Tarzan Budget
AnimationFamilyDramaAction1h 28mUpdated
Synopsis
"Tarzan," released in 1999, is a captivating animated film that tells the story of a young boy raised by a tribe of gorillas in the heart of the African jungle. Orphaned as a baby, Tarzan grows up believing he is one of them, forming a deep bond with his gorilla mother, Kala. As he matures, he grapples with his identity and the mysteries of his human heritage.
The arrival of explorers, including the adventurous Jane Porter and her father, disrupts Tarzan's world. Fascinated by Jane, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning about love, friendship, and the complexities of being human. However, the film also introduces the threat posed by the explorers, particularly the villainous Clayton, who seeks to exploit the jungle and its inhabitants.
Through stunning animation and a memorable soundtrack, "Tarzan" explores themes of belonging, the clash between civilization and nature, and the importance of family, ultimately leading Tarzan to embrace both his human and jungle roots.
What is the budget of Tarzan?
"Tarzan," a animation released in 1999, was directed by Chris Buck, Kevin Lima and stars Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver. The production budget was $130,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for animation productions of the 1990s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a animation production like this include:
- Animation Production Pipeline: The bulk of an animated film's budget funds the multi-year production pipeline: storyboarding, character modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
- Voice Talent: Celebrity voice casting has become standard for studio animation, with A-list actors earning $5 to 15 million for voice roles.
- Music, Songs & Sound Design: Original songs and orchestral scores are central to animated storytelling. Sound design for animated worlds must be created entirely from scratch.
What were the major cost factors in Tarzan?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Tarzan."
- Animation Production Pipeline: Animation Production Pipeline is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
- Voice Talent: Voice Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
- Music: Music, Songs & Sound Design is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
How Does Tarzan's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $130,000,000, Tarzan sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- After Earth (2013): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $243,843,127
- Ant-Man (2015): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $519,311,965
- Australia (2008): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $211,787,511
- Bad Boys II (2003): Budget $130,000,000, Worldwide Gross $273,339,556
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): Budget $130,000,000 , Gross $301,913,131
The median budget for wide-release animation films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Tarzan Box Office Performance
"Tarzan" earned $171,091,819 domestically and $448,200,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $130,000,000, 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 "Tarzan," that break-even threshold was roughly $260,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $448,200,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $130,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $448,200,000
- Net Return: $318,200,000
- ROI: approximately 244.8%
At 244.8%, "Tarzan" earned roughly $3.45 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 11 wins & 23 nominations total
- Annie Award
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Tarzan (1999)?
The production budget was $130,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $65,000,000 - $104,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $195,000,000 - $234,000,000.
How much did Tarzan (1999) earn at the box office?
Tarzan grossed $171,091,819 domestic, $277,108,181 international, totaling $448,200,000 worldwide.
Was Tarzan (1999) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $130,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$325,000,000, the film earned $448,200,000 theatrically - a 245% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Tarzan?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close); multi-year animation production, celebrity voice talent, and original musical compositions.
How does Tarzan's budget compare to similar animation films?
At $130,000,000, Tarzan is classified as a big-budget production. The median budget for wide-release animation films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: After Earth (2013, $130,000,000); Ant-Man (2015, $130,000,000); Australia (2008, $130,000,000).
Did Tarzan (1999) 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 Tarzan?
The theatrical ROI was 244.8%, calculated as ($448,200,000 − $130,000,000) ÷ $130,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Tarzan (1999) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 11 wins & 23 nominations total.
Who directed Tarzan and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Chris Buck, Kevin Lima, written by Bob Tzudiker, Tab Murphy, Noni White, Edgar Rice Burroughs, with music by Mark Mancina, edited by Gregory Perler.
Where was Tarzan filmed?
Tarzan was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Tarzan
Official Trailer
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