Moonrise Kingdom Budget
ComedyDramaRomance1h 34mUpdated
Synopsis
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, as a young boy and girl fall in love they are moved to run away together. Various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down - which might not be such a bad thing.
What is the budget of Moonrise Kingdom?
"Moonrise Kingdom," a comedy released in 2012, was directed by Wes Anderson and stars Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward. The production budget was $16,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for comedy productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a comedy production like this include:
- Talent Salaries & Producing Deals: Established comedic talent can command $15 to 20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals.
- 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.
What were the major cost factors in Moonrise Kingdom?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Moonrise Kingdom."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
How Does Moonrise Kingdom's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $16,000,000, Moonrise Kingdom sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Nobody (2021): Budget $16,000,000, Worldwide Gross $57,512,470
- Thelma & Louise (1991): Budget $16,000,000, Worldwide Gross $45,361,000
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): Budget $16,000,000, Worldwide Gross $53,478,166
- Bones and All (2022): Budget $16,000,000, Worldwide Gross $15,234,907
- The Princess Bride (1987): Budget $16,000,000, Worldwide Gross $30,900,000
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Moonrise Kingdom Box Office Performance
"Moonrise Kingdom" earned $45,512,466 domestically and $68,263,166 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $16,000,000, 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 "Moonrise Kingdom," that break-even threshold was roughly $32,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $68,263,166, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $16,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $68,263,166
- Net Return: $52,263,166
- ROI: approximately 326.6%
At 326.6%, "Moonrise Kingdom" earned roughly $4.27 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 36 wins & 121 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Moonrise Kingdom (2012)?
The production budget was $16,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $8,000,000 - $12,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $24,000,000 - $28,800,000.
How much did Moonrise Kingdom (2012) earn at the box office?
Moonrise Kingdom grossed $45,512,466 domestic, $22,750,700 international, totaling $68,263,166 worldwide.
Was Moonrise Kingdom (2012) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $16,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$40,000,000, the film earned $68,263,166 theatrically - a 327% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Moonrise Kingdom?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns.
How does Moonrise Kingdom's budget compare to similar comedy films?
At $16,000,000, Moonrise Kingdom is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Nobody (2021, $16,000,000); Thelma & Louise (1991, $16,000,000); 10 Things I Hate About You (1999, $16,000,000).
Did Moonrise Kingdom (2012) 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 Moonrise Kingdom?
The theatrical ROI was 326.6%, calculated as ($68,263,166 − $16,000,000) ÷ $16,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Moonrise Kingdom (2012) win?
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 36 wins & 121 nominations total.
Who directed Moonrise Kingdom and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Wes Anderson, written by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, shot by Robert D. Yeoman, with music by Alexandre Desplat, edited by Andrew Weisblum.
Where was Moonrise Kingdom filmed?
Moonrise Kingdom was filmed in United States of America.
Filmmakers
Moonrise Kingdom
Official Trailer
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