OVERLAY REPORT

Based on available financial data, the film *Mulan* (1998) was a major financial success for Disney, grossing over three times its production budget just from the theatrical box office, and realizing a much larger profit through its extensive post-theatrical revenue streams. Here is a detailed breakdown of the film's finances and its comparison to the budget. --- ### **1. Production Budget and Initial Investment** | Financial Component | Specific Detail | | :--- | :--- | | **Production Budget** | **$90 million** | | **Marketing/Promotion** | An estimated **$30 million** was spent on promotional advertisements (less than prior Disney films). | | **Total Initial Cost (Approx.)** | **$120 million** (Production + Marketing) | The film was made with a production budget of **$90 million**. This figure does not include the substantial marketing and distribution costs. The promotional advertisement budget alone was about $30 million. --- ### **2. Theatrical Box Office Revenue** The film was a commercial success at the box office, grossing over **$304 million** worldwide. | Box Office Category | Specific Gross Revenue | | :--- | :--- | | **Domestic (U.S. & Canada)** | **$120.6 million** | | **International** | Approximately **$183.7 million** ($304.3M total - $120.6M domestic) | | **Worldwide Total** | **$304.3 million** | #### **Comparison to Budget (Theatrical)** * The worldwide gross of **$304.3 million** was approximately **3.38 times** the production budget of **$90 million**. * While the gross profit (revenue minus production budget) was around **$214.3 million**, the studio typically only keeps about 50% of the box office gross (after splitting revenue with theaters), and the initial $120 million investment (production + initial marketing) would need to be recouped from that studio share. * The theatrical run resulted in a clear profit after all costs, cementing its status as a commercial success. --- ### **3. After Box Office Revenue (Post-Theatrical Breakdown)** For a Disney animated feature released during the late 1990s, the "after box office" revenue from home video and merchandising often **surpassed** the theatrical gross. This is a crucial detail for the film's long-term profitability. #### **Home Video (VHS, DVD, Blu-ray)** This was the single largest profit driver after the theatrical run. | Home Video Detail | Specific Detail/Context | | :--- | :--- | | **Initial Release** | The film was first released on VHS on February 2, 1999. | | **Sales Example** | One compilation, *Mulan / Mulan II* (2008), is tracked with **$31.2 million** in domestic video sales, illustrating ongoing revenue. | | **Industry Context** | Specific final sales figures for the initial 1999 VHS release are typically not made public, but Disney's direct-to-retail model at the time meant these sales were extremely high-margin and generated **hundreds of millions of dollars** for other Disney Renaissance films like *The Lion King* and *Aladdin*. *Mulan*'s success was credited with providing "explosive video and merchandising returns." | #### **Merchandise and Ancillary Markets** * **Merchandising:** The film was noted for its **"explosive... merchandising returns"**. While Disney does not release total merchandise revenue, the global sales of toys, clothing, books, and other tie-ins would have added *hundreds of millions* of dollars to the film's overall financial success. * **Sequels & Spinoffs:** The film's success allowed for a direct-to-video sequel, **Mulan II** (2004), which itself generated additional revenue and continued to monetize the franchise. * **Music:** The soundtrack, featuring the Oscar-nominated score by Jerry Goldsmith, generated significant sales. * **Theme Parks & TV Rights:** The film generates perpetual income through television syndication, licensing rights, and, more recently, streaming revenue via Disney+.