Is Caligua the most expensive porn movie ever made?

[Quotealex]

I heard it cost $9M to make. Are there any other porn movies that was that expensive or more to make?

[ShellyCrash]

I never really considered Calligula to be a porn movie, but I guess you're right. Maybe the Traci Lords fiasco when you consider all the parties involved that took losses and had to pay legal fees- from the adult video store in your neighborhood to the actual producers themselves.

[AnalProbe]

I heard Ron Jeremy earns 6 figures $$$$$$ a flick.

[Libertine]

Actually, the budget for Caligula was $17.5M, and it made less than $10k in the opening weekend. I believe the thing never even broke the $100k barrier, so it's one of the biggest flops ever.

It's also pretty much the reason that adult and mainstream haven't mixed more. Deep Throat broke opened up the possibility, by turning a few dozen k $ into a few dozen M $, and Caligula closed it again.

Ofcourse, Caligula and shocking stuff in general is pretty much the worst way to mix adult and mainstream... it scares off a large part of the potential audience. If you want to mix adult and mainstream, something like a romantic comedy would be a much better (and more profitable) choice.

[latinasojourn]

in the early 70's the mitchell brothers of san francisco produced a movie sort of similar thematically to caligula, but less theatrical, more amateurish.

as i recall it was shot mostly outdoors in the hills of the east bay (maybe livermore area) and i think it's they only movie they lost money on.

darn it, can't remember the name of it now.

proof that arty and jerking sometimes don't mix so well.

some of their really funny shorts made big bucks, huge ROI, "hot nazis", etc.

[JoeB]

Originally posted by Alex from Montreal
I heard it cost $9M to make. Are there any other porn movies that was that expensive or more to make?

I actually distibute that title for Penthouse. It was made in 1979 for $25M. Base on the inflation of today you would be looking at about $123M! I believe this is the first and only Adult Entertainment film ever made with actual Hollywood Stars aside from reality based home films,(Pam & Paris) or rap stars, (Idon't consider them Hollywood)! None the less $25M is still a grip o' cash even to today's standards for a porno film. By the way to this day it still sell like a mother fucker!

[VirtuMike]

I think it may have been Basic Instinct.

[pimplink]

I think so.

[JoeB]

Originally posted by punkworld
Actually, the budget for Caligula was $17.5M, and it made less than $10k in the opening weekend. I believe the thing never even broke the $100k barrier, so it's one of the biggest flops ever.

It's also pretty much the reason that adult and mainstream haven't mixed more. Deep Throat broke opened up the possibility, by turning a few dozen k $ into a few dozen M $, and Caligula closed it again.

Ofcourse, Caligula and shocking stuff in general is pretty much the worst way to mix adult and mainstream... it scares off a large part of the potential audience. If you want to mix adult and mainstream, something like a romantic comedy would be a much better (and more profitable) choice.

Actually, your wrong! Caligula did not do great in the Thetre but has easily become one of the top selling videos of all time. My dist co. alone probably sold mor Caligula's than any other title. Including Debbie, Deep, Green Door..You name it, Caligula is an all time Classic! That's probably why it is one of the largest pirated videos on the market today as well. So the Video has nev er really beena flop!

[The Bootyologist]

Whoa $9mil for a porn shoot