OVERLAY REPORT

The 1999 film *Girl, Interrupted* followed a common trajectory for prestige dramas of its era: it had a modest theatrical run but became a major financial and cultural success through its "long tail" in the home video and television markets. ### **1. Box Office Performance** The film was released in limited theaters on December 21, 1999, to qualify for awards season, before expanding wide in January 2000. * **Domestic (US & Canada):** $28,912,646 (approx. 59.8% of total) * **International:** $19,437,559 (approx. 40.2% of total) * **Total Worldwide Gross:** **$48,350,205** In its opening wide weekend (January 14–16, 2000), it earned approximately **$7.5 million**, ranking 4th at the box office. While these numbers were respectable, they were not considered "blockbuster" figures at the time. ### **2. Comparison to Budget** There is some discrepancy in reported figures for the film's production budget, which affects its perceived profitability: * **Reported Production Budget:** Most industry trackers, including *Box Office Mojo*, cite a budget of **$40 million**. However, some contemporary reports (such as from the *LA Times* and *Wikipedia*) list the production cost as **$24 million**. * **Marketing Costs:** Typical for a studio film of this size, marketing and distribution (P&A) likely added another $15–$20 million to the total investment. * **Theatrical ROI:** If the budget was indeed $40 million, the film’s worldwide theatrical gross of $48.3 million would have resulted in a theatrical loss once the theaters took their roughly 50% cut of ticket sales. If the budget was $24 million, it was a "tossup" or slightly above break-even after theatrical runs. ### **3. Post-Box Office (Ancillary Revenue)** The film’s true financial success occurred "after" its theatrical run. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, theatrical returns often only accounted for about **20–25% of a film's total lifetime revenue**. * **Home Video (VHS & DVD):** Released on home media in 2000, the film became a massive hit. It benefited significantly from Angelina Jolie’s Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress, which rejuvenated interest. It became a "cult classic" particularly among teen and young adult audiences, leading to years of strong rental and sales figures. * **Television Licensing:** As a Sony/Columbia property, the film was frequently licensed for cable television (e.g., HBO, TNT, Lifetime), providing a steady stream of "ancillary" income for decades. * **Estimated Lifetime Revenue:** While exact private studio accounting for home video is rarely public for 1990s films, industry models suggest a film with a $48 million worldwide box office in 1999 would likely have generated well over **$100 million in total revenue** across its first 5–10 years when factoring in DVD sales and global TV rights. ### **Summary Breakdown Table** | Category | Amount (Estimated) | | :--- | :--- | | **Production Budget** | $24M – $40M | | **Domestic Box Office** | $28.9M | | **International Box Office** | $19.4M | | **Total Box Office** | **$48.3M** | | **Post-Box Office Success** | Major (High DVD/VHS rental & sales; cult status) | | **Profitability Status** | **Profitable** (Long-term success via home media and TV) | **Conclusion:** At the box office, *Girl, Interrupted* was a moderate performer that struggled to recoup its high $40 million production and marketing costs immediately. However, it successfully leveraged its critical acclaim and star power to become a significant profit generator for Sony in the years that followed.