The 1998 animated film **Mulan** was a significant commercial success for Disney, though it arrived during the "winding down" phase of the Disney Renaissance. It was profitable during its theatrical run and became a massive revenue generator through home video and merchandise.
### **1. Box Office Performance**
*Mulan* grossed approximately **$304.3 million worldwide** during its original theatrical run.
* **Domestic (U.S. & Canada):** $120.6 million (39.6% of total)
* **International:** $183.7 million (60.4% of total)
* **Key International Markets:** The United Kingdom ($14.6M), France ($10.2M), and Germany ($8.1M) were among its top-performing territories.
* **Market Context:** In 1998, it was the 7th highest-grossing film of the year and the 2nd highest-grossing "family" film (behind *A Bug's Life*). It performed better than the two previous Disney films, *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* ($325M total but lower domestic) and *Hercules* ($252M), though it did not reach the billion-dollar heights (adjusted) of *The Lion King* or *Aladdin*.
### **2. Budget Breakdown**
* **Production Budget:** **$90 million.** This was a high cost for animation at the time, reflecting the scale of the "Hun invasion" sequences and the use of advanced CGI for the era (specifically the "crowd" software for the mountain battle).
* **Marketing/Promotion:** Approximately **$30 million.** Interestingly, Disney actually **reduced** its marketing spend for *Mulan* compared to the $60 million spent on *Hercules* the year prior. This was due to the studio becoming more cautious after *Hercules* underperformed expectations.
### **3. Post-Theatrical Revenue (The "Tail")**
Like most Disney Renaissance films, *Mulan* made as much (if not more) in ancillary markets as it did in theaters.
* **Home Video (VHS & DVD):**
* Released on VHS in February 1999 and DVD in November 1999.
* While specific historical totals are often guarded by Disney, **comparable** films from that era like *Hercules* ($165M) and *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* ($200M) generated massive operating income from home video sales within their first two years.
* Modern estimates from *The Numbers* track at least **$31 million** in additional revenue from DVD and Blu-ray sales during the 2000s/2010s, though this excludes the massive initial VHS sales in 1999, which likely numbered in the millions of units at a $26.99 retail price.
* **Merchandise & Licensing:**
* *Mulan* featured a massive partnership with **McDonald’s** (the famous "Szechuan Sauce" and Happy Meal toys).
* Spin-off products (backpacks, dolls, apparel) were a significant revenue stream. For comparison, Disney reported that spin-off products for *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* yielded roughly **$500 million** in profit; *Mulan*’s more popular character designs (Mushu, Mulan) likely met or exceeded this tier.
* **Television & Streaming:**
* The film was licensed to various TV networks for syndication throughout the early 2000s and is now a core "evergreen" title on **Disney+**.
### **4. Summary Comparison: Budget vs. Revenue**
| Metric | Amount |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Total Production + Marketing Cost** | ~$120 million |
| **Global Box Office Revenue** | $304.3 million |
| **Est. Post-Theatrical Revenue** | $400 million - $600 million+ |
| **Profitability Ratio** | ~5x to 6x the total investment |
**Conclusion:** *Mulan* was a "Triple-A" success. While its $304M box office was only 3.4 times its production budget (the standard "break-even" is usually 2.5x), the explosive popularity of its home video release and the long-term value of the *Mulan* brand (which spawned a direct-to-video sequel and a $200M live-action remake) made it a core financial pillar for the studio.