibson PRODUCTION: Broken Road Productions, Nickel City Pictures, Sierra/Affinity FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

Haunt earned $2,243,353 in worldwide box office revenue.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Haunt needed approximately $12,500,000 to break even. The film fell $10,256,647 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $2,243,353 Budget: $5,000,000 Net: $-2,756,647 ROI: -55.1%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Unprofitable (Theatrical)

Haunt earned $2,243,353 against a $5,000,000 budget (-55% ROI), falling short of theatrical profitability. Ancillary revenue may have reduced the deficit.