Hollow Man Budget

2000

ActionScience FictionThriller1h 52m

Updated April 25, 2026

Budget

$95,000,000

Domestic Box Office

$73,209,340

Worldwide Box Office

$190,213,455

Synopsis

"Hollow Man" is a science fiction thriller directed by Paul Verhoeven, released in 2000. The film follows the story of Sebastian Caine, a brilliant but arrogant scientist played by Kevin Bacon, who is leading a secret government project aimed at developing a serum that can render a living being invisible. After successfully testing the serum on a gorilla, Caine decides to test it on himself, becoming the first human to experience invisibility.

Initially, the experiment seems to be a success, granting him the power to move unseen. However, as the effects of the serum begin to take a dark turn, Caine's mental state deteriorates, leading him to become increasingly unstable and violent. His colleagues, including the intelligent and resourceful Linda McKay (Elisabeth Shue) and the cautious Matt Kensington (Josh Brolin), soon realize the dangers of their creation as Caine's actions spiral out of control.

As the tension escalates, the film explores themes of ethics in scientific experimentation, the consequences of unchecked ambition, and the thin line between genius and madness. The gripping narrative culminates in a thrilling showdown, where Caine's newfound powers become a weapon against those who once trusted him, leaving viewers questioning the moral implications of invisibility and the human psyche.

What is the budget of Hollow Man?

"Hollow Man," an action released in 2000, was directed by Paul Verhoeven and stars Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue. The production budget was $95,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for action productions of its era.

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 Hollow Man?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Hollow 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 Hollow Man's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $95,000,000, Hollow Man sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

Cats (2019): Budget $95,000,000, Worldwide Gross $77,276,321
Ferrari (2023): Budget $95,000,000, Worldwide Gross $39,220,516
Finding Nemo (2003): Budget $94,000,000, Worldwide Gross $940,335,536
Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008): Budget $97,250,400, Worldwide Gross $131,856,927
Ford v Ferrari (2019): Budget $97,600,000, Worldwide Gross $225,508,210

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

Hollow Man Box Office Performance

"Hollow Man" earned $73,209,340 domestically and $190,213,455 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $95,000,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.

A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Hollow Man," that break-even threshold was roughly $190,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $190,213,455, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.

Production Budget: $95,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $190,213,455
Net Return: $95,213,455
ROI: approximately 100.2%

At 100.2%, "Hollow Man" earned roughly $2 for every $1 invested in production.