#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
Based on internal knowledge of the film industry and historical data for The Mask (1994), here is the breakdown of its financial performance and its impact relative to its budget.
1. The Production Budget
The film was produced by New Line Cinema for an estimated $23 million.
At the time, this was considered a mid-range budget. While the film required extensive digital visual effects (created by Industrial Light & Magic), Jim Carrey was not yet the massive superstar he became later that year. He was signed for a relatively modest salary (reportedly around $450,000) before Ace Ventura: Pet Detective turned him into a household name.
2. Box Office Performance
The Mask was an astronomical success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1994.
- Domestic Box Office (North America): ~$119.9 million
- International Box Office: ~$231.6 million
- Total Worldwide Box Office: ~$351.5 million
Comparison to Budget:
The film earned approximately 15 times its production budget in theaters alone. In terms of "multiplier" (the ratio of budget to box office), The Mask remains one of the most profitable comic book adaptations ever made.
3. Post-Box Office Revenue (Ancillary Markets)
The financial success of The Mask extended far beyond the theater through several "long-tail" revenue streams:
- Home Media (VHS and DVD): In the mid-1990s, the home video market was at its peak. The Mask was a massive "sell-through" hit on VHS. It is estimated to have generated over $150 million in North American video rentals and sales within its first few years of release.
- Television Rights: New Line Cinema and its parent company (Turner Broadcasting/Warner Bros.) utilized the film heavily for cable syndication. Deals with networks like TBS and TNT were worth millions, as the film’s "PG-13" rating made it easy to edit for family-friendly daytime viewing.
- Merchandising: Unlike many adult-skewing comedies, The Mask had significant appeal to children. This led to:
- Action Figures: A successful line of toys produced by Kenner.
- Video Games: A tie-in game released for the Super Nintendo (SNES).
- The Animated Series: The film's success birthed The Mask: Animated Series, which ran for three seasons on CBS, further increasing the value of the IP.
4. Summary Comparison
| Category |
Amount (Approx.) |
| Production Budget |
$23 Million |
| Global Box Office |
$351.5 Million |
| Home Media/Ancillary |
$200+ Million (Estimated total) |
| Profit Margin |
Extremely High |
Conclusion:
The Mask was a pivotal film for New Line Cinema. It proved that Jim Carrey was a "bankable" lead capable of carrying a global blockbuster and demonstrated that high-end CGI could be used effectively in a comedy, not just action or sci-fi. By the time all revenue streams were accounted for, the film likely cleared a net profit (after marketing and distribution) of well over $200 million, making it one of the most successful investments in the studio's history.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Multiple sources confirm the production budget was between $18 million and $23 million.
[2] Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) provided the visual effects, specifically the computer graphics for the mask transformations.
[3] Jim Carrey's salary for The Mask is widely reported as $450,000 (sometimes cited as $350k or $540k), a deal signed before his breakout in Ace Ventura.
[4] Box Office Mojo records the domestic gross as $119,938,730.
[5] Box Office Mojo records the international gross as $231,644,677.
[6] Box Office Mojo records the worldwide gross as $351,583,407.
[7] While exact VHS revenue figures are difficult to verify, The Mask was a top-selling/renting title in 1995. Given that top hits of the era earned $500m+ in video, a $150m estimate for a $350m grosser is consistent with industry performance.
[8] TBS and TNT (owned by New Line's parent Turner) did air the film in cable syndication, but the broadcast network premiere was on Fox in 1997.
[9] Kenner produced a line of action figures based on the film and animated series.
[10] A video game based on the film was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1995.
[11] The Mask: Animated Series aired on CBS for three seasons from 1995 to 1997.
[12] Based on standard studio revenue models (approx. 50% of box office + high margin video/TV sales vs. production/marketing costs), a net profit of $200m+ is a mathematically sound estimate.
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 What was the specific revenue for The Mask VHS sales?
#02 Did Jim Carrey receive backend points for The Mask?
#03 How does The Mask's profitability compare to Joker (2019)?
Based on internal knowledge of the film industry and historical data for **The Mask (1994)**, here is the breakdown of its financial performance and its impact relative to its budget.
### 1. The Production Budget
The film was produced by New Line Cinema for an estimated **$23 million**.
At the time, this was considered a mid-range budget. While the film required extensive digital visual effects (created by Industrial Light & Magic), Jim Carrey was not yet the massive superstar he became later that year. He was signed for a relatively modest salary (reportedly around $450,000) before *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* turned him into a household name.
### 2. Box Office Performance
*The Mask* was an astronomical success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1994.
* **Domestic Box Office (North America):** ~$119.9 million
* **International Box Office:** ~$231.6 million
* **Total Worldwide Box Office:** **~$351.5 million**
**Comparison to Budget:**
The film earned approximately **15 times its production budget** in theaters alone. In terms of "multiplier" (the ratio of budget to box office), *The Mask* remains one of the most profitable comic book adaptations ever made.
### 3. Post-Box Office Revenue (Ancillary Markets)
The financial success of *The Mask* extended far beyond the theater through several "long-tail" revenue streams:
* **Home Media (VHS and DVD):** In the mid-1990s, the home video market was at its peak. *The Mask* was a massive "sell-through" hit on VHS. It is estimated to have generated over **$150 million** in North American video rentals and sales within its first few years of release.
* **Television Rights:** New Line Cinema and its parent company (Turner Broadcasting/Warner Bros.) utilized the film heavily for cable syndication. Deals with networks like TBS and TNT were worth millions, as the film’s "PG-13" rating made it easy to edit for family-friendly daytime viewing.
* **Merchandising:** Unlike many adult-skewing comedies, *The Mask* had significant appeal to children. This led to:
* **Action Figures:** A successful line of toys produced by Kenner.
* **Video Games:** A tie-in game released for the Super Nintendo (SNES).
* **The Animated Series:** The film's success birthed *The Mask: Animated Series*, which ran for three seasons on CBS, further increasing the value of the IP.
### 4. Summary Comparison
| Category | Amount (Approx.) |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Production Budget** | **$23 Million** |
| **Global Box Office** | **$351.5 Million** |
| **Home Media/Ancillary** | **$200+ Million** (Estimated total) |
| **Profit Margin** | **Extremely High** |
**Conclusion:**
*The Mask* was a pivotal film for New Line Cinema. It proved that Jim Carrey was a "bankable" lead capable of carrying a global blockbuster and demonstrated that high-end CGI could be used effectively in a comedy, not just action or sci-fi. By the time all revenue streams were accounted for, the film likely cleared a net profit (after marketing and distribution) of well over **$200 million**, making it one of the most successful investments in the studio's history.