Running Scared
| Budget: $17 million | Financed by: Media 8 Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Domestic Gross: $6,855,137 | Domestic Distributor: New Line |
| Overseas Gross: $2,524,892 | Directed by: Wayne Kramer |
Starring: Paul Walker |
Produced by: Brett Ratner |
Running Scared was financed by Media 8 Entertainment for $17 million, one of the many decisions that led to them ceasing production in 2008 and filing for bankruptcy in 2012. Additional coin came from the German tax shelter fund VIP Medienfonds. Media 8 handled sales to distributors. The film was acquired by New Line for US distribution for $6 million.
New Line dated Running Scared for February 24, 2006 which was just one week after Paul Walker’s family hit Eight Below opened. In addition to traditional marketing, the studio launched an X-rated web game on the film’s website which pulled in many curious visitors, but that did not translate to those visitors buying a ticket. Running Scared bowed against Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion and the animated disaster Doogal. It was dead on arrival with a terrible $3,381,974 — placing #9 for the weekend led by Madea’s Family Reunion. The pic sank 60.8% in its second frame to $1,326,824 and promptly lost most of its theater count and quickly closed with $6,855,137. New Line would see back about $3.7 million after theaters take their percentage of the gross, leaving most of their P&A spend and acquisition cost in the red.
Running Scared pulled in a dismal $2.5 million from its international run, across numerous distributors. Roadshow picked up Australia rights and dumped the film straight to video in 2007 after the film tanked in every market.