The Beekeeper Budget
ActionCrimeThriller1h 46mUpdated
Synopsis
One man's campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as Beekeepers.
What is the budget of The Beekeeper?
"The Beekeeper," an action released in 2024, was directed by David Ayer and stars Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman. The production budget was $35,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for action productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- 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.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- 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.
- Production: In August 2021, it was announced that Jason Statham would star in the film for Miramax and would also serve as a producer through his company Punch Palace Productions. David Ayer signed on to direct in May 2022.
What were the major cost factors in The Beekeeper?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Beekeeper."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
How Does The Beekeeper's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $35,000,000, The Beekeeper sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1941 (1979): Budget $35,000,000, Worldwide Gross $94,900,000
- Two for the Money (2005): Budget $35,000,000, Worldwide Gross $30,526,509
- Ghost Ship (2002): Budget $35,000,000, Worldwide Gross $71,142,361
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022): Budget $35,000,000
- Lion of the Desert (1981): Budget $35,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,502,136
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Beekeeper Box Office Performance
"The Beekeeper" earned $66,220,535 domestically and $162,619,535 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $35,000,000, 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 "The Beekeeper," that break-even threshold was roughly $70,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $162,619,535, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $35,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $162,619,535
- Net Return: $127,619,535
- ROI: approximately 364.6%
At 364.6%, "The Beekeeper" earned roughly $4.65 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 6 nominations total
Critical Reception
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Beekeeper (2024)?
The production budget was $35,000,000, 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 $17,500,000 - $28,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $52,500,000 - $63,000,000.
How much did The Beekeeper (2024) earn at the box office?
The Beekeeper grossed $66,220,535 domestic, $96,399,000 international, totaling $162,619,535 worldwide.
Was The Beekeeper (2024) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $35,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$87,500,000, the film earned $162,619,535 theatrically - a 365% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Beekeeper?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation; international production across United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does The Beekeeper's budget compare to similar action films?
At $35,000,000, The Beekeeper is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 1941 (1979, $35,000,000); Two for the Money (2005, $35,000,000); Ghost Ship (2002, $35,000,000).
Did The Beekeeper (2024) 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 The Beekeeper?
The theatrical ROI was 364.6%, calculated as ($162,619,535 − $35,000,000) ÷ $35,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did The Beekeeper (2024) win?
1 win & 6 nominations total.
Who directed The Beekeeper and who were the key crew members?
Directed by David Ayer, written by Kurt Wimmer, shot by Gabriel Beristain, with music by Jared Michael Fry, David Sardy, edited by Geoffrey O'Brien.
Where was The Beekeeper filmed?
The Beekeeper was filmed in United Kingdom, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Beekeeper
Official Trailer
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