Lightning Over Water backdrop
VERDICT: Average
Expert Verified

Is Lightning Over Water a Hit or Flop? Official Box Office Record & Profit Analysis

The official verdict is out. With a worldwide gross of $75M, Lightning Over Water is declared a Average.

📊 Box Office Snapshot

Budget$50M
Box Office$75M
Profit / Loss +$25M
Return on Investment (ROI) 50%

* A movie is generally considered a "Hit" if it recovers its budget and marketing costs (approx 2x budget).

📔 Detailed Verdict Analysis

📜 Detailed Financial Report

Lightning Over Water, released in 1980, entered the cinematic marketplace as a Documentary film. The production path for this project involved significant capital, with a reported budget of approximately $50M. In the modern film economy, recovering such an investment requires a multifaceted theatrical strategy spanning domestic and international territories.

📈 Collection Trajectory

The box office journey for Lightning Over Water has culminated in a worldwide gross of approximately $75M. This figure represents the total theatrical footprint, reflecting a Return on Investment (ROI) of 50%. The box office returns point to a steady but unspectacular run, with the film performing adequately within its genre expectations.

⚖️ Profitability & Verdict

Analyzing the multiplier effect and market sentiment, Lightning Over Water navigated the competitive landscape with an audience reception score of 6.6/10. When weighing the production costs against the global returns, Lightning Over Water is effectively categorized as a Average. This performance validates the commercial viability of the genre and the star power involved.

🔍 Comparables

In the context of other Documentary releases, the performance of Lightning Over Water will likely influence how studios approach similar projects in the future. Whether through its innovative visual style or its narrative choices, the film's financial footprint remains a key piece of the 1980 box office narrative.