| Errors | Missing | Unverified | Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Counts based on original analysis categories (not yet classified).
Errors = Critical Errors + Imprecisions
Missing = Critical Omissions + Notable Gaps
X-Men: First Class (2011) was a critical success that revitalized the franchise, though its financial performance was considered modest compared to its high production costs. While it did not reach the box office heights of its predecessors, it became a profitable venture through a combination of global ticket sales and strong post-theatrical revenue.
The film had an official production budget of $160 million.
The film earned a total of $353.6 million worldwide.
The "Studio Take": Studios do not keep the full box office gross; they typically receive ~50% of domestic and ~40% (or less) of international grosses.
Post-theatrical earnings were crucial in pushing the film into clear profitability.
| Category | Estimated Revenue | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Home Video (Domestic) | ~$62.2 million | Approximately $30M from DVD and $32M from Blu-ray sales. |
| Home Video (International) | ~$50–$60 million | Global physical sales often mirror domestic totals for this genre. |
| Television Licensing | ~$35–$45 million | Licensed to FX in late 2013; licensing fees for blockbusters often scale to ~10–12% of domestic box office. |
| Digital/VOD/Streaming | ~$15–$25 million | 2011 was an early era for digital; Fox notably used this film to launch Android-compatible digital copies. |
Total Estimated Post-Theatrical Gross: ~$160 million+
To determine profitability, the "Studio Take" (the money that actually returned to Fox) must be compared to the total costs.
Profit Summary:
The film was a "solid but not spectacular" success. It generated an estimated net profit of $30 million to $50 million.
While its box office alone did not cover its production and marketing (breaking the "2.5x rule" by a slim margin), the strong home video and TV licensing performance ensured its success. This financial viability—paired with high critical praise—is what convinced 20th Century Fox to move forward with the much more expensive and higher-grossing sequel, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).
No oversights detected.
X-Men: First Class (2011) had a production budget of $160 million and grossed approximately $353.6 million worldwide ($146.4M domestic, $207.2M international). The film opened to $55.1 million domestically, a drop from previous franchise entries. While its theatrical run barely covered costs (given the ~50% studio take and marketing spend estimated at $80-100M), the film became profitable through strong ancillary revenue. Domestic home video sales totaled ~$62.2 million, and television licensing (including a deal with FX) and digital sales (notably the first Fox title to offer Android digital copies) pushed the film into the black. Industry estimates place the final net profit for 20th Century Fox in the range of $30 million to $50 million, categorizing it as a modest financial success that successfully rebooted the franchise.