Sex Drive Budget

2008

ComedyAdventureRomance1h 49m

Updated April 26, 2026

Budget

$19,000,000

Domestic Box Office

$8,402,485

Worldwide Box Office

$18,755,936

Synopsis

"Sex Drive" (2008) is a coming-of-age comedy that follows the misadventures of a teenager named Ian Lafferty, played by Josh Zuckerman. Eager to lose his virginity and prove his worth, Ian embarks on a road trip with his friends, including the quirky and supportive Lance (Clark Duke) and the beautiful but unpredictable Felicia (Amanda Crew). Their journey takes a wild turn when Ian decides to meet a girl he met online, leading them to a series of hilarious and often outrageous encounters. As they navigate the challenges of adolescence, friendship, and self-discovery, Ian learns valuable lessons about love, acceptance, and the importance of being true to oneself. The film combines humor with heartfelt moments, making it a relatable exploration of teenage life and the quest for identity.

What is the budget of Sex Drive?

"Sex Drive," a comedy released in 2008, was directed by Sean Anders and stars Josh Zuckerman, Amanda Crew. The production budget was $19,000,000, placing it in the low-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.
Music & Score: * "Porcupine Jacket" by Tramps & Thieves * "Time to Pretend" by MGMT * "Fa-Fa-Fa" by Datarock * "Let's Ride" by Airbourne * "Bang Bang to the Rock n Roll" by Gabin * The band Fall Out Boy also makes a cameo within the film, playing "Fame < Infamy", as well as, "Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy Tonight (Acoustic)" * "Life Is Beautiful" by Vega4 * "Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC * "Message from Yuz" by Switches * "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown * "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins * "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps * The film also features songs from Donovan, Jem, Hot Hot Heat, Switches, Pornosonic and Nitty.

What were the major cost factors in Sex Drive?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Sex Drive."

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 Drive's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $19,000,000, Sex Drive sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

A Cinderella Story (2004): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $70,067,909
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,192,775
Action Point (2018): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $5,059,608
Arthur the King (2024): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $40,829,138
Back to the Future (1985): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $381,109,762

The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Sex Drive Box Office Performance

"Sex Drive" earned $8,402,485 domestically and $18,755,936 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $19,000,000, 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 "Sex Drive," that break-even threshold was roughly $38,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $18,755,936, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $19,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $18,755,936
Net Return: −$244,064
ROI: approximately -1.3%

At -1.3%, "Sex Drive" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.

Sex Drive Production History

* "Porcupine Jacket" by Tramps & Thieves * "Time to Pretend" by MGMT * "Fa-Fa-Fa" by Datarock * "Let's Ride" by Airbourne * "Bang Bang to the Rock n Roll" by Gabin * The band Fall Out Boy also makes a cameo within the film, playing "Fame < Infamy", as well as, "Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy Tonight (Acoustic)" * "Life Is Beautiful" by Vega4 * "Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC * "Message from Yuz" by Switches * "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown * "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins * "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps * The film also features songs from Donovan, Jem, Hot Hot Heat, Switches, Pornosonic and Nitty. * "Got You (Where I Want You)" by The Flys * "I Don't Care" End credits by Fall Out Boy * "You Love Me" by Teddy Tala.

Awards and Recognition

N/A

Critical Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 46% based on 109 reviews, with an average rating of 5.23/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Sex Drive has some hilarious moments and is well made for a raunchy teen film, but will appeal to few beyond that demographic." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on reviews from 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did it cost to make Sex Drive (2008)?

The production budget was $19,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $9,500,000 - $15,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $28,500,000 - $34,200,000.

How much did Sex Drive (2008) earn at the box office?

Sex Drive grossed $8,402,485 domestic, $10,353,451 international, totaling $18,755,936 worldwide.

Was Sex Drive (2008) profitable?

The film did not break even theatrically, earning $18,755,936 against an estimated $47,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.

What were the biggest costs in producing Sex Drive?

The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Josh Zuckerman, Amanda Crew, Clark Duke); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns.

How does Sex Drive's budget compare to similar comedy films?

At $19,000,000, Sex Drive is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Cinderella Story (2004, $19,000,000); A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011, $19,000,000); Action Point (2018, $19,000,000).

Did Sex Drive (2008) 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 Sex Drive?

The theatrical ROI was -1.3%, calculated as ($18,755,936 − $19,000,000) ÷ $19,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.

What awards did Sex Drive (2008) win?

N/A.

Who directed Sex Drive and who were the key crew members?

Directed by Sean Anders, written by John Morris, Sean Anders, shot by Tim Orr, with music by Stephen Trask, edited by George Folsey Jr., Charles Kaplan.