ParaNorman Budget
FamilyAnimationAdventureComedy1h 33mUpdated
Synopsis
In this comedy thriller, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits.
What is the budget of ParaNorman?
"ParaNorman," a family released in 2012, was directed by Sam Fell, Chris Butler and stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi. The production budget was $60,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for family productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a family 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.
- Production: In June 2025, Laika announced at the Annecy of a re-release of their film ParaNorman with company Fathom Entertainment along with a CGI-animated short follow-up by as part of their 20th anniversary of the studio.
What were the major cost factors in ParaNorman?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "ParaNorman."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in family productions of this scale.
How Does ParaNorman's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $60,000,000, ParaNorman sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 15 Minutes (2001): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,359,980
- Almost Famous (2000): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $47,386,287
- Analyze That (2002): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $55,003,135
- Antz (1998): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $171,757,863
- Cats & Dogs (2001): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $200,687,492
The median budget for wide-release family films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
ParaNorman Box Office Performance
"ParaNorman" earned $56,003,051 domestically and $107,307,220 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $60,000,000, 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 "ParaNorman," that break-even threshold was roughly $120,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $107,307,220, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $60,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $107,307,220
- Net Return: $47,307,220
- ROI: approximately 78.8%
At 78.8%, "ParaNorman" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
ParaNorman Production History
Jon Brion composed the film's score, and an accompanying soundtrack album was released on August 14, 2012. Bits of other music appear in the film, including the theme music from Halloween, the Donovan song "Season of the Witch" (sung by the school play cast) and "Fix Up, Look Sharp" by British rapper Dizzee Rascal. "Little Ghost", a White Stripes song from their 2005 album Get Behind Me Satan, plays at the end, over character cards identifying the main cast.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 19 wins & 46 nominations total
Critical Reception
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives ParaNorman an approval rating of 89% based on 189 reviews, and an average score of 7.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Beautifully animated and solidly scripted, ParaNorman will entertain (and frighten) older children while providing surprisingly thoughtful fare for their parents." Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 33 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did ParaNorman cost to make?
The production budget was $60,000,000. Laika Studios financed the stop-motion animation in-house, with Focus Features handling theatrical distribution through Universal Pictures. The budget reflects the labor-intensive nature of stop-motion at feature length.
How much did ParaNorman earn at the box office?
The film grossed $56,003,051 domestically and $51,300,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $107,000,000. It opened to $14,016,000 on August 17, 2012, finishing third behind The Expendables 2 and The Bourne Legacy.
Who directed ParaNorman?
Chris Butler and Sam Fell co-directed the film. Butler also wrote the screenplay and originated the project from his own development work at Laika. Butler had previously worked as a story artist on Coraline (2009), Laika's feature debut.
Who provided voices for ParaNorman?
Kodi Smit-McPhee voiced Norman Babcock, with Tucker Albrizzi as Neil, Anna Kendrick as Courtney, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Alvin, Casey Affleck as Mitch, Leslie Mann and Jeff Garlin as Norman's parents, John Goodman as Mr. Prenderghast, and Bernard Hill as the Judge.
Where was ParaNorman produced?
Production took place at Laika's Hillsboro, Oregon studio facility. The film required approximately 31,000 separate facial expressions, achieved through 3D-printed faces enabled by rapid-prototyping technology developed at Laika. The technique gave Norman a wider expression range than any previous stop-motion character.
What did critics think of ParaNorman?
The film received strong reviews, with an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film a B+ CinemaScore. Critics praised the inventive stop-motion technique, the thematic depth around bullying and tolerance, and the inclusion of an openly gay supporting character, a first for a mainstream American animated feature.
Did ParaNorman win any awards?
Yes. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, along with a BAFTA nomination in the same category. The Pixar feature Brave (2012) won both. ParaNorman also received an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production Design.
Was ParaNorman profitable?
Yes, marginally. Against the $60,000,000 production budget and an estimated $40,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $107,000,000 cleared theatrical break-even before home video. Strong DVD and Blu-ray sales, particularly through specialty animation collectors, extended profitability significantly.
How does ParaNorman compare to other Laika films?
ParaNorman ($60,000,000 budget, $107,000,000 worldwide) sits between Coraline (2009, $60,000,000 budget, $124,600,000 worldwide) and The Boxtrolls (2014, $60,000,000 budget, $109,300,000 worldwide). Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, $60,000,000 budget, $77,100,000 worldwide) was Laika's commercial low point in the studio's theatrical run.
Where can I stream ParaNorman?
The film is available for digital rental and purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. It later joined Peacock through Universal's output deal and periodically rotates onto other subscription services depending on regional licensing.
Official Trailer
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