boxofficemojo.com says Open Range earned $58 million in theatrical release. It's production costs were $22 million and its marketing costs were estimated at $20 million. According to my math, Open Range made a $16 million profit just in the theaters. DVD sales (which are BIG for Westerns) are gravy on top and I don't know those numbers.
It's about profit. If you don't spend $100 million making and marketing the movie, you don't have to sell $100 million in tickets just to break even.
boxofficemojo.com says Open Range earned $58 million in theatrical release. It's production costs were $22 million and its marketing costs were estimated at $20 million. According to my math, Open Range made a $16 million profit just in the theaters. DVD sales (which are BIG for Westerns) are gravy on top and I don't know those numbers.
It's about profit. If you don't spend $100 million making and marketing the movie, you don't have to sell $100 million in tickets just to break even.
You are correct -- it only was moderately successful at the box office but it did make money because it was modestly budgeted. Many performers today are pulling $15m, $20m or more -- including ones that haven't had a hit in years.