Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Kick-Ass?

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage leading the cast, Kick-Ass was produced by Plan B Entertainment with a confirmed budget of $28,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for action films as part of the Kick-Ass Collection.

At $28,000,000, Kick-Ass was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $70,000,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Agent Cody Banks (2003): Budget $28,000,000 | Gross $58,795,814 → ROI: 110% • Beverly Hills Cop II (1987): Budget $28,000,000 | Gross $299,965,036 → ROI: 971% • Shark Night 3D (2011): Budget $28,000,000 | Gross $10,126,458 → ROI: -64% • The Lovers on the Bridge (1991): Budget $28,000,000 | Gross N/A • Pride & Prejudice (2005): Budget $28,000,000 | Gross $124,604,345 → ROI: 345%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ 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. For large-scale productions, VFX alone can account for 20–30% of the total budget, with additional costs for stunt coordinators, rigging, and safety crews.

▸ Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation. Lead actors in major action franchises typically earn $10–25 million per film, with directors often receiving comparable compensation packages tied to box office performance.

▸ 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.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mark Strong Key roles: Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski / Kick-Ass; Chloë Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready / Hit Girl; Nicolas Cage as Damon Macready / Big Daddy; Lyndsy Fonseca as Katie Deauxma

DIRECTOR: Matthew Vaughn CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ben Davis MUSIC: John Murphy, Marius de Vries EDITING: Pietro Scalia, Eddie Hamilton PRODUCTION: Plan B Entertainment, Marv FILMED IN: United Kingdom, United States of America

Box Office Performance

Kick-Ass earned $48,071,303 domestically and $48,117,600 internationally, for a worldwide total of $96,188,903. Revenue was split 50% domestic / 50% international.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Kick-Ass needed approximately $70,000,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $26,188,903.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $96,188,903 Budget: $28,000,000 Net: $68,188,903 ROI: 243.5%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Profitable

Kick-Ass delivered a solid return, earning $96,188,903 worldwide on a $28,000,000 budget (244% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Plan B Entertainment.