SwiftMann wrote:comicuniversity wrote:EDIT: Just checked. Indeed they did. In fact Superman netted Warner over 200 million. (I realize that isn't all profit, but over 200 million is considered a decent money maker)
None of that was profit. The production costs on Superman Returns (per boxofficemojo) was $270 million.
The foreign take was $191 million, so it did net $121 million overall, but that's not "a lot" in terms of what this level of film should do. Plus, it sucked.
Watchmen: $130 million budget, $107 million US + $78 million foreign = $55 million net
GL: $200 million budget, $116 million US + $103 million foreign = $19 million net
Jonah Hex: $47 million budget, $10.5 million US + $356 THOUSAND foreign = $36 million net LOSS
And just to include all the non-Bat movies since 2000...
Catwoman: $100 million budget, $40 million US + $42 million foreign = $18 million net LOSS
Swifty, you're arguing apples and oranges. Many movies nowadays (even the successes) don't make hefty profits in their original theatric release. While you did think to include the international box office, you left out DVD, merchandise, TV rights etc.......
Movie studios nowadays, have a FAR different business model than they used to. It's why, at the start of movies you no longer see just ONE studio logo. You see three or four usually. Even at the start of Warner Superhero movies, you have to sit through 3 or 4 studios' "opening bit". Movie studios diversify and utilize various means of turning profits and minimizing risks.
The fact that even "disspointing" movies like Superman Returns, Green Lantern and Watchmen managed to turn a profit before they even hit secondary markets or before all the merchandising is taken into account, was likely seen as a nice chunk of change for the studios.
BTW.....I never argued for Jonah Hex, or Catwoman. They were both commercial failures for sure, by any measure.
Although, I will sheepishly admit, I liked and own Catwoman.
BTW 2.....Naming a movie that netted over 100 million dollars in Pure profits, before it even hits the secondary markets, a failure, is, frankly, wrong. That's a lot of scratch for any movie to make.
I will give in to the argument that it was a disspointment, but it WASN'T a failure.