A New York Times the story of his great financial success Beetle juice Beetle juice Director Tim Burton revealed that he drastically cut the budget for the sequel just before filming began.
Beetle juice Beetle juice producers and Warner Bros. executives Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy said that Burton agreed to reduce the film's budget by $48 million in order to secure an exclusive theatrical release. While the film was ultimately produced for $99 million, its original budget was around $147 million, largely due to the salaries of its stars and producers. At that point, the film was in development for a direct-to-air release on Max (formerly HBO Max).
“This was never going to work for Tim,” Abdy said of the premiere. “You’re talking about a visionary artist who demands his films be seen on the big screen.”
The problem is that Burton hasn't had a major critical hit in a decade, since 2014. Big Eyesand had not achieved financial success since 2010. Alice in Wonderland grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Burton's latest film is the live-action Stupid The remake was poorly received by critics, ticket buyers, and even its own stars.
Abdy and De Luca told Burton that they would approve the film if it cost less than $100 million, excluding advertising costs. Beetle juice Beetle juice and secured a theatrical release. The director was able to reduce the budget to a possible $99 million, but this was largely due to significantly reduced salaries for the stars and producers.
“It's been two months now where the film is dying every day,” Burton's manager Mike Simpson said. New York Times.
While Burton and Simpson were trying to convince an all-star cast, De Luca and Abdy were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each week on pre-production, against the advice of their Warner Bros. colleagues. But when the actors finally agreed, it meant that filming could begin immediately.
As a result, Burton and “some producers” agreed to lower their upfront payments for a larger share of the film's “backside,” or lifetime profits, along with stars like Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Jenna Ortega. The gamble appears to have paid off for everyone involved. Beetle juice Beetle juice It grossed $264 million worldwide in its first week and a half of release and looks set to cross the $500 million mark.
