ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Superman Returns" -- More Than a Quarter Billion Spent

"Superman Returns" -- More Than a Quarter Billion Spent

by Scott Weinberg | May 15, 2006

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"Sunday Morning Shootout's" Peter Bart & Peter Guber spent some time on the interview circuit at the last San Diego Comic Con, and the fine folks at Comics2Film.com were kind enough to host the whole entire episode for us.

Although the juiciest tidbit here is Bryan Singer admitting that "Superman Returns" cost more than a quarter-billion dollars, Pete and Pete also get to chat with Kate Beckinsale ("Underworld: Evolution") and Charlize Theron ("Aeon Flux"). Also included is a short little side-bar with Joss Whedon ("Serenity"), which means this clip crosses all sorts of movie-geek borders.

Plus it gives you a small taste of the world's biggest Comic Con, which sure does look like an awesome place to visit!

Click here for the 23-minute "Shootout" episode.

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Movie:	Serenity
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Celeb:	Kate Beckinsale
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(1-20 of 36 posts) | Reply

adml_shake writes:
on May 15 2006 04:07 AM

[b]damn....[/b]
thats f*&$ing crazy, this movie is gonna have to be HUGE for a few weekends and have very strong DVD sales to make that money back and earn them profit....

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omelette writes:
on May 15 2006 07:29 AM

Wow. I didn't think it was that highly anticipated, me and about everyone else I know wasn't even that excited about it....at all.
Unless it gets great reviews I'm not going to see it, I've never been a huge Superman fan.

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cgcbooks writes:
on May 15 2006 08:08 AM

It will make enough overseas to justify it. I always preferred Superman over Spiderman myself.

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dracus writes:
on May 15 2006 08:20 AM

Quite a gamble, but I agree with cgcbooks. Also along with the overseas, look at the money it'll make for many years to come as it's re-released over and over for the home video market with each new technical advancement. I think the merchandising alone could earn it's $250 million investment back as the years go on.

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TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on May 15 2006 09:45 AM

A quarter of a billion just sounds big when you say it that way, it's only $250 Million which a lot of the big blockbuster films are doing now, King Kong, Spiderman 3, and don't see Superman having much trouble making that up even if it completely sucks.

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supermanofsteel writes:
on May 15 2006 02:43 PM

I hoping it does well, but I'm pessimistic since Superman isn't really considered "cool" by the general public.

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Flim Springfield writes:
on May 15 2006 03:24 PM

Wow. Seems like waste. It will probably still make money, but not by much.

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haelohm writes:
on May 15 2006 03:30 PM

[b]ummm[/b]
king kong was made for 207 million..most big budget movies dream of 160 million...250 million is a HELLUVA lot of monney for one movie, especially one that really wasnt that wanted...but i do think it will be a hit, worldwide at LEAST if it doesnt do too well in the states...

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jrdamwijk writes:
on May 15 2006 07:21 PM

[b]What are you talking about?[/b]
This movie WAS wanted, and has been for years. Don't know what messageboards and internet sites you have been visiting, but, sorry to burst your little bubble of misconception there.

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FEENXFIRE writes:
on May 15 2006 09:09 PM

[b]Superman WAS wanted...[/b]
...but by a slightly older crowd than X-Men fans. Routh might still work, but I wish Singer had cast a man for the part.

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jeremyd4 writes:
on May 15 2006 09:20 PM

[b]Wouldn't Superman do better in the States?[/b]
Spiderman was massive in the US, but internationally it wasn't the biggest movie ever in comparison. Superman seems no different - he's a very Americanized superhero, so this seems to suggest he will be far movie successful in America than internationally.

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phranq writes:
on May 15 2006 09:25 PM

[b]Hate to Agree... but...[/b]
Really not at all looking forward to this. Can't tell you why. I AM looking forward toward Xmen 3 and even Ghost Rider... but for some reason not Superman.

Disappointed that Synger left his Xmen baby to head up this movie... then spent 250 mil!!!?? I did not realize either that this movie was must-see. Maybe if Terrance Stamp came back!

I truly believe America is worn out on Hollywood and their recycled stories. Crazy Cruise and Poesidon!!! Remake of 'cheeky' 70's disaster flick to OPEN the summer season. I truly can say (and I am a serious movie geek) that there is NOT ONE movie I wish to see this season aside from Xmen (curiosity on how they will end a fairly good series). This summer will be the largest bomb in a decade. Mark my words.

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Flim Springfield writes:
on May 15 2006 11:39 PM

I have absolutely zero experience in movie producing, but I have a feeling if Warner Bros. gave me a $100 million, I could come up with as good a Superman movie, saving them $150 million.

