Overlay: Financial performance of the film 'The Lure' (2015)

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#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film The Lure (2015), 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

The Polish film The Lure (2015), original title Córki dancingu, is a cult horror-musical that had a modest theatrical run but gained significant financial life through high-profile home media and streaming deals.

1. Production Budget

The estimated production budget for The Lure was approximately $1.3 million USD (roughly 5 million Polish Złoty at 2015 exchange rates).

Funding Breakdown: A significant portion of the budget came from public subsidies, specifically the Polish Film Institute (PISF), which commonly provides up to 50% of the budget for debut features or "difficult" artistic films. Other producers included Telewizja Polska (TVP), Platige Image, and WFDiF.

2. Box Office Performance

The film's theatrical revenue was far below its production costs, totaling roughly $300,000 - $310,000 worldwide. The breakdown is as follows:

Poland (Domestic): The film saw 41,776 admissions during its primary run. At the average 2015 Polish ticket price of ~~18 PLN, this equates to roughly **752,000 PLN (~~$198,000 USD)**.
North America: Distributed by Janus Films, it had a limited art-house release starting in February 2017. It grossed $101,657 across a peak of 7 theaters.
International: Other small theatrical windows (e.g., Thailand and the UK) added roughly $7,200.

3. "After Box Office" Revenue (Ancillaries)

While the theatrical numbers were low, the film's success at the Sundance Film Festival (Special Jury Prize for Unique Vision and Design) made it highly valuable for secondary markets.

Home Media (The Criterion Collection): In October 2017, the film was inducted into the Criterion Collection (Spine #896), a major financial milestone. Criterion releases are premium-priced ($30–$40 per unit) and have long-term "evergreen" sales potential among cinephiles.
Streaming & TV Rights:
- Criterion Channel / Janus Films: As part of the Janus catalog, the film is a staple of the Criterion Channel.
- HBO/Max: The film was licensed to HBO for several territories, providing a steady licensing fee.
- Netflix: It was also licensed to Netflix in various European markets (including Italy).
Soundtrack Sales: The electronic-synth soundtrack by the band Ballady i Romanse became a cult hit independently, generating revenue through digital sales and streaming (Spotify/Apple Music).

4. Financial Comparison & Success Analysis

Metric	Amount
Total Production Budget	~$1,300,000
Total Global Box Office	~$306,000
Box Office vs. Budget	-76% deficit

Conclusion: Strictly looking at theatrical numbers, The Lure was a loss-maker. However, in the context of Polish independent cinema, the film is considered a major success. Public grants (PISF) meant the producers did not need to recoup the full $1.3 million from tickets alone. Its status as a Criterion-selected title and its continued streaming presence likely allowed the production companies to eventually break even or turn a small profit through international licensing and high-end physical media sales.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The budget was reported as 5.8 million PLN (approx. $1.5 million USD). The AI's figure of 5 million PLN ($1.3 million USD) is slightly low but directionally accurate.

[2] The Polish Film Institute (PISF) provided 2.5 million PLN in funding.

[3] Production partners included TVP, Platige Image, and WFDiF.

[4] The film recorded 41,776 admissions in Poland.

[5] Box Office Mojo reports a domestic (US) gross of $101,657.

[6] International box office (excluding Poland) is reported as ~$7,200.

[7] The film won the Special Jury Award for Unique Vision and Design at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

[8] The film was released by The Criterion Collection (Spine #896) on October 10, 2017.

[9] The film has been available on HBO Max.

[10] The film has been available on Netflix in select European territories.

[11] The soundtrack was composed and performed by the band Ballady i Romanse.

[12] Reflects the budget discrepancy noted in annotation #1.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

No oversights detected.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What other films has Agnieszka Smoczyńska directed?

#02 How does the Polish Film Institute funding model work?

#03 What are the differences between the original Little Mermaid fairy tale and The Lure?

