Is U2: Rattle and Hum a Hit or Flop? Official Box Office Record & Profit Analysis

Detailed Financial Report

U2: Rattle and Hum, released in 1988, entered the cinematic marketplace as a Music / Documentary film. The production path for this project involved significant capital, with a reported budget of approximately $50.0M. 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 U2: Rattle and Hum has culminated in a worldwide gross of approximately $8.6M. This figure represents the total theatrical footprint, reflecting a Return on Investment (ROI) of -83%. The collection trajectory points to a challenging market response, where the theatrical gross struggled to clear the traditional break-even multiplier required for production and marketing recovery.

Profitability & Verdict

Analyzing the multiplier effect and market sentiment, U2: Rattle and Hum navigated the competitive landscape with an audience reception score of 7.2/10. When weighing the production costs against the global returns, U2: Rattle and Hum is effectively categorized as a Disaster. The outcome highlights the risks involved in big-budget filmmaking when audience alignment is missed.

Comparables

In the context of other Music releases, the performance of U2: Rattle and Hum 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 1988 box office narrative.