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1/11/2026 // SUBJECT: The Night of the Hunter (1955) Financial Performance Processing: 55.2s
Source: Gemini 2.0 Flash
Analysis: gemini-3-flash-preview
Timeline Analysis: Narrative: No | External: Yes
EXPERIMENTAL USE ONLY
Errors Missing Unverified Supported
2 2 0 9
How were these counts calculated?

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film The Night of the Hunter (1955), how much did the film make at both the box office and after (detail breakdown), and how did that compare to its budget?

#E EXTERNAL EVENTS TIMELINE

July 1, 1899
Born
Charles Laughton (Director) is born in Scarborough, England.
Laughton was 55 years old during filming.
August 6, 1917
Born
Robert Mitchum (Harry Powell) is born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Mitchum was 37 years old during filming.
August 18, 1920
Born
Shelley Winters (Willa Harper) is born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Winters was 34 years old during filming.
1953
Event
Davis Grubb's novel 'The Night of the Hunter' is published and becomes a bestseller.
August 15, 1954 – October 7, 1954
Filming
Principal photography (filming) takes place.
Filmed in 36 days. The AI Summary did not provide specific filming dates.
July 26, 1955
Released
World Premiere in Des Moines, Iowa (Paul Gregory's hometown).
September 29, 1955
Released Mentioned
New York City opening / General US Release.
"Box Office Performance (Initial Release)"
December 15, 1962
Died Mentioned
Charles Laughton dies of cancer at age 63, never having directed another film.
"contributing to Charles Laughton not directing another film"
1992
Award Mentioned
Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
"grown significantly in stature... considered a classic"
November 16, 2010
Released Mentioned
Released on Blu-ray/DVD by The Criterion Collection.
"home video sales (DVD, Blu-ray)"

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

Okay, I can provide information regarding the box office performance and budget of "The Night of the Hunter" based on my understanding of film history and common knowledge. However, bear in mind that exact figures can be difficult to recall with absolute precision and are sometimes debated depending on the source.

Budget:

The budget for "The Night of the Hunter" was relatively modest for a Hollywood film of its time, estimated to be around $800,000.

Box Office Performance (Initial Release):

After Release (Subsequent Release, Home Media, etc.):

I cannot provide precise specific figures for any revenue that came after the initial release as these are not typically publicly recorded with as much detail. However:

Comparison to Budget:

Disclaimer:

These figures are estimates based on my existing knowledge. Precise financial data for older films can vary and can sometimes be difficult to track down definitively. I would recommend consulting authoritative sources like Box Office Mojo or film history books for more specific details if needed.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The budget is documented as $795,000, which rounds to the AI's $800,000 estimate.
[2] The AI estimates a gross of $1-2 million. While the gross was approximately $1.1 million, the critical figure for profitability was the 'theatrical rentals' (the studio's share), which was only $650,000. This was less than the $795,000 budget, explaining the failure to recoup.
[3] The film was both a critical and commercial failure upon its 1955 release.
[4] Charles Laughton was deeply affected by the film's failure and never directed another feature film before his death in 1962.
[5] Standard disclaimer regarding historical film data.
[6] The film is now a staple of film history and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1992.
[7] The film has seen numerous high-quality releases, most notably by the Criterion Collection in 2010.
[8] Cumulative revenue for mid-century films across television and home video is not publicly aggregated into a single figure.
[9] Given the film's longevity and status, it is highly probable that total revenue over 70 years has exceeded the initial $795,000 investment.
[10] Standard disclaimer.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Medium
The distinction between 'Gross' and 'Rentals'.

The AI mentions a $1-2 million gross but doesn't explain that the studio only receives 'rentals' (approx. $650,000), which is why the film failed to cover its $795,000 budget.

Low
The specific budget figure of $795,000.

The AI estimated $800,000, which is close, but the exact figure is well-documented.

Medium
The specific rental figure of $650,000.

This specific figure is the primary evidence for the film's commercial failure.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What were the specific marketing costs for The Night of the Hunter?
#02 How much did the 2010 Criterion Collection release of The Night of the Hunter earn?
#03 What were the international box office figures for The Night of the Hunter in 1955?

#S SOURCES

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)