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Roadhg67 writes:
on May 16 2006 02:41 AM

this is getting ridiculous!!! Movies are costing way too much, it sounds like studios are shooting themselves in the foot by making harder for them to make profits. I could give a crap if a movie has the lastest CGI, as long as it tells an interesting story, keeps me entertained, and gives me an escape, an experience... that's the point of film. Those are the movies that are worthy of paying for. And when it comes to crap like the new Star Wars, I would prefer minatures over CGI anyway, they look so much more realistic.

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Reel 2/Dialogue 2 writes:
on May 16 2006 06:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#835769)
[b]Bababooie[/b]
Wow, message boards AND net sites. What a crowd. Everytime I think about fanbases and their effects on movie box offices, I keep thinking back to when Howard Stern's [i]Private Parts[/i] came out. A "highly anticipated" film with a huge fanbase... barely registered in ticket sales and made $2 million, opening weekend, less than a certain rereleased film from 1983. The moral of this story: fanbases don't mean dick at the ticket counter.

However, this overblown cost is rather fitting, considering that the first [i]Superman[/i] was the most expensive movie made, back in 1978 for $50 million. History repeats fivefold.

Two more things to consider: this thing's been in pre-production forever and a day, plus if it didn't cost this much, would it get this much more press? Seriously, that's how Hollywood works.

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Tombstone Law Dog writes:
on May 16 2006 07:48 AM

[b]Faith in the Singer[/b]
That is a *freakish* wad of cash, but I believe in Singer. Seriously; Singer, with Kevin Spacey--in full Kevin Spacey Psycho mode-- ..the only weak link here could be the new blue kid. Sorry to hear about the people who aren't interested, but that's just less competition for tickets for me.

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Basilides in Alexandria writes:
on May 16 2006 12:32 PM

$100 million is enough for a summer movie. The remaining $150 mil should've been invested in new original projects... I do believe Hollywood studios are shooting themselves in the foot because of their "corporate abstract thinking" (i.e. putting $160 million on Poseidon just because of its similarities with Titanic; making movies based on old tv shows becuase they were sucsessful back in the day, remaking lots of old movies, unnecessary sequels and prequels, etc, etc...) Too much artistic cheating here, they're not leaving any room for innovation. Someone must be writing cool new stories...

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GTiGuy writes:
on May 16 2006 02:04 PM

[b]hollywood sucks[/b]
there, i said it. iam tired of all this garbage. it's all just pure garbage and i hate actors and acting. Being an actor is basically being paid a ridiculous amount of money to just be a gay ass poser and recite someone elses words (ok iam talking most big mainstream actors, the true icons are exempt here). these new hollywood kids suck there own balls and then makeout without each other and blow coke together, swapping the ball resin. they think they have "artistic integrity" but they got absolutely nothing, most of them dont even have a college education. Uneducated, over the top looking people sucking balls and eating ass. thats hollywood for you.

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haelohm writes:
on May 16 2006 03:56 PM

Okay fan sites and the net arent the best indicators for a movie. Yeah you have all these fans on there but thats what they are, the actual devoted fans. Warner will need the other 30 million out 35 million (and 5 million fans in these forums is probably WAY over estimating) people to go see this movie to make back just the budget and these people are not nearly as excited about this as the actual fans. Plus the full trailer looked a little campy and cheesey. This movie may have been more wanted than say catwoman, but it has no where near the anticipation of X3 or The Da Vinci Code or Pirates of the Caribbean 2.

Spiderman 1-Non US-$418 million (more than domestic and that is a huge international number)
Spiderman 2-Non US-$410 million (very small drop where as domestically it dipped significantly in sales from the first)

The original Superman made 19% more Internationaly than in the US. Expect that margin to be larger this time around.

I am personally thrilled about the other summer movies like X-Men the Last Stand, Pirates, and the Da Vinic Code, which will likely be the biggest movies of the summer. Plus their budgets are much more attainable and the effects will look just as good even with 100 million less for their budget.

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chosenone86 writes:
on May 17 2006 08:50 AM

All this negativity. Why should any of you care how much a movie cost? Is it your money? Do you hold stock in Time Warner or DC Comics?

Actually, since there has not been a new Superman movie since 1987, there is quite a large fan base waiting to see this movie. , and interest is fairly high from the "general public."

Personally, I think the movie looks great. And to see it in Digital Projection or IMAX is going to be incredible. For those that don't want to see it, stay home and give your seat to someone else. There will be plenty of people who will take it.

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