White House Down Budget
Thriller/SuspenseUpdated
Synopsis
In Columbia Pictures' White House Down, Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
What is the budget of White House Down?
An interesting fact about White House Down (2013) is that it features a gripping storyline where a Capitol Policeman must save the President during a terrorist attack. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the film stars Channing Tatum as John Cale and Jamie Foxx as President James Sawyer. Released on June 28, 2013, this action-packed thriller had a significant budget that plays a crucial role in understanding its financial performance.
What was the production budget?
The production budget for White House Down was a staggering $150,000,000. This figure places it among the higher echelons of action films released around the same time. For comparison, other films in the action genre, such as Olympus Has Fallen (2013), had a budget of approximately $70 million, highlighting the substantial investment made in White House Down.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific breakdowns of budget allocation are not publicly available, major cost factors typically include:
- Special Effects: Given the film's action sequences, a significant portion of the budget likely went towards high-quality visual effects.
- Locations: Filming in iconic locations like the White House incurs substantial costs.
- Talent: The salaries of well-known actors like Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx contribute to the overall production cost.
What were the major cost factors?
Several elements contributed to the high production costs of White House Down. Notable expensive scenes include:
- Explosions and Stunts: The film features numerous explosive action sequences that require extensive planning and resources.
- Set Design: Creating a realistic portrayal of the White House and its surroundings demands a significant investment in set design and construction.
Budget challenges were present, as is common in large-scale productions. The initial budget was set at $150 million, and while there are no confirmed reports of overruns, the complexity of the film's action sequences could have led to increased costs.
How did White House Down perform at the box office?
White House Down grossed a worldwide box office total of $205,440,387. The domestic earnings amounted to $73,103,784, while international markets contributed significantly to the overall revenue.
Break-even Point Analysis
To determine the break-even point, a film typically needs to earn about twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For White House Down, this means it needed to gross approximately $300 million. With a total of $205 million, it fell short of this target.
ROI Percentage
The return on investment (ROI) for White House Down can be calculated as follows:
- Total Earnings: $205,440,387
- Production Budget: $150,000,000
- ROI: \[(Total Earnings - Production Budget) / Production Budget\] x 100 = \[(205,440,387 - 150,000,000) / 150,000,000\] x 100 = 36.96%
Was White House Down profitable?
Despite its impressive box office earnings, White House Down was not profitable when considering the break-even analysis. The film's performance did not meet the expectations set by its substantial budget, leading to a financial loss for the studio.
Impact on the Studio and Franchise
The financial outcome of White House Down had implications for Columbia Pictures and the action genre. While it did not lead to a franchise, it highlighted the risks associated with high-budget action films. Studios may have become more cautious in their investment strategies for similar projects in the future.
Records Set
While White House Down did not set any notable records, its budget and box office performance serve as a case study for the challenges faced by big-budget action films.
Commonly Asked Questions
How much did White House Down (2013) cost to make?
The production cost of White House Down was $150,000,000.
Was White House Down (2013) profitable?
No, White House Down was not profitable, as it did not reach its break-even point.
What was the most expensive element of White House Down (2013)?
The most expensive elements likely included special effects and high-profile talent.
How much did White House Down (2013) make at the box office?
The film grossed $205,440,387 worldwide.
Did White House Down (2013) go over budget?
There are no confirmed reports of White House Down going over its initial budget of $150 million.
In summary, White House Down serves as a fascinating example of the financial dynamics in the film industry, particularly within the action genre. Its substantial budget and box office performance provide valuable insights into the challenges and risks associated with high-stakes filmmaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make White House Down (2013)?
The production budget was $150,000,000, 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 $75,000,000 - $120,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $225,000,000 - $270,000,000.
How much did White House Down (2013) earn at the box office?
White House Down grossed $73,103,784 domestic, $132,262,953 international, totaling $205,366,737 worldwide.
Was White House Down (2013) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $205,366,737 against an estimated $375,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing White House Down?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation; international production across United States of America, Canada.
How does White House Down's budget compare to similar action films?
At $150,000,000, White House Down is classified as a big-budget production. The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 6 Underground (2019, $150,000,000); Angels & Demons (2009, $150,000,000); Batman Begins (2005, $150,000,000).
Did White House Down (2013) 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 White House Down?
The theatrical ROI was 36.9%, calculated as ($205,366,737 − $150,000,000) ÷ $150,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did White House Down (2013) win?
3 wins & 9 nominations total.
Who directed White House Down and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Roland Emmerich, written by James Vanderbilt, shot by Anna Foerster, with music by Harald Kloser, Thomas Wander, edited by Adam Wolfe.
Where was White House Down filmed?
White House Down was filmed in United States of America, Canada. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
White House Down (2013)
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