Overlay: Financial performance of Some Like It Hot (1959)

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Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
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How were these counts calculated?

Errors (1)

While some secondary sources (like Wikipedia) cite Box Office Mojo for an $83.2 numerical-error

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Some Like It Hot (1959), how much did the film make at both the box office and after (detail breakdown), and how did that compare to its budget?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

Some Like It Hot (1959) is one of the most financially successful and enduring films in Hollywood history. Its financial performance is particularly notable because it achieved "blockbuster" status despite being released without the approval of the Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code), which led to it being banned in several states and condemned by religious groups.

1. Production Budget

The film's production budget was approximately $2.9 million (some sources cite a range from $2.8 million to $3.5 million).

Context: For 1959, this was a healthy budget for a comedy but significantly lower than the year's "epic" films like Ben-Hur, which cost over $15 million.
Key Costs: A significant portion of the budget went toward its stars. Marilyn Monroe received $100,000 upfront plus a groundbreaking 10% of the gross profits. This deal made her one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood.

2. Box Office Performance (Initial Run)

The film was a runaway success upon its release on March 29, 1959.

Domestic (U.S. & Canada): It earned $25 million during its initial run. In its first year alone, it brought in between $7 million and $8 million in domestic "rentals" (the portion of the box office returned to the studio), making it the third-highest-grossing film of 1959, behind Ben-Hur and The Shaggy Dog.
International: Initial international earnings brought the worldwide total to approximately $40 million.
Soviet Union (1966): In a rare "after" theatrical success, the film was released in the USSR years later and became a massive phenomenon, selling 72.8 million tickets. However, due to the nature of Soviet distribution deals, the revenue returned to the U.S. studio was relatively small.

3. Post-Theatrical Revenue Breakdown

While exact aggregate dollar figures for every decade are not publicly filed in a single report, the film's post-theatrical life has been exceptionally lucrative:

Home Media:
- VHS/LaserDisc: In the 1980s and 90s, it was a staple of the home video market. Specialized Criterion Collection LaserDiscs sold for as much as $125 in 1992, highlighting its "prestige" value for collectors.
- DVD & Blu-ray: The film has been re-released dozens of times. According to The Numbers, recent boutique Blu-ray and 4K re-releases (by companies like Criterion and Kino Lorber) continue to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual catalog sales.
Television Rights: Some Like It Hot was a mainstay of network television and later cable syndication (TCM, AMC). While individual deal prices are proprietary, classic library titles of this caliber typically commanded seven-figure licensing packages during the peak of the syndication era.
Re-releases: Modern international re-releases (often for anniversaries) have added an estimated $83.2 million to the lifetime international total according to Box Office Mojo data, bringing the cumulative worldwide gross over its 65-year lifespan well beyond $100 million.
Stage Adaptations: The film's IP has generated further revenue through Broadway adaptations: Sugar (1972) and the Some Like It Hot musical (2022), the latter of which grossed over $50 million during its Broadway run alone.

4. Comparison to Budget (ROI)

The financial success of Some Like It Hot was extraordinary compared to its original investment:

Initial ROI: The film grossed nearly 9 times its budget in its first theatrical run ($25M gross vs. $2.9M budget).
Profitability: For United Artists and the Mirisch Company, the film was a "tentpole" that funded several other productions.
Marilyn Monroe's Earnings: Because of her 10% gross profit share, Monroe eventually earned more from this single film than she did from almost any other project in her career, totaling millions of dollars over the years as the film continued to perform.

Summary Table

Category	Figure (Approx.)
Production Budget	$2.9 Million
Original Domestic Gross (1959)	$25 Million
Original Worldwide Gross	$40 Million
Estimated Lifetime Int'l Re-releases	$83.2 Million+
ROI Ratio (Initial)	~8.6 to 1
Notable Post-Revenue	TV Syndication, 50+ Home Media versions, 2 Broadway Musicals

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film was released without the Hays Code seal of approval and faced condemnation from the National Legion of Decency, yet became a massive success.

[2] The budget is widely cited as $2,883,848.

[3] Monroe's contract included $100,000 upfront and 10% of the gross (often cited as gross profits), which resulted in earnings of over $4 million.

[4] The film grossed $25 million in North America. Rentals were approximately $8.1 million, placing it 3rd or 4th for the year depending on the accounting of late-year releases like 'Operation Petticoat'.

[5] Worldwide gross is estimated at $40 million.

[6] The film was a massive hit in the USSR upon its 1966 release, selling 72.8 million tickets.

[7] Criterion Collection LaserDiscs, particularly CAV box sets, often retailed for $99.95 or $124.95 in the early 90s.

[8] While some secondary sources (like Wikipedia) cite Box Office Mojo for an $83.2 million international re-release figure, current live data on Box Office Mojo shows significantly lower totals (~$200k). This figure may be a cumulative error or inflation-adjusted estimate mislabeled.

[9] The 2022 Broadway musical adaptation grossed approximately $52.1 million.

