Australian Cinema: Part 1

Originally posted 11/10/2010


One of the first things they mention in Australian media studies is how stagnant our film industry has been for a long, long time. It is a general rule of thumb that a Hollywood film must make 4 times the production costs at the box office in order to break even; factoring in a rough 50% cut that cinemas take per ticket sold and distributors taking 25%.

Vincent Sheehan, Head of Producing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, estimates that an Australian film being put out into the international market has to make almost SIX times as much as the production costs in order to START turning a profit, due to shipping and getting everything marketed overseas. Personally, I think the mining industry is the way to go, job wise.

Anyways, it took three days to compile and cross-reference the data below from five or six different sources per film. Where box office sales were listed for Sweden, France, Germany, Italy or Hong Kong, I converted from Swedish Krona, French Franc, Deutschemark, Italian Lira, Hong Kong Dollar or Euro into US Dollars, according to the day/month/year date of the data source provided. I have then listed films according to budget vs profit and provided individual stats for each film.

This is probably the most accurate list of Australian film box office data you can find online right now. Juuuuust saying. Most box office websites have an ‘N/A’ for 90% of the films listed here:

TOP 20 HIGHEST-GROSSING AUSTRALIAN FILMS

1. Happy Feet                                     $384.3 million

2. Crocodile Dundee                           $328.2 million

3. Babe                                                $254.1 million

4. Crocodile Dundee II                       $239.6 million

5. Australia                                          $211.3 million

6. Moulin Rouge!                                $179.2 million

7. Mad Max                                        $109.0 million

8. Saw                                                 $103.1 million

9. Babe Pig In The City                      $69.1 million

10. The Piano                                      $53.4 million

11. Shine                                             $53.4 million

12. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome $49.8 million

13. Mad Max 2: Road Warrior           $47.8 million

14. Green Card                                   $40.5 million

15. Crocodile Dundee In LA              $39.4 million

16. The Man From Snowy River        $37.9 million

17. Strictly Ballroom                           $33.7 million

18. Muriel’s Wedding                         $30.9 million

19. Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert     $28.6 million

20. Young Einstein                             $28.5 million

 

TOP 20 HIGHEST-PROFITING AUSTRALIAN FILMS

1. The Castle                                       58,729% profit

2. Mad Max                                        27,150% profit

3. Saw                                                 9,273% profit

4. Crocodile Dundee                           3,629% profit

5. Wolf Creek                                     2, 680% profit

6. Mad Max II Road Warrior              2,290% profit

7. Crocodile Dundee II                       1,416% profit

8. Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert       1,330% profit

9.  Picnic At Hanging Rock                1,082% profit

10. Strictly Ballroom                           1,023% profit

11. The Man From Snowy River        982% profit

12. Shine                                             871% profit

13. Babe                                              747% profit

14. Muriel’s Wedding                         730% profit

15. The Piano                                      663% profit

16. Kenny                                           570% profit

17. Gallipoli                                        569% profit

18. Young Einstein                             470% profit

19. The Man From Snowy River 2     322% profit

20. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome   315% profit

 

TOP 5 LOSERS IN AUSTRALIAN FILM

1. Babe: Pig In The City                     -$10.9 million (-13.6% loss)

2. Jindabyne                                        -$8.0 million (-57% loss)

3. Mao’s Last Dancer                          -$5.5 million (-22% loss)

4. Hey, Hey, It’s Esther Blueburger   -$5.2 million (-85.8% loss)

5. Somersault                                      -$1.8 million (-45% loss)

 

***********************

 

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994)

Budget:           $2 million

US:                  $11.2 million (39.1%)

Foreign:           $17.4 million (60.9%)

Gross:              $28.6 million

Profit:              $26.6 million (1330% profit)

 

ANIMAL KINGDOM (2010)

Budget:           $5 million

US:                  $908,344 (17.2%)

Foreign:           $4.4 million (82.8%)

Gross:              $5.3 million

Profit:              $300,000 (6% profit)

 

AUSTRALIA (2008)

Budget:           $130 million

US:                  $49.5 million (23.4%)

Foreign:           $161.8 million (76.6%)

Gross:              $211.3 million

Profit:              $81.3 million (63% profit)

 

BABE (1995)

Budget:           $30 million

US:                  $63.6 million (25%)

Foreign:           $190.5 million (75%)

Gross:              $254.1 million

Profit:              $224.1 million (747% profit)

 

BABE: PIG IN THE CITY (1998)

Budget:           $80 million

US:                  $18.3 million (26.5%)

Foreign:           $50.8 million (73.5%)

Gross:              $69.1 million

Profit:              -$10.9 million (-13.6% loss)

 

BRAN NUE DAE (2009)

Budget:           $6.5 million

US:                  $113,000 (1.5%)

Foreign:           $7 million (98.5%)

