Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for National Treasure: Book of Secrets?

Directed by Jon Turteltaub, with Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha leading the cast, National Treasure: Book of Secrets was produced by Walt Disney Pictures with a confirmed budget of $130,000,000, placing it in the big-budget category for action films as part of the National Treasure Collection.

A budget of $130,000,000 represents a significant studio commitment. Including estimated P&A of $50–100 million, the total investment likely approached $221,000,000–$260,000,000, requiring approximately $325,000,000 in worldwide grosses to break even.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• After Earth (2013): Budget $130,000,000 | Gross $243,843,127 → ROI: 88% • Ant-Man (2015): Budget $130,000,000 | Gross $519,311,965 → ROI: 299% • Australia (2008): Budget $130,000,000 | Gross $211,787,511 → ROI: 63% • Bad Boys II (2003): Budget $130,000,000 | Gross $273,339,556 → ROI: 110% • Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): Budget $130,000,000 | Gross $301,913,131 → ROI: 132%

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: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Ed Harris, Jon Voight Key roles: Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates; Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase; Justin Bartha as Riley Poole; Ed Harris as Mitch Wilkinson

DIRECTOR: Jon Turteltaub CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Schwartzman, Amir Mokri MUSIC: Trevor Rabin EDITING: David Rennie, William Goldenberg PRODUCTION: Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Saturn Films, Junction Entertainment, Sparkler Entertainment, NT2 Productions FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

National Treasure: Book of Secrets earned $219,964,115 domestically and $239,235,885 internationally, for a worldwide total of $459,200,000. Revenue was split 48% domestic / 52% international.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), National Treasure: Book of Secrets needed approximately $325,000,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $134,200,000.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $459,200,000 Budget: $130,000,000 Net: $329,200,000 ROI: 253.2%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Profitable

National Treasure: Book of Secrets delivered a solid return, earning $459,200,000 worldwide on a $130,000,000 budget (253% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Walt Disney Pictures.