WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Where the Wild Things Are

The pic originally wrapped filming back in 2006 with a budget of $85 million, but director Spike Jonze delivered a cut that was rejected and after costly reshoots and CG tinkering, the budget was north of $100 million. Where the Wild Things Are was 50% financed by Village Roadshow, 25% by Warner Bros and 25% by Legendary. Warner Bros distributed and the film saw decent results in the US, but the increased cost of the long delayed film and an expensive marketing campaign, made the break even point difficult. Where the Wild Things Are opened in the US with a strong start at $32,695,407 — winning the weekend box office. The pic then stumbled 57.1% in its second frame to $14,019,406 and Where the Wild Things Are closed its US run with $77,233,467. Overseas, the film did poorly, grossing an anemic $22.8 million with Warner Bros distributing in most markets. Village Roadshow distributed in their home country Australia, which was the strongest territory at $5.6 million and the film was sent straight to video in Russia. The worldwide total was $100 million and about $55 million would be returned after theaters take their percentage of the gross — leaving part of the worldwide P&A costs in the red and the budget wouldn’t be touched from the theatrical gross. Recorded domestic home video sales were a decent $35.8 million (less after resellers take their cut and manufacturing costs).