Gross:              $7.1 million

Profit:              $600,000 (9.2% profit)

 

CANDY (2006)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $45,138 (2.1%)

Foreign:           $2.1 million (97.9%)

Gross:              $2.1 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

THE CASTLE (1999)

Budget:           $19,000

US:                  $877,621 (8.1%)

Foreign:           $10.3 million (91.9%)

Gross:              $11.2 million

Profit:              $11.2 million (58729% profit)

 

CHOPPER (1999)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $236,185 (3.1%)

Foreign:           $6.2 million (96.9%)

Gross:              $6.4 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

CROCODILE DUNDEE (1986)

Budget:           $8.8 million

US:                  $174.8 million (53.3%)

Foreign:           $153.4 million (46.7%)

Gross:              $328.2 million

Profit:              $319.4 million (3629% profit)

 

CROCODILE DUNDEE II (1988)

Budget:           $15.8 million

US:                  $109.3 million (45.6%)

Foreign:           $130.3 million (54.4%)

Gross:              $239.6 million

Profit:              $223.8 million (1416% profit)

 

CROCODILE DUNDEE IN LOS ANGELES (2001)

Budget:           $21.5 million

US:                  $25.6 million (65%)

Foreign:           $13.8 million (35%)

Gross:              $39.4 million

Profit:              $17.9 million (83% profit)

 

DARK CITY (1998)

Budget:           $27 million

US:                  $14.4 million (52.4%)

Foreign:           $13.1 million (47.6%)

Gross:              $27.5 million

Profit:              $500,000 (2% profit)

 

THE DISH (2000)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $2.6 million

Foreign:           $14 million

Gross:              $16.6 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

GALLIPOLI (1981)

Budget:           $2.6 million

US:                  $5.7 million (32.8%)

Foreign:           $11.7 million (68.2%)

Gross:              $17.4 million

Profit:              $14.8 million (569% profit)

 

GENE X (2006)

Budget:           $1.4 million

US:                  $0

Foreign:           $0

Gross:              $0

Profit:              -$1.4 million (-100% loss)

 

GREEN CARD (1990)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $29.9 million (73.8%)

Foreign:           $10.6 million (26.2%)

Gross:              $40.5 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

HAPPY FEET (2006)

Budget:           $100 million

US:                  $198 million (51.5%)

Foreign:           $186.3 million (48.5%)

Gross:              $384.3 million

Profit:              $284.3 million (284% profit)

 

HEY HEY, IT’S ESTHER BLUEBURGER (2008)

Budget:           $6 million

US:                  $7,745 (1%)

Foreign:           $843,000 (99%)

Gross:              $850,745

Profit:              -$5.2 million (-85.8% loss)

 

JINDABYNE (2006)

Budget:           $14 million

US:                  $400,438 (6.6%)

Foreign:           $5.6 million (93.4%)

Gross:              $6 million

Profit:              -$8 million (-57% loss)

 

KENNY (2006)

Budget:           $1 million

US:                  $69,220 (1%)

Foreign:           $6.7 million (99%)

Gross:              $6.7 million

Profit:              $5.7 million (570% profit)

 

LANTANA (2001)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $4.6 million (27.4%)

Foreign:           $12.2 million (72.6%)

Gross:              $16.8 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

LITTLE FISH (2005)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $8,148 (0.2%)

Foreign:           $3.8 million (99.8%)

Gross:              $3.8 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI (2000)

Budget:           $4.5 million

US:                  $3.5 million (29.7%)

Foreign:           $8.3 million (70.3%)

Gross:              $11.8 million

Profit:              $7.3 million (162% profit)

 

MAD MAX (1979)

Budget:           $400,000

US:                  $8.75 million (8%)

Foreign:           $100 million (92%)

Gross:              $109 million

Profit:              $108.6 million (27150% profit)

 

MAD MAX 2: ROAD WARRIOR (1981)

Budget:           $2 million

US:                  $23.7 million (49.6%)

Foreign:           $24.1 million (51.4%)

Gross:              $47.8 million

Profit:              $45.8 million (2290% profit)

 

MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985)

Budget:           $12 million

US:                  $36.2 million (72.7%)

Foreign:           $13.6 million (27.3%)

Gross:              $49.8 million

Profit:              $37.8 million (315% profit)

 

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER (1982)

Budget:           $3.5 million

US:                  $20.7 million (54.6%)

Foreign:           $17.2 million (45.4%)

Gross:              $37.9 million

Profit:              $34.4 million (982% profit)

 

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER II (1988)

Budget:           $5 million

US:                  $13.7 million (64.9%)

Foreign:           $7.4 million (35.1%)

Gross:              $21.1 million

Profit:              $16.1 million (322% profit)

 

MAO’S LAST DANCER (2009)

