Sex and the City 2 Budget
ComedyDramaRomance2h 27mUpdated
Synopsis
What happens after you say "I do?" Life is everything the ladies ever wished it to be, but it wouldn't be "Sex and the City" if life didn't hold a few more surprises... this time in the form of a glamorous, sun-drenched adventure that whisks the women away from New York to one of the most luxurious, exotic and vivid places on earth, where there's something mysterious around every corner. It's an escape that comes exactly at the right moment for the four friends, who are finding themselves in - and fighting against - the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more.
What is the budget of Sex and the City 2?
"Sex and the City 2," a comedy released in 2010, was directed by Michael Patrick King and stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall. The production budget was $100,000,000, 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.
- Development: The cast confirmed in February 2009 that a sequel to Sex and the City was in development. Filming officially began in August 2009.
What were the major cost factors in Sex and the City 2?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Sex and the City 2."
- 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 Sex and the City 2's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $100,000,000, Sex and the City 2 sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1917 (2019): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $446,064,352
- American Gangster (2007): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $269,755,430
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024): Budget $100,000,000 , Gross $404,547,819
- Batman Forever (1995): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $336,529,144
- Bicentennial Man (1999): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $87,423,861
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Sex and the City 2 Box Office Performance
"Sex and the City 2" earned $95,347,692 domestically and $290,700,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $100,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Sex and the City 2," that break-even threshold was roughly $200,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $290,700,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $100,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $290,700,000
- Net Return: $190,700,000
- ROI: approximately 190.7%
At 190.7%, "Sex and the City 2" earned roughly $2.91 for every $1 invested in production.
Sex and the City 2 Production History
The cast confirmed in February 2009 that a sequel to Sex and the City was in development. Filming officially began in August 2009. Writer and director Michael Patrick King noted that the sequel would differ in tone and scope from the first film, incorporating more exotic locations and larger-scale escapism.
In September 2009, Liza Minnelli confirmed her cameo appearance in the film. While Bette Midler was photographed on set, she does not appear in the final cut. Penélope Cruz appears briefly in a scene as Carmen, a banker.
Filming in New York City was delayed until late July 2009 due to the denial of filming permits by Emirati authorities. As a result, the Abu Dhabi scenes were instead shot in Morocco. Principal photography began on September 1, 2009, and continued through the end of the year.
Awards and Recognition
9 wins & 9 nominations total
Critical Reception
Sex and the City 2 was critically panned. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Sex and the City 2 holds an approval rating of 16% based on 217 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. In comparison, the first film scored 49% based on 183 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Sex and the City 2 cost to make?
The production budget was $100,000,000, a substantial increase from the $65,000,000 budget of Sex and the City (2008). Warner Bros. and HBO Films produced the sequel with expanded location work in Morocco doubling for the United Arab Emirates.
How much did Sex and the City 2 earn at the box office?
The film grossed $95,347,692 domestically and $194,500,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $289,900,000. It opened to $31,016,000 on May 27, 2010, finishing second behind Shrek Forever After.
Who directed Sex and the City 2?
Michael Patrick King wrote and directed the film, returning from Sex and the City (2008). King had been the executive producer and lead writer of the original HBO television series from 1998 to 2004, with deep creative ownership of the property's tone.
Who stars in Sex and the City 2?
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon reprise the lead roles of Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York Goldenblatt, and Miranda Hobbes. Supporting cast includes Chris Noth as Mr. Big, Liza Minnelli in a cameo officiating Stanford and Anthony's wedding, John Corbett, Penelope Cruz, and Miley Cyrus.
Where was Sex and the City 2 filmed?
Principal photography took place in New York City and Marrakech, Morocco, which doubled for Abu Dhabi after the United Arab Emirates declined to permit filming. Morocco's incentives and the Atlas Studios facility near Marrakech offset a portion of the production budget.
What did critics think of Sex and the City 2?
Reviews were overwhelmingly negative, with a 16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 27 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics objected to a perceived tone-deafness in the Abu Dhabi sequences, the runtime of two hours and 26 minutes, and a screenplay that they felt had drifted from the original television series.
Did Sex and the City 2 receive any awards attention?
The film won three Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Director for Michael Patrick King, and Worst Screenplay. The four lead actresses shared the Worst Actress Razzie. The film was not a serious contender at major industry awards.
Was Sex and the City 2 profitable?
Modestly. Against the $100,000,000 production budget and an estimated $60,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $289,900,000 produced a theatrical profit. The financial result was substantially below studio expectations, however, contributing to the franchise pause until the Just Like That HBO Max series in 2021.
Was there a Sex and the City 3?
A planned third film was developed in 2016 and 2017 but was canceled before production began, with Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall publicly disagreeing about the proposed direction. The property eventually returned as the HBO Max series And Just Like That in December 2021, without Kim Cattrall's involvement.
How does Sex and the City 2 compare to the original film?
The sequel's worldwide gross of $289,900,000 was substantially below the original Sex and the City (2008, $65,000,000 budget, $418,800,000 worldwide). The decline in critical reception and audience word of mouth was the primary factor in stalling franchise momentum until the streaming-era continuation.
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