THE PRODUCERS

The Producers

Universal and Sony bankrolled The Producers for $45 million and this adaption of the hit Broadway show based on the 1968 Mel Brooks film, was considered money-in-the-bank and a strong Oscar contender. Universal took domestic rights and Sony would handle overseas distribution. Mel Brooks even added a song to the big screen adaptation called “There’s Nothing Like A Show On Broadway” in hopes for an Oscar nom. Weak reviews and small buzz cooled off this hot property, which Universal opened in the US over a crowded end of the year marketplace. The Producers opened in 6 theaters to $154,590 with a decent $25,765 per screen average, the same weekend as Universal released King Kong. The Producers expanded the following weekend over the christmas frame to 975 theaters and pulled in a poor $1,616,791 with a $1,658 per screen average — placing #14 for the weekend led by King Kong and it even came in far behind Universal’s new opener Munich which played at only 532 locations. The third weekend (New Year’s frame) saw a box office increase to $4,014,930 but the film continued to struggle with low numbers and closed with a terrible $19,398,532. Universal would see back about $10.6 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross, far below their P&A costs and exposure to the budget. Sony released The Producers overseas where it pulled in poor numbers in almost every market. The film opened wide in the UK in 347 theaters and made a soft $4.9 million total and Japan posted the highest gross at $7.9 million and the overseas cume was $18,659,803. Recorded domestic home video sales were a poor $5.3 million.