Moonfall Budget
Science FictionAdventureAction2h 11mUpdated
Synopsis
A mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler is convinced she has the key to saving us all—but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper, and conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman, believe her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find out that our Moon is not what we think it is.
What is the budget of Moonfall?
"Moonfall," a science fiction released in 2022, was directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson. The production budget was $146,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for science fiction productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a science fiction production like this include:
- Visual Effects & CGI Pipeline: Sci-fi films are among the most VFX-intensive productions in Hollywood.
- Production Design & World-Building: Creating a believable sci-fi world required significant investment in set construction, prop fabrication, and conceptual design , from physical environments through LED volume stages and virtual production technology.
- Technology & Camera Systems: Cutting-edge camera rigs, motion capture stages, LED volume stages (virtual production), and proprietary rendering technology often push the technical budget far beyond conventional filming costs.
- Filming & Locations: Filming began in Montreal in October 2020, after previously being planned for a spring start, and lasted for a total of 61 days.
What were the major cost factors in Moonfall?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Moonfall."
- Visual Effects: Visual Effects & CGI Pipeline is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design & World-Building is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
- Technology: Technology & Camera Systems is one of the primary cost drivers in science fiction productions of this scale.
How Does Moonfall's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $146,000,000, Moonfall sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Barbie (2023): Budget $145,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,447,138,421
- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014): Budget $145,000,000, Worldwide Gross $621,537,519
- Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016): Budget $145,000,000, Worldwide Gross $521,170,825
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012): Budget $145,000,000 , Gross $746,921,274
- Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011): Budget $145,000,000 , Gross $694,713,380
The median budget for wide-release science fiction films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Moonfall Box Office Performance
"Moonfall" earned $19,060,660 domestically and $67,319,703 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $146,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Moonfall," that break-even threshold was roughly $292,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $67,319,703, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $146,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $67,319,703
- Net Return: −$78,680,297
- ROI: approximately -53.9%
At -53.9%, "Moonfall" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Moonfall Production History
Filming began in Montreal in October 2020, after previously being planned for a spring start, and lasted for a total of 61 days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film had to speed up its principal photography with an additional $5.6 million spent. Among the pandemic's restrictions were a lack of location shooting, forcing the construction of 135 different sets, built primarily on six stages on Grandé Studios.
For the recording of the score, composer Thomas Wander returned to Synchron Stage Vienna in the autumn of 2021, where Midway soundtrack had previously been recorded. The soundtrack album, containing a total of 23 pieces of music, was released as a download by Atlantic Screen Music/Filmtrax on February 4, 2022.
Awards and Recognition
3 nominations total
Critical Reception
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it a 66% positive score, with 49% saying they would definitely recommend it. For example, the Space Shuttle Endeavour continues to fire its engines despite the external fuel tank - the source of fuel for the engines - having been jettisoned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Moonfall (2022)?
The production budget was $146,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $73,000,000 - $116,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $219,000,000 - $262,800,000.
How much did Moonfall (2022) earn at the box office?
Moonfall grossed $19,060,660 domestic, $48,259,043 international, totaling $67,319,703 worldwide.
Was Moonfall (2022) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $67,319,703 against an estimated $365,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Moonfall?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley); visual effects pipelines, virtual production technology, and speculative world-building; international production across Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does Moonfall's budget compare to similar science fiction films?
At $146,000,000, Moonfall is classified as a big-budget production. The median budget for wide-release science fiction films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Barbie (2023, $145,000,000); How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014, $145,000,000); Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016, $145,000,000).
Did Moonfall (2022) 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 Moonfall?
The theatrical ROI was -53.9%, calculated as ($67,319,703 − $146,000,000) ÷ $146,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Moonfall (2022) win?
3 nominations total.
Who directed Moonfall and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Harald Kloser, Roland Emmerich, Spenser Cohen, shot by Robby Baumgartner, with music by Harald Kloser, Thomas Wander, edited by Adam Wolfe, Ryan Stevens Harris.
Where was Moonfall filmed?
Moonfall was filmed in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States of America. Filming began in Montreal in October 2020, after previously being planned for a spring start, and lasted for a total of 61 days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film had to speed up its principal photography with an additional $5.6 million spent. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Moonfall
Official Trailer
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