Budget:           $25 million

US:                  $3.6 million (18.3%)

Foreign:           $15.9 million (81.7%)

Gross:              $19.5 million

Profit:              -$5.5 million (-22% loss)

 

MARY & MAX (2009)

Budget:           $8 million

US:                  [no data]

Foreign:           $8.2 million

Gross:              [insufficient data]

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

MOULIN ROUGE! (2001)

Budget:           $52.5 million

US:                  $57.4 million (32%)

Foreign:           $121.8 million (68%)

Gross:              $179.2 million

Profit:              $126.7 million (241% profit)

 

MURIEL’S WEDDING (1995)

Budget:           $3 million

US:                  $15.1 million (48.9%)

Foreign:           $42.3 million (51.1%)

Gross:              $30.9 million

Profit:              $21.9 million (730% profit)

 

PHAR LAP (1983)

Budget:           $7 million

US:                  $2.9 million (23.8%)

Foreign:           $9.3 million (76.2%)

Gross:              $12.2 million

Profit:              $5.2 million (74% profit)

 

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (1975)

Budget:           $440,000

US:                  $85,000 (1.6%)

Foreign:           $5.1 million (98.4%)

Gross:              $5.2 million

Profit:              $4.76 million (1082% profit)

 

THE PIANO (1993)

Budget:           $7 million

US:                  $40.2 million (75.3%)

Foreign:           $13.2 million (24.7%)

Gross:              $53.4 million

Profit:              $46.4 million (663% profit)

 

THE PROPOSITION (2006)

Budget:           $2 million

US:                  $1.9 million (37.7%)

Foreign:           $3.1 million (62.3%)

Gross:              $

 

RABBIT PROOF FENCE (2002)

Budget:           $6 million

US:                  $6.2 million (32.8%)

Foreign:           $10 million (61.8%)

Gross:              $16.2 million

Profit:              $10.2 million (170% profit)

 

RECKLESS KELLY (1993)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $203,602 (3.3%)

Foreign:           $5.9 million (96.7%)

Gross:              $6.1 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

ROMPER STOMPER (1992)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $175,340 (5%)

Foreign:           $3.3 million (95%)

Gross:              $3.5 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

SAMSON & DELILAH (2009)

Budget:           $1.6 million

US:                  [no data]

Foreign:           $3.2 million

Gross:              [insufficient data]

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

SAW (2004)

Budget:           $1.1 million    

US:                  $55.2 million (53.5%)

Foreign:           $47.9 million (46.5%)

Gross:              $103.1 million

Profit:              $102 million (9273% profit)

 

SHINE (1996)

Budget:           $5.5 million

US:                  $35.9 million (67.2%)

Foreign:           $17.5 million (32.8%)

Gross:              $53.4 million

Profit:              $47.9 million (871% profit)

 

SOMERSAULT (2004)

Budget:           $4 million

US:                  $92,214 (4.2%)

Foreign:           $2.1 million (95.8%)

Gross:              $2.2 million

Profit:              -$1.8 million (-45% loss)

 

STRICLY BALLROOM (1992)

Budget:           $3 million       

US:                  $11.7 million (34.7%)

Foreign:           $22 million (65.3%)

Gross:              $33.7 million

Profit:              $30.7 million (1023% profit)

 

TEN CANOES (2006)

Budget:           $2.2 million

US:                  $283,654 (7.9%)

Foreign:           $3.3 million (92.1%)

Gross:              $3.6 million

Profit:              $1.4 million (63.6% profit)

 

TWO HANDS (1999)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  [no data]

Foreign:           $5.5 million

Gross:              [insufficient data]

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

THE WOG BOY (2000)

Budget:           $4 million

US:                  $2 million (14.9%)

Foreign:           $11.4 million (85.1%)

Gross:              $13.4 million

Profit:              $9.4 million (235% profit)

 

WOLF CREEK (2005)

Budget:           $1 million

US:                  $16.2 million (58.3%)

Foreign:           $11.6 million (41.7%)

Gross:              $27.8 million

Profit:              $26.8 million (2680% profit)

 

THE YEAR MY VOICE BROKE (1987)

Budget:           [no data]

US:                  $213,900 (12.5%)

Foreign:           $1.5 million (87.5%)

Gross:              $1.7 million

Profit:              [insufficient data]

 

YOUNG EINSTEIN (1988)

Budget:           $5 million

US:                  $11.5 million (40.4%)

Foreign:           $17 million (59.6%)

Gross:              $28.5 million

Profit:              $23.5 million (470% profit)

 

SOURCES:

Box Office

Box Office Mojo

Film Finance Corporation

imdb

Murdoch University Australian Film Database

Rotten Tomatoes

Screen Australia

Urban Cinefile

Various newspaper articles, interviews, film website threads and fan blogs

Wikipedia