Some Like It Hot Budget
Updated
Synopsis
In Prohibition-era Chicago, musicians Joe and Jerry witness a mob hit, and flee the state in an all-female band disguised as Josephine and Daphne, but further complications set in.
What is the budget of Some Like It Hot?
"Some Like It Hot," a comedy released in 1959, was directed by Billy Wilder and stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon. The production budget was $2,900,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for comedy productions of the 1950s.
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.
- Casting: Billy Wilder spotted Tony Curtis while he was making the film Houdini (1953).
What were the major cost factors in Some Like It Hot?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Some Like It Hot."
- 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 Some Like It Hot's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $2,900,000, Some Like It Hot sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Cinderella (1950): Budget $2,900,000, Worldwide Gross $263,600,000
- Central Station (1998): Budget $2,900,000, Worldwide Gross $5,596,708
- Ghost in the Shell (1995): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,000,000
- Memories of Murder (2003): Budget $2,800,000, Worldwide Gross $26,000,000
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957): Budget $3,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,000,000
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Some Like It Hot Box Office Performance
"Some Like It Hot" earned $25,000,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $2,900,000, 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 "Some Like It Hot," that break-even threshold was roughly $5,800,000. With worldwide earnings of $25,000,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $2,900,000
- Worldwide Gross: $25,000,000
- Net Return: $22,100,000
- ROI: approximately 762.1%
At 762.1%, "Some Like It Hot" earned roughly $8.62 for every $1 invested in production.
Some Like It Hot Production History
Billy Wilder spotted Tony Curtis while he was making the film Houdini (1953). Wilder thought that Curtis would be perfect for the role of Joe: "I was sure Tony was right for it", said Wilder, "because he was quite handsome, and when he tells Marilyn that he is one of the Shell Oil family, she has to be able to believe it". Wilder's first idea for the role of Jerry was Frank Sinatra, but he later thought that he would be too difficult.
The film was made in California during the summer and autumn of 1958. AFI reported the production dates between early August and November 12, 1958, at Samuel Goldwyn Studios. Monroe privately likened the production to a sinking ship and commented on her co-stars and director saying why should I worry, I have no phallic symbol to lose." Many of the problems stemmed from her and Wilder,who also had a reputation for being difficult,disagreeing on how she should play the role.
The soundtrack features four songs performed by Marilyn Monroe, nine songs composed by Adolph Deutsch, and two songs performed by jazz artist Matty Malneck.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 11 wins & 13 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White: Orry-Kelly (32nd Academy Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Some Like It Hot (1959)?
The production budget was $2,900,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,450,000 - $2,320,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $4,350,000 - $5,220,000.
How much did Some Like It Hot (1959) earn at the box office?
Some Like It Hot grossed $25,000,000 worldwide.
Was Some Like It Hot (1959) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $2,900,000 and estimated total costs of ~$7,250,000, the film earned $25,000,000 theatrically - a 762% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Some Like It Hot?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns.
How does Some Like It Hot's budget compare to similar comedy films?
At $2,900,000, Some Like It Hot is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Cinderella (1950, $2,900,000); Central Station (1998, $2,900,000); Ghost in the Shell (1995, $3,000,000).
Did Some Like It Hot (1959) 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 Some Like It Hot?
The theatrical ROI was 762.1%, calculated as ($25,000,000 − $2,900,000) ÷ $2,900,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Some Like It Hot (1959) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 11 wins & 13 nominations total.
Who directed Some Like It Hot and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Billy Wilder, written by Billy Wilder, Michael Logan, Robert Thoeren, I. A. L. Diamond, shot by Charles Lang, with music by Adolph Deutsch, edited by Arthur P. Schmidt.
Where was Some Like It Hot filmed?
Some Like It Hot was filmed in United States of America. The film was made in California during the summer and autumn of 1958. AFI reported the production dates between early August and November 12, 1958, at Samuel Goldwyn Studios. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Some Like It Hot
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