‘Challengers' Eyeing $15M Opening on $50M Budget

The big release this weekend is Luca Guadagnino’s acclaimed “Challengers.” A fun film, well-made, well-acted with high-grade scoring, editing and direction. I do find it’s being slightly overpraised, but that shouldn’t detract you from seeing it. It’s surely one of the better U.S. studio releases of 2024.

The film was originally supposed to be released last September, but the strikes delayed it, ditto its aim for a splashy opening night premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Will the reviews help the film overperform at the box-office? Early projections, via Deadline, seem to indicate that will not be the case. “Challengers” is looking at a $15 million opening, which is beneath the originally predicted $20 million that was expected.

More intriguingly, the budget, again, according to Deadline, is said to be much higher than previously expected. “Challengers” cost $50 million to produce. How did that happen? Well, Zendaya … the actress is rumored to have carried a salary of $10-15 million. This means her presence in the film took up around 1/4 of the budget.

The marketing budget is said to also be very high on “Challengers.” Ads for the film are everywhere these days. I’m actually struck by the marketing behind the film which emphasizes the SEX. And yet, there’s barely any sex in the film. Zendaya has a “no nude” clause in her contract. The closest we get to a sex scene is a tease that ends with a fade out. The film is more about mind games and backstabbing than any kind of sexual pleasure.

The R-rated film is opening in 3400 locations this weekend. I’m pulling for it — any mid-budget, adult-oriented release should be supported. However, Guadagnino’s film would, at least, need $125M to break even, and I just can’t see that happening.

“Challengers” currently sits at 85 on Metacritic and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.