Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Budget
AdventureFantasyAction1h 56mUpdated
Synopsis
A rogue prince reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time - a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
What is the budget of Prince of Persia Sands of Time?
"Prince of Persia Sands of Time," an adventure released in 2010, was directed by Mike Newell and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton. The production budget was $200,000,000, placing it in the blockbuster range for adventure productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an adventure production like this include:
- 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.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- 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.
- Filming & Locations: In March 2008, director Newell selected Morocco as a shooting location for Prince of Persia and also planned to film in Pinewood Studios.
How Does Prince of Persia Sands of Time's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $200,000,000, Prince of Persia Sands of Time sits in the blockbuster range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 2012 (2009): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $791,217,826
- Alice in Wonderland (2010): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,025,467,110
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023): Budget $200,000,000 , Gross $476,071,180
- Argylle (2024): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $96,221,061
- Black Adam (2022): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $393,452,111
The median budget for wide-release adventure films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Prince of Persia Sands of Time Box Office Performance
"Prince of Persia Sands of Time" earned $90,759,676 domestically and $336,365,676 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $200,000,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $200,000,000
- Estimated Prints & Advertising (P&A): approximately $175,000,000
- Total Estimated Investment: approximately $375,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $336,365,676
- Net Return: approximately +$136,365,676
- ROI: approximately +68%
At approximately +68%, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time returned roughly $1.68 for every $1 of production budget invested during its theatrical run.
At 68.2%, "Prince of Persia Sands of Time" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Prince of Persia Sands of Time Production History
In March 2008, director Newell selected Morocco as a shooting location for Prince of Persia and also planned to film in Pinewood Studios. Production was scheduled to begin in mid-June 2008. By May, actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton were cast into the lead roles.
Alanis Morissette composed the theme song for the film, named "I Remain". The score was written by composer Harry Gregson-Williams and was released through Walt Disney Records on May 25, 2010.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 11 nominations total
Critical Reception
On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds rating based on reviews, with an average score of . The critical consensus is: "It doesn't offer much in the way of substance, but Prince of Persia is a suitably entertaining swashbuckler,and a substantial improvement over most video game adaptations". Metacritic, which calculates an average rating based on reviews from mainstream critics, gave a score of 50 out of 100, based on 38 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) cost to make?
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time had a production budget estimated between $150,000,000 and $200,000,000. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Walt Disney Pictures, it was one of the most expensive video game adaptations ever made.
How much did Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) make at the box office?
The film earned $90,759,676 domestically and $244,394,967 internationally for a worldwide total of $336,400,000. International markets accounted for approximately 73% of the total gross.
Was Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) profitable?
Prince of Persia generated modest returns. With $336,400,000 worldwide against a budget of $150,000,000 to $200,000,000, the film surpassed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider to become the highest-grossing video game adaptation at the time. However, the weak domestic performance of $90,759,676 limited overall profitability after marketing costs.
What were the biggest costs in the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) budget?
Major expenses included eight weeks of principal photography on location in Morocco, studio work at Pinewood Studios in London, extensive visual effects for the time-manipulation sequences, Jake Gyllenhaal's physical training and preparation, and Jerry Bruckheimer's signature large-scale action set pieces.
How does the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) budget compare to similar films?
At $150,000,000 to $200,000,000, Prince of Persia was far more expensive than other video game adaptations of its era such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider ($115,000,000) and Hitman ($24,000,000). It was comparable to Disney's other franchise launches like the first Pirates of the Caribbean ($140,000,000).
Did Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) go over budget?
There are no public reports confirming that Prince of Persia exceeded its planned production budget. Development began in March 2004, and filming commenced in July 2008, suggesting a lengthy but controlled pre-production period.
What is the ROI of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)?
Using the mid-range budget estimate of $175,000,000, the ROI is ($336,400,000 minus $175,000,000) divided by $175,000,000, equaling approximately 92%. However, with marketing costs and theater splits factored in, Disney likely saw only marginal theatrical profit, which contributed to the cancellation of planned sequels.
Did Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) win any awards?
Prince of Persia received mixed to average critical reviews (Metacritic score of 50 out of 100). It did not receive major award nominations. The film's primary distinction was becoming the highest-grossing video game adaptation at the time, a record later surpassed by Warcraft (2016).
Who directed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)?
Mike Newell directed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Newell was best known for directing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), and Donnie Brasco (1997).
Where was Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) filmed?
Principal photography took place over eight weeks on location in Morocco, capturing the desert environments central to the story. Additional studio filming was conducted at Pinewood Studios in London. Jake Gyllenhaal trained extensively in horseback riding in Madrid before production began.
Filmmakers
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
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