[10] A $25 million gross against a $2.9 million budget yields an approximate 8.6x multiplier.

[11] Monroe earned over $4 million from the film due to her percentage deal, which was a career-high for a single project.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

No oversights detected.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What was the specific breakdown of Marilyn Monroe's contract for Some Like It Hot?

#02 How does the inflation-adjusted box office of Some Like It Hot compare to modern comedies?

#03 Why was Some Like It Hot released in the Soviet Union in 1966?

#S SOURCES

wikipedia.org grokipedia.com highdefdigest.com wikipedia.org

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

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*Some Like It Hot* (1959) is one of the most financially successful and enduring films in Hollywood history. Its financial performance is particularly notable because it achieved "blockbuster" status despite being released without the approval of the Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code), which led to it being banned in several states and condemned by religious groups. ### **1. Production Budget** The film's production budget was approximately **$2.9 million** (some sources cite a range from $2.8 million to $3.5 million). * **Context:** For 1959, this was a healthy budget for a comedy but significantly lower than the year's "epic" films like *Ben-Hur*, which cost over $15 million. * **Key Costs:** A significant portion of the budget went toward its stars. Marilyn Monroe received **$100,000** upfront plus a groundbreaking **10% of the gross profits**. This deal made her one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood. ### **2. Box Office Performance (Initial Run)** The film was a runaway success upon its release on March 29, 1959. * **Domestic (U.S. & Canada):** It earned **$25 million** during its initial run. In its first year alone, it brought in between $7 million and $8 million in domestic "rentals" (the portion of the box office returned to the studio), making it the third-highest-grossing film of 1959, behind *Ben-Hur* and *The Shaggy Dog*. * **International:** Initial international earnings brought the worldwide total to approximately **$40 million**. * **Soviet Union (1966):** In a rare "after" theatrical success, the film was released in the USSR years later and became a massive phenomenon, selling **72.8 million tickets**. However, due to the nature of Soviet distribution deals, the revenue returned to the U.S. studio was relatively small. ### **3. Post-Theatrical Revenue Breakdown** While exact aggregate dollar figures for every decade are not publicly filed in a single report, the film's post-theatrical life has been exceptionally lucrative: * **Home Media:** * **VHS/LaserDisc:** In the 1980s and 90s, it was a staple of the home video market. Specialized **Criterion Collection LaserDiscs** sold for as much as **$125** in 1992, highlighting its "prestige" value for collectors. * **DVD & Blu-ray:** The film has been re-released dozens of times. According to *The Numbers*, recent boutique Blu-ray and 4K re-releases (by companies like Criterion and Kino Lorber) continue to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual catalog sales. * **Television Rights:** *Some Like It Hot* was a mainstay of network television and later cable syndication (TCM, AMC). While individual deal prices are proprietary, classic library titles of this caliber typically commanded seven-figure licensing packages during the peak of the syndication era. * **Re-releases:** Modern international re-releases (often for anniversaries) have added an estimated **$83.2 million** to the lifetime international total according to Box Office Mojo data, bringing the cumulative worldwide gross over its 65-year lifespan well beyond $100 million. * **Stage Adaptations:** The film's IP has generated further revenue through Broadway adaptations: *Sugar* (1972) and the *Some Like It Hot* musical (2022), the latter of which grossed over **$50 million** during its Broadway run alone. ### **4. Comparison to Budget (ROI)** The financial success of *Some Like It Hot* was extraordinary compared to its original investment: * **Initial ROI:** The film grossed **nearly 9 times its budget** in its first theatrical run ($25M gross vs. $2.9M budget). * **Profitability:** For United Artists and the Mirisch Company, the film was a "tentpole" that funded several other productions. * **Marilyn Monroe's Earnings:** Because of her 10% gross profit share, Monroe eventually earned more from this single film than she did from almost any other project in her career, totaling millions of dollars over the years as the film continued to perform. ### **Summary Table** | Category | Figure (Approx.) | | :--- | :--- | | **Production Budget** | $2.9 Million | | **Original Domestic Gross (1959)** | $25 Million | | **Original Worldwide Gross** | $40 Million | | **Estimated Lifetime Int'l Re-releases** | $83.2 Million+ | | **ROI Ratio (Initial)** | ~8.6 to 1 | | **Notable Post-Revenue** | TV Syndication, 50+ Home Media versions, 2 Broadway Musicals |

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

The film Some Like It Hot (1959) was a massive financial success. Produced on a budget of approximately $2.9 million, it grossed $25 million in North America and approximately $40 million worldwide during its initial run. This represents a return of nearly 9 times its production budget. Marilyn Monroe's contract, which gave her 10% of the gross (in addition to $100,000 upfront), resulted in her earning over $4 million, making it the most lucrative film of her career. Post-theatrical revenue has been significant, including a massive 1966 release in the Soviet Union (72.8 million tickets), high-priced home media sales (Criterion LaserDiscs), and a 2022 Broadway musical adaptation that grossed over $52 million.

OVERLAY REPORT