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I Can Do Bad All By Myself Budget

2009PG-13DramaComedy1h 53m

Updated

Budget
$19,000,000
Domestic Box Office
$51,733,921
Worldwide Box Office
$51,733,921

Synopsis

"I Can Do Bad All By Myself" is a heartfelt drama-comedy directed by Tyler Perry, featuring the talented Taraji P. Henson in the lead role. The story revolves around April, a self-centered and troubled woman who is struggling to find her place in the world. Living a solitary life, she is unexpectedly thrust into the role of guardian when her estranged family members—a trio of orphaned children—show up at her doorstep.

As April grapples with her newfound responsibilities, she confronts her own demons and learns valuable lessons about love, family, and redemption. The film explores themes of forgiveness and personal growth, showcasing how the bonds of family can heal even the most broken hearts. With a blend of humor and poignant moments, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" ultimately delivers a powerful message about the importance of community and the transformative power of compassion.

What is the budget of I Can Do Bad All By Myself?

"I Can Do Bad All By Myself," a drama released in 2009, was directed by Tyler Perry and stars Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson. The production budget was $19,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for drama productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

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

  • Above-the-Line Talent: Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances.
  • Location Filming & Period Production Design: Authentic locations , whether contemporary or historical , require scouting, permits, travel, lodging, and often significant dressing to match the story's time period.
  • Post-Production, Color Grading & Score: The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone.

What were the major cost factors in I Can Do Bad All By Myself?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "I Can Do Bad All By Myself."

  • Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
  • Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
  • Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.

How Does I Can Do Bad All By Myself's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $19,000,000, I Can Do Bad All By Myself sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

  • A Cinderella Story (2004): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $70,067,909
  • A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,192,775
  • Action Point (2018): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $5,059,608
  • Arthur the King (2024): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $40,829,138
  • Back to the Future (1985): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $381,109,762

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

I Can Do Bad All By Myself Box Office Performance

"I Can Do Bad All By Myself" earned $51,733,921 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $19,000,000, 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 "I Can Do Bad All By Myself," that break-even threshold was roughly $38,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $51,733,921, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.

  • Production Budget: $19,000,000
  • Worldwide Gross: $51,733,921
  • Net Return: $32,733,921
  • ROI: approximately 172.3%

At 172.3%, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" earned roughly $2.72 for every $1 invested in production.

Awards and Recognition

1 win & 5 nominations total

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did it cost to make I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)?

The production budget was $19,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $9,500,000 - $15,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $28,500,000 - $34,200,000.

How much did I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) earn at the box office?

I Can Do Bad All By Myself grossed $51,733,921 domestic, totaling $51,733,921 worldwide.

Was I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) profitable?

Yes. Against a production budget of $19,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$47,500,000, the film earned $51,733,921 theatrically - a 172% ROI on production costs alone.

What were the biggest costs in producing I Can Do Bad All By Myself?

The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.

How does I Can Do Bad All By Myself's budget compare to similar drama films?

At $19,000,000, I Can Do Bad All By Myself is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Cinderella Story (2004, $19,000,000); A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011, $19,000,000); Action Point (2018, $19,000,000).

Did I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) 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 I Can Do Bad All By Myself?

The theatrical ROI was 172.3%, calculated as ($51,733,921 − $19,000,000) ÷ $19,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.

What awards did I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) win?

1 win & 5 nominations total.

Who directed I Can Do Bad All By Myself and who were the key crew members?

Directed by Tyler Perry, written by Tyler Perry, shot by Alexander Gruszynski, with music by Aaron Zigman, edited by Maysie Hoy.

Where was I Can Do Bad All By Myself filmed?

I Can Do Bad All By Myself was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Filmmakers

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Producers
Tyler Perry, Reuben Cannon
Director
Tyler Perry
Writers
Tyler Perry
Key Cast
Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Brian J. White
Cinematographer
Alexander Gruszynski
Composer
Aaron Zigman

Official Trailer

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UK Channel 4 template
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Short Film template
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