
She's Out of My League
Synopsis
Kirk is an average Joe who works as a TSA agent at the Pittsburgh airport with his friends. The status quo of his fairly monotonous life ends when he meets Molly, a smart, kind and gorgeous blonde. Because she's way out of his league (she's a hard 10 and he is but a 5), Kirk knows there's no way on earth she's ever going to fall for him. Or is there...?
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for She's Out of My League?
Directed by Jim Field Smith, with Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller leading the cast, She's Out of My League was produced by Paramount Pictures with a confirmed budget of $20,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for romance films.
At $20,000,000, She's Out of My League was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $50,000,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $187,000,000 → ROI: 835% • 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $60,427,839 → ROI: 202% • 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $11,798,854 → ROI: -41% • A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $17,400,000 → ROI: -13% • A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $12,007,070 → ROI: -40%
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ Lead Cast Compensation Romantic films depend entirely on the chemistry and appeal of their leads, making star casting decisions the most consequential budget item.
▸ Location Filming Picturesque, often international locations are central to the romantic genre's visual appeal.
▸ Music Supervision & Soundtrack Iconic songs can cost $250,000–500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller, Nate Torrence, Mike Vogel Key roles: Jay Baruchel as Kirk Kettner; Alice Eve as Molly McCleish; T.J. Miller as Stainer; Nate Torrence as Devon
DIRECTOR: Jim Field Smith CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jim Denault MUSIC: Michael Andrews EDITING: Dan Schalk PRODUCTION: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Mosaic Media Group FILMED IN: United States of America
Box Office Performance
She's Out of My League earned $32,010,860 domestically and $17,789,140 internationally, for a worldwide total of $49,800,000. The film skewed heavily domestic (64%), suggesting strong North American appeal.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), She's Out of My League needed approximately $50,000,000 to break even. The film fell $200,000 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $49,800,000 Budget: $20,000,000 Net: $29,800,000 ROI: 149.0%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Profitable
She's Out of My League delivered a solid return, earning $49,800,000 worldwide on a $20,000,000 budget (149% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Paramount Pictures.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: 1 nomination total









































































































































































































































































































Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
