
Stuber
Synopsis
A mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu picks up a grizzled detective who is hot on the trail of a sadistic, bloodthirsty terrorist and finds himself thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he has to keep his wits, himself unharmed, and work with his passenger while maintaining his high-class rating.
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for Stuber?
Directed by Michael Dowse, with Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino leading the cast, Stuber was produced by GoldDay with a confirmed budget of $16,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for action films.
At $16,000,000, Stuber was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $40,000,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• Nobody (2021): Budget $16,000,000 | Gross $57,512,470 → ROI: 259% • Thelma & Louise (1991): Budget $16,000,000 | Gross $45,361,000 → ROI: 184% • 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): Budget $16,000,000 | Gross $53,478,166 → ROI: 234% • Bones and All (2022): Budget $16,000,000 | Gross $15,234,907 → ROI: -5% • The Princess Bride (1987): Budget $16,000,000 | Gross $30,900,000 → ROI: 93%
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ 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. For large-scale productions, VFX alone can account for 20–30% of the total budget, with additional costs for stunt coordinators, rigging, and safety crews.
▸ Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation. Lead actors in major action franchises typically earn $10–25 million per film, with directors often receiving comparable compensation packages tied to box office performance.
▸ 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.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Mira Sorvino, Natalie Morales, Iko Uwais Key roles: Dave Bautista as Vic Manning; Kumail Nanjiani as Stu Prasad; Mira Sorvino as Angie McHenry; Natalie Morales as Nicole Manning
DIRECTOR: Michael Dowse CINEMATOGRAPHY: Bobby Shore MUSIC: Joseph Trapanese EDITING: Jonathan Schwartz PRODUCTION: GoldDay FILMED IN: United States of America
Box Office Performance
Stuber earned $22,370,452 domestically and $10,029,548 internationally, for a worldwide total of $32,400,000. The film skewed heavily domestic (69%), suggesting strong North American appeal.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Stuber needed approximately $40,000,000 to break even. The film fell $7,600,000 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $32,400,000 Budget: $16,000,000 Net: $16,400,000 ROI: 102.5%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Profitable
Stuber delivered a solid return, earning $32,400,000 worldwide on a $16,000,000 budget (102% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for GoldDay.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: 5 nominations total









































































































































































































































































































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