Nicole Kidman: top of the flops?
Posted July 3rd, 2009 by debritz
I'm not the first to ask this question and I won't be the last: Is Nicole Kidman worth all the money she makes? According to this report, Kidman was the eighth-highest-earning film actress last year, earning $15 million largely on the back of that non-blockbuster Australia which, according to Box Office Mojo, cost US$130 million* to make - not including its extensive marketing budget (it was advertised in prime inner-city positions in the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic and France to my first-hand knowledge) - and has taken in just over US$211 million to date. Here are the figures for some other recent Kidman films (cost to make first, global takings second, in brackets):
The Invasion $80,000,000 ($40,170,558)
Bewitched $85,000,000 ($131,426,169)
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus N/A ($2,305,841)
The Golden Compass $180,000,000 ($372,234,864)
Really, there's just one hit among them, and one incredible disaster. Adding in other expenses, I think her account over the past couple of years would be well and truly in the red.
* news.com.au is reporting that Australia's production budget "ballooned" beyond $130 million.

