The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $649,690 | Details |
| International Box Office | $18,860 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $668,550 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| DVD Sales (estimated) | $97,585 | |
| Blu-ray Sales (estimated) | $46,142 | |
| Total | $143,727 | |
| OpusData ID: 125130100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Synopsis
What happens when a college psych study goes shockingly wrong? In this tense, psychological thriller based on the notorious true story of Stanford University professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo, who, in 1971, cast 24 student volunteers as prisoners and guards in a simulated jail to examine the source of abusive behavior in the prison system. The results astonished the world, as participants went from middle-class undergrads to drunk-with-power sadists and submissive victims in just a few days.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $37,514 (5.8% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 5.31 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 97.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 2 opening theaters/79 max. theaters, 3.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $921,745 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 17th, 2015 (Limited) by IFC Films |
| International Releases: | June 10th, 2016 (Wide) (United Kingdom) |
| Video Release: | November 17th, 2015 by Mpi Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | R for language including abusive behavior and some sexual references. (Rating bulletin 2376, 6/3/2015) |
| Running Time: | 122 minutes |
| Film festival: | Sundance Film Festival 2015 |
| Plot point: | Cruel / Corrupt Wardens or Prison Guards, Prison, Research Scientist, Scientific Experiment Gone Awry |
| Release detail: | Festival Acquisition |
| Social setting: | College |
| Time period setting: | 1970s |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Dramatization |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Sandbar Pictures, Abandon Pictures, Vineyard Point Productions, Coup d'Etat Films, IFC Films |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | 47 | $37,514 | 2 | $18,757 | $37,514 | 1 | |
| Jul 24, 2015 | 39 | $57,532 | +53% | 15 | $3,835 | $113,115 | 2 |
| Jul 31, 2015 | 28 | $122,290 | +113% | 79 | $1,548 | $269,272 | 3 |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 35 | $82,765 | -32% | 79 | $1,048 | $427,227 | 4 |
| Aug 21, 2015 | 55 | $21,426 | 22 | $974 | $574,876 | 6 | |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 66 | $14,477 | -32% | 20 | $724 | $602,640 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 73 | $9,643 | -33% | 12 | $804 | $620,645 | 8 |
| Sep 11, 2015 | 76 | $6,993 | -27% | 14 | $500 | $633,071 | 9 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | - | $10,000 | 2 | $5,000 | $10,000 | 1 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | 48 | $55,583 | 15 | $3,706 | $55,583 | 1 | |
| Jul 24, 2015 | 41 | $91,399 | +64% | 15 | $6,093 | $146,982 | 2 |
| Jul 31, 2015 | 29 | $197,480 | +116% | 79 | $2,500 | $344,462 | 3 |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 34 | $137,206 | -31% | 77 | $1,782 | $481,668 | 4 |
| Aug 14, 2015 | 43 | $71,771 | -48% | 41 | $1,751 | $553,439 | 5 |
| Aug 21, 2015 | 55 | $34,713 | -52% | 25 | $1,389 | $588,163 | 6 |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 66 | $22,839 | -34% | 20 | $1,142 | $611,002 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 75 | $15,076 | -34% | 12 | $1,256 | $626,078 | 8 |
| Sep 11, 2015 | 75 | $13,157 | -13% | 14 | $940 | $639,235 | 9 |
| Sep 18, 2015 | 76 | $10,455 | -21% | 9 | $1,162 | $649,690 | 10 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6/10/2016 | $2,567 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $18,860 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| International Total | $18,860 | 4/4/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Lead Ensemble Member
| Billy Crudup | Dr. Philip Zimbardo | |
| Michael Angarano | Christopher Archer | |
| Ezra Miller | Daniel Culp / 8612 | |
| Tye Sheridan | Peter Mitchell / 819 | |
| Olivia Thirlby | Dr. Christina Maslach |
Supporting
| Nelsan Ellis | Jesse Fletcher | |
| Johnny Simmons | Jeff Jansen / 1037 | |
| Nick Braun | Karl Vandy | |
| Thomas Mann | Prisoner 416 | |
| Ki Hong Lee | Gavin Lee / 3401 |
Production and Technical Credits
| Kyle Patrick Alvarez | Director | |
| Tim Talbott | Screenwriter | |
| Philip Zimbardo | Based on the Book 'The Lucifer Effect' by | |
| Lizzie Friedman | Producer | |
| Greg Little | Producer | |
| Brent Emery | Producer | |
| Lauren Bratman | Producer | |
| Karen Lauder | Producer | |
| Brian Geraghty | Executive Producer | |
| Katie Leary | Executive Producer | |
| Bob Leary | Executive Producer | |
| Michael Paesano | Co-Executive Producer | |
| Eric Alini | Co-Executive Producer | |
| Rachel Lauder | Co-Producer | |
| Laurence Ducceschi | Associate Producer | |
| Chris Heltzel | Associate Producer | |
| Adam Shazar | Associate Producer | |
| Jas Shelton | Director of Photography | |
| Gary Barbosa | Production Designer | |
| Fernando Collins | Editor | |
| Lisa Tomczeszyn | Costume Designer | |
| Andrew Hewitt | Composer | |
| Angela Demo | Casting Director | |
| Barbara J. McCarthy | Casting Director |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.