#S SOURCES

criterion.com criterion.com theguardian.com moviemaker.com ug.edu.pl criterion.com 366weirdmovies.com truemythmedia.com ctvnews.ca wearebraindead.com wikipedia.org filmneweurope.com wikipedia.org the-numbers.com wikipedia.org wikipedia.org

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

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The Polish film *The Lure* (2015), original title *Córki dancingu*, is a cult horror-musical that had a modest theatrical run but gained significant financial life through high-profile home media and streaming deals. ### **1. Production Budget** The estimated production budget for *The Lure* was approximately **$1.3 million USD** (roughly 5 million Polish Złoty at 2015 exchange rates). * **Funding Breakdown:** A significant portion of the budget came from public subsidies, specifically the **Polish Film Institute (PISF)**, which commonly provides up to 50% of the budget for debut features or "difficult" artistic films. Other producers included **Telewizja Polska (TVP)**, **Platige Image**, and **WFDiF**. ### **2. Box Office Performance** The film's theatrical revenue was far below its production costs, totaling roughly **$300,000 - $310,000 worldwide**. The breakdown is as follows: * **Poland (Domestic):** The film saw **41,776 admissions** during its primary run. At the average 2015 Polish ticket price of ~18 PLN, this equates to roughly **752,000 PLN (~$198,000 USD)**. * **North America:** Distributed by **Janus Films**, it had a limited art-house release starting in February 2017. It grossed **$101,657** across a peak of 7 theaters. * **International:** Other small theatrical windows (e.g., Thailand and the UK) added roughly **$7,200**. ### **3. "After Box Office" Revenue (Ancillaries)** While the theatrical numbers were low, the film's success at the **Sundance Film Festival** (Special Jury Prize for Unique Vision and Design) made it highly valuable for secondary markets. * **Home Media (The Criterion Collection):** In October 2017, the film was inducted into the **Criterion Collection** (Spine #896), a major financial milestone. Criterion releases are premium-priced ($30–$40 per unit) and have long-term "evergreen" sales potential among cinephiles. * **Streaming & TV Rights:** * **Criterion Channel / Janus Films:** As part of the Janus catalog, the film is a staple of the Criterion Channel. * **HBO/Max:** The film was licensed to **HBO** for several territories, providing a steady licensing fee. * **Netflix:** It was also licensed to **Netflix** in various European markets (including Italy). * **Soundtrack Sales:** The electronic-synth soundtrack by the band **Ballady i Romanse** became a cult hit independently, generating revenue through digital sales and streaming (Spotify/Apple Music). ### **4. Financial Comparison & Success Analysis** | Metric | Amount | | :--- | :--- | | **Total Production Budget** | ~$1,300,000 | | **Total Global Box Office** | ~$306,000 | | **Box Office vs. Budget** | **-76% deficit** | **Conclusion:** Strictly looking at theatrical numbers, *The Lure* was a loss-maker. However, in the context of Polish independent cinema, the film is considered a **major success**. Public grants (PISF) meant the producers did not need to recoup the full $1.3 million from tickets alone. Its status as a Criterion-selected title and its continued streaming presence likely allowed the production companies to eventually break even or turn a small profit through international licensing and high-end physical media sales.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

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The film The Lure (2015) had a production budget of approximately 5.8 million PLN (roughly $1.5 million USD). It was funded significantly by the Polish Film Institute (PISF) (2.5 million PLN), alongside TVP, Platige Image, and WFDiF.

At the box office, the film was not a financial hit relative to its budget. In Poland, it sold 41,776 tickets, generating an estimated 750,000 PLN (~$200,000 USD). In North America, distributed by Janus Films, it grossed $101,657. International screenings added roughly $7,200, bringing the total estimated global box office to roughly $300,000 - $310,000. This resulted in a theatrical deficit of approximately 80%.

However, the film achieved significant "after box office" success. Following its Special Jury Award at Sundance, it was released by The Criterion Collection (Spine #896) in 2017, a rare honor for a contemporary film that ensures long-term sales. It also secured licensing deals with HBO Max and Netflix (in Europe), and its soundtrack by Ballady i Romanse became a cult favorite.

OVERLAY REPORT