Shazam! Budget
ActionComedyFantasy2h 12mUpdated
Synopsis
In Philadelphia, Billy Batson is an abandoned child who is proving a nuisance to Child Services and the authorities with his stubborn search for his lost mother. However, in his latest foster home, Billy makes a new friend, Freddy, and finds himself selected by the Wizard Shazam to be his new champion. Now endowed with the ability to instantly become an adult superhero by speaking the wizard's name, Billy gleefully explores his new powers with Freddy. However, Billy soon learns that he has a deadly enemy, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, who was previously rejected by the wizard and has accepted the power of the Seven Deadly Sins instead. Now pursued by this mad scientist for his own power as well, Billy must face up to the responsibilities of his calling while learning the power of a special magic with his true family that Sivana can never understand.
What is the budget of Shazam!?
"Shazam!," an action released in 2019, was directed by David F. Sandberg and stars Zachary Levi, Mark Strong. The production budget was $80,000,000, placing it in the high-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.
What were the major cost factors in Shazam!?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Shazam!."
- 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 Shazam!'s Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $80,000,000, Shazam! sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Edge of Darkness (2010): Budget $80,000,000, Worldwide Gross $81,126,522
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010): Budget $80,000,000 , Gross $140,073,390
- Meet the Fockers (2004): Budget $80,000,000, Worldwide Gross $516,642,939
- Shutter Island (2010): Budget $80,000,000, Worldwide Gross $294,804,195
- The Lego Batman Movie (2017): Budget $80,000,000, Worldwide Gross $311,950,384
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Shazam! Box Office Performance
"Shazam!" earned $140,480,049 domestically and $367,799,011 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $80,000,000, 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 "Shazam!," that break-even threshold was roughly $160,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $367,799,011, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $80,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $367,799,011
- Net Return: $287,799,011
- ROI: approximately 359.7%
At 359.7%, "Shazam!" earned roughly $4.6 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
27 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Shazam! (2019)?
The production budget was $80,000,000, 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 $40,000,000 - $64,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $120,000,000 - $144,000,000.
How much did Shazam! (2019) earn at the box office?
Shazam! grossed $140,480,049 domestic, $227,318,962 international, totaling $367,799,011 worldwide.
Was Shazam! (2019) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $80,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$200,000,000, the film earned $367,799,011 theatrically - a 360% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Shazam!?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation.
How does Shazam!'s budget compare to similar action films?
At $80,000,000, Shazam! is classified as a mid-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: Edge of Darkness (2010, $80,000,000); Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010, $80,000,000); Meet the Fockers (2004, $80,000,000).
Did Shazam! (2019) 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 Shazam!?
The theatrical ROI was 359.7%, calculated as ($367,799,011 − $80,000,000) ÷ $80,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Shazam! (2019) win?
27 nominations total.
Who directed Shazam! and who were the key crew members?
Directed by David F. Sandberg, written by Henry Gayden, Darren Lemke, shot by Maxime Alexandre, with music by Benjamin Wallfisch, edited by Michel Aller.
Where was Shazam! filmed?
Shazam! was filmed in United States of America.
Filmmakers
Shazam!
Official Trailer
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