Men in Black: International Budget
ComedyScience FictionActionAdventure1h 55mUpdated
Synopsis
The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
What is the budget of Men in Black International?
"Men in Black International," a comedy released in 2019, was directed by F. Gary Gray and stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson. The production budget was $110,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for comedy productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a comedy production like this include:
- Talent Salaries & Producing Deals: Established comedic talent can command $15 to 20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals.
- Production & Location Filming: While comedies generally avoid the VFX costs of action films, location shooting in recognizable cities or exotic locales adds meaningful production expense.
- Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising): Comedies rely heavily on marketing to build opening-weekend momentum.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography began on July 9, 2018, at Leavesden Studios and on location in London, and continued in Marrakesh at the Jemaa el-Fnaa and El Badi Palace, Ischia and the Aragonese Castle, and New York City.
What were the major cost factors in Men in Black International?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Men in Black International."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
How Does Men in Black International's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $110,000,000, Men in Black International sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 300: Rise of an Empire (2014): Budget $110,000,000 , Gross $337,580,051
- Ocean's Twelve (2004): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $362,744,280
- Deadpool 2 (2018): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $785,896,632
- Deepwater Horizon (2016): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $121,790,376
- Ender's Game (2013): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $125,537,191
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Men in Black International Box Office Performance
"Men in Black International" earned $80,001,807 domestically and $253,890,701 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $110,000,000, 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 "Men in Black International," that break-even threshold was roughly $220,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $253,890,701, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $110,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $253,890,701
- Net Return: $143,890,701
- ROI: approximately 130.8%
At 130.8%, "Men in Black International" earned roughly $2.31 for every $1 invested in production.
Men in Black International Production History
Principal photography began on July 9, 2018, at Leavesden Studios and on location in London, and continued in Marrakesh at the Jemaa el-Fnaa and El Badi Palace, Ischia and the Aragonese Castle, and New York City. Later that month, it was announced that Emma Thompson would reprise her role as Agent O. In August 2018, Rebecca Ferguson joined the cast.
Danny Elfman returned to compose International due to having scored the three previous Men in Black films with Chris Bacon, his protégé and fellow composer, working with him on co-producing and arranging his scores as the co-composer.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 9 nominations total
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, Men in Black: International has an approval rating of 23% based on 322 reviews, with an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, "Amiable yet forgettable, MIB International grinds its stars' substantial chemistry through the gears of a franchise running low on reasons to continue." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 38 out of 100, based on 51 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Men in Black: International cost to make?
The production budget was $110,000,000. Sony Pictures and Amblin Entertainment co-produced the franchise reboot, with significant additional spending on visual effects through Industrial Light & Magic and on extensive global location work.
How much did Men in Black: International earn at the box office?
The film grossed $80,036,131 domestically and $173,000,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of $253,036,131. It opened to a soft $30,025,000 on June 14, 2019, finishing third behind The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Aladdin.
Who stars in Men in Black: International?
Chris Hemsworth plays Agent H and Tessa Thompson plays Agent M, who are paired together at the London branch of the Men in Black organization. Liam Neeson plays the agency's London chief High T, with Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani as the voice of Pawny, Rafe Spall, and Emma Thompson reprising Agent O from MIB 3 (2012).
Who directed Men in Black: International?
F. Gary Gray directed the film. Gray had previously directed Straight Outta Compton (2015, $28,000,000 budget, $202,800,000 worldwide) and The Fate of the Furious (2017, $250,000,000 budget, $1,236,000,000 worldwide). MIB International was a significant commercial step backward.
Where was Men in Black: International filmed?
Principal photography took place at Leavesden Studios in the United Kingdom, with location work in Marrakech, Naples, Ischia, the Sahara Desert, New York, and London. The film qualified for the UK Film Tax Relief program through its Leavesden production.
What did critics think of Men in Black: International?
The film received largely negative reviews, with a 22% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 38 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film a B CinemaScore. Critics objected to a thin script and absence of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones franchise chemistry.
Was Men in Black: International a box office bomb?
Yes. Against the $110,000,000 production budget and an estimated $100,000,000 in worldwide marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $253,036,131 fell well short of the 2.5x theatrical-profitability rule. Sony reported a substantial theatrical loss before home video and streaming offset.
How does Men in Black: International compare to the original trilogy?
MIB International ($253,036,131 worldwide) substantially underperformed Men in Black (1997, $90,000,000 budget, $589,400,000 worldwide), Men in Black II (2002, $140,000,000 budget, $441,800,000 worldwide), and Men in Black 3 (2012, $225,000,000 budget, $624,000,000 worldwide). The reboot ended the franchise's theatrical trajectory.
Will there be another Men in Black movie?
No theatrical sequel has been announced. Sony quietly shelved the property after the disappointing 2019 performance. A Sony Animation animated MIB project has been in early development since 2022 but has not been formally scheduled.
Where can I stream Men in Black: International?
The film is available for digital rental and purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. It rotates through subscription tiers on Paramount+, Hulu, and Netflix depending on regional Sony output deals.
Official Trailer
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