Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for The King of Staten Island?

Directed by Judd Apatow, with Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr leading the cast, The King of Staten Island was produced by Universal Pictures with a confirmed budget of $35,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for comedy films.

With a $35,000,000 budget, The King of Staten Island sits in the mid-range of studio releases. Marketing costs for a wide release at this level typically add $30–60 million, putting the break-even point near $87,500,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• 1941 (1979): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $94,900,000 → ROI: 171% • Two for the Money (2005): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $30,526,509 → ROI: -13% • Ghost Ship (2002): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $71,142,361 → ROI: 103% • Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross N/A • Lion of the Desert (1981): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $1,502,136 → ROI: -96%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Talent Salaries & Producing Deals Established comedic talent can command $15–20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals. Comedy ensembles multiply this cost across several well-known performers.

▸ 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. Studios typically spend 50–100% of the production budget on marketing, with comedy trailers and social media campaigns being particularly expensive.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow Key roles: Pete Davidson as Scott Carlin; Marisa Tomei as Margie Carlin; Bill Burr as Ray Bishop; Bel Powley as Kelsey

DIRECTOR: Judd Apatow CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robert Elswit MUSIC: Michael Andrews EDITING: William Kerr, Brian Scott Olds PRODUCTION: Universal Pictures, Apatow Productions FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

The King of Staten Island earned $2,200,000 in worldwide box office revenue.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), The King of Staten Island needed approximately $87,500,000 to break even. The film fell $85,300,000 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $2,200,000 Budget: $35,000,000 Net: $-32,800,000 ROI: -93.7%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Unprofitable (Theatrical)

The King of Staten Island earned $2,200,000 against a $35,000,000 budget (-94% ROI), falling short of theatrical profitability. Ancillary revenue may have reduced the deficit.