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

← Return to Rewinder: AI Analysis of AI Analysis of Film

Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
3	1	0	6

How were these counts calculated?

Errors (3)

Criterion LaserDiscs typically retailed for $39.95-$99.95. The $125 figure is unnumerical-error The $83.2 million figure comes from the 2016 Chinese film 'Some Like It Hot' (Qifactual-misattribution Distinction between 1959 film and 2016 Chinese film: The AI failed to distinguissource-confusion

Missing (1)

Marilyn Monroe's deal was specifically for 10% of the gross in excess of $4 milllost-nuance

#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 production budget was approximately $2.9 million.

[2] Marilyn Monroe's deal was specifically for 10% of the gross in excess of $4 million, not just 'gross profits'.

[3] The film earned $25 million in domestic gross.

[4] The film earned approximately $8 million in domestic rentals in 1959.

[5] The film earned approximately $40 million worldwide in its initial run.

[6] The film sold 72.8 million tickets in the Soviet Union.

[7] Criterion LaserDiscs typically retailed for $39.95-$99.95. The $125 figure is unverified and may be incorrect.

[8] The $83.2 million figure comes from the 2016 Chinese film 'Some Like It Hot' (Qing sheng). The 1959 film's re-release revenue is negligible.

[9] The 2022 Broadway musical grossed over $50 million.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

High

Distinction between 1959 film and 2016 Chinese film

The AI failed to distinguish between the 1959 classic and the 2016 Chinese box office hit of the same name, leading to a massive inflation of the re-release figures.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What was the box office gross of the 2016 Chinese film Some Like It Hot?

#02 How much did Marilyn Monroe earn in total from Some Like It Hot?

#03 What is the difference between box office gross and rentals?

#S SOURCES

themarilynreport.com wikipedia.org wikipedia.org wikiwand.com wikipedia.org blurayauthority.com torontotoday.ca blu-ray.com bestbuy.com somelikeithotmusical.com the-numbers.com reddit.com

#R ORIGINAL AI 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 |

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

The 1959 film Some Like It Hot had a production budget of approximately $2.9 million. It was a massive financial success, earning $25 million in domestic gross (with ~$8.1 million in rentals returned to the studio in 1959) and approximately $40 million worldwide in its initial run. It was also a phenomenon in the Soviet Union, selling 72.8 million tickets. Marilyn Monroe earned $100,000 upfront plus 10% of the gross in excess of $4 million, netting her millions. However, the claim that re-releases added $83.2 million is incorrect; that figure belongs to the 2016 Chinese film Some Like It Hot (Qing sheng). The 2022 Broadway musical adaptation grossed over $50 million.

OVERLAY REPORT