Synopsis
What happens when a college psych study goes shockingly wrong? In this tense, psychological thriller based on the notorious true story of Stanford University professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo, who, in 1971, cast 24 student volunteers as prisoners and guards in a simulated jail to examine the source of abusive behavior in the prison system. The results astonished the world, as participants went from middle-class undergrads to drunk-with-power sadists and submissive victims in just a few days.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $37,514 (5.8% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 5.31 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 97.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 2 opening theaters/79 max. theaters, 3.1 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $921,745 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | July 17th, 2015 (Limited) by IFC Films |
| International Releases: | June 10th, 2016 (Wide) (United Kingdom) |
| Video Release: | November 17th, 2015 by Mpi Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | R for language including abusive behavior and some sexual references. (Rating bulletin 2376, 6/3/2015) |
| Running Time: | 122 minutes |
| Film festival: | Sundance Film Festival 2015 |
| Plot point: | Cruel / Corrupt Wardens or Prison Guards, Prison, Research Scientist, Scientific Experiment Gone Awry |
| Release detail: | Festival Acquisition |
| Social setting: | College |
| Time period setting: | 1970s |
| Source: | Based on Real Life Events |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Dramatization |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Sandbar Pictures, Abandon Pictures, Vineyard Point Productions, Coup d'Etat Films, IFC Films |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | 47 | $37,514 | 2 | $18,757 | $37,514 | 1 | |
| Jul 24, 2015 | 39 | $57,532 | +53% | 15 | $3,835 | $113,115 | 2 |
| Jul 31, 2015 | 28 | $122,290 | +113% | 79 | $1,548 | $269,272 | 3 |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 35 | $82,765 | -32% | 79 | $1,048 | $427,227 | 4 |
| Aug 21, 2015 | 55 | $21,426 | 22 | $974 | $574,876 | 6 | |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 66 | $14,477 | -32% | 20 | $724 | $602,640 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 73 | $9,643 | -33% | 12 | $804 | $620,645 | 8 |
| Sep 11, 2015 | 76 | $6,993 | -27% | 14 | $500 | $633,071 | 9 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | - | $10,000 | 2 | $5,000 | $10,000 | 1 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2015 | 48 | $55,583 | 15 | $3,706 | $55,583 | 1 | |
| Jul 24, 2015 | 41 | $91,399 | +64% | 15 | $6,093 | $146,982 | 2 |
| Jul 31, 2015 | 29 | $197,480 | +116% | 79 | $2,500 | $344,462 | 3 |
| Aug 7, 2015 | 34 | $137,206 | -31% | 77 | $1,782 | $481,668 | 4 |
| Aug 14, 2015 | 43 | $71,771 | -48% | 41 | $1,751 | $553,439 | 5 |
| Aug 21, 2015 | 55 | $34,713 | -52% | 25 | $1,389 | $588,163 | 6 |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 66 | $22,839 | -34% | 20 | $1,142 | $611,002 | 7 |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 75 | $15,076 | -34% | 12 | $1,256 | $626,078 | 8 |
| Sep 11, 2015 | 75 | $13,157 | -13% | 14 | $940 | $639,235 | 9 |
| Sep 18, 2015 | 76 | $10,455 | -21% | 9 | $1,162 | $649,690 | 10 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6/10/2016 | $2,567 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $18,860 | 4/4/2026 | |||
| International Total | $18,860 | 4/4/2026 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Lead Ensemble Member
| Billy Crudup | Dr. Philip Zimbardo | |
| Michael Angarano | Christopher Archer | |
| Ezra Miller | Daniel Culp / 8612 | |
| Tye Sheridan | Peter Mitchell / 819 | |
| Olivia Thirlby | Dr. Christina Maslach |
Supporting
| Nelsan Ellis | Jesse Fletcher | |
| Johnny Simmons | Jeff Jansen / 1037 | |
| Nick Braun | Karl Vandy | |
| Thomas Mann | Prisoner 416 | |
| Ki Hong Lee | Gavin Lee / 3401 |
Production and Technical Credits
| Kyle Patrick Alvarez | Director | |
| Tim Talbott | Screenwriter | |
| Philip Zimbardo | Based on the Book 'The Lucifer Effect' by | |
| Lizzie Friedman | Producer | |
| Greg Little | Producer | |
| Brent Emery | Producer | |
| Lauren Bratman | Producer | |
| Karen Lauder | Producer | |
| Brian Geraghty | Executive Producer | |
| Katie Leary | Executive Producer | |
| Bob Leary | Executive Producer | |
| Michael Paesano | Co-Executive Producer | |
| Eric Alini | Co-Executive Producer | |
| Rachel Lauder | Co-Producer | |
| Laurence Ducceschi | Associate Producer | |
| Chris Heltzel | Associate Producer | |
| Adam Shazar | Associate Producer | |
| Jas Shelton | Director of Photography | |
| Gary Barbosa | Production Designer | |
| Fernando Collins | Editor | |
| Lisa Tomczeszyn | Costume Designer | |
| Andrew Hewitt | Composer | |
| Angela Demo | Casting Director | |
| Barbara J. McCarthy | Casting Director |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Full financial estimates for this film, including domestic and international box office, video sales, video rentals, TV and ancillary revenue are available through our research services. For more information, please contact us at research@the-numbers.com.