Wag the Dog (1997)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $43,057,470 | Details |
| International Box Office | $21,194,568 | |
| Worldwide Box Office | $64,252,038 | |
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $92,079 (0.2% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 5.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 67.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 4.3 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 3 opening theaters/1,752 max. theaters, 7.9 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $103,910,489 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | December 25th, 1997 (Wide) by New Line |
| MPA Rating: | R for language |
| Running Time: | 105 minutes |
| Plot point: | C.I.A., Conspiracy Theory, False Identity, News, Political, Political Assassination, Rescue, Sex Crimes |
| Social setting: | Political Campaign, TV News |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | New Line Cinema |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 1997 | 35 | $92,079 | 3 | $30,693 | $124,217 | 1 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 17 | $1,195,214 | +1,198% | 69 | $17,322 | $1,427,164 | 2 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 4 | $7,778,122 | +551% | 1,665 | $4,672 | $9,735,924 | 3 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 7 | $5,754,364 | -26% | 1,752 | $3,284 | $17,256,734 | 4 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $4,381,332 | -24% | 1,726 | $2,538 | $23,296,373 | 5 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 7 | $4,775,744 | +9% | 1,685 | $2,834 | $29,533,670 | 6 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $3,372,808 | -29% | 1,586 | $2,127 | $33,803,719 | 7 |
| Feb 13, 1998 | 12 | $2,574,034 | -24% | 1,102 | $2,336 | $37,006,533 | 8 |
| Feb 20, 1998 | 12 | $1,607,788 | -38% | 1,031 | $1,559 | $39,077,696 | 9 |
| Feb 27, 1998 | 15 | $987,084 | -39% | 850 | $1,161 | $40,506,685 | 10 |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 21 | $415,953 | -58% | 540 | $770 | $41,222,771 | 11 |
| Mar 13, 1998 | 27 | $297,803 | -28% | 319 | $934 | $41,662,035 | 12 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | 33 | $172,154 | -42% | 321 | $536 | $41,958,897 | 13 |
| Mar 27, 1998 | 36 | $95,163 | -45% | 130 | $732 | $42,121,582 | 14 |
| Apr 3, 1998 | 46 | $64,457 | -32% | 103 | $626 | $42,224,883 | 15 |
| Apr 10, 1998 | 25 | $264,617 | +311% | 395 | $670 | $42,520,683 | 16 |
| Apr 17, 1998 | 32 | $157,873 | -40% | 280 | $564 | $42,820,326 | 17 |
| Apr 24, 1998 | 48 | $70,421 | -55% | 170 | $414 | $42,952,505 | 18 |
| May 1, 1998 | 59 | $39,632 | -44% | 102 | $389 | $43,022,524 | 19 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 1998 | 4 | $2,290,000 | 1,665 | $1,375 | $4,238,000 | 16 | ||
| Jan 10, 1998 | 5 | $3,565,000 | +56% | 1,665 | $2,141 | $7,803,000 | 17 | |
| Jan 11, 1998 | 4 | $1,731,000 | -51% | 1,665 | $1,040 | $9,735,924 | 18 | |
| Jan 12, 1998 | 4 | $516,030 | -70% | 1,665 | $310 | $10,251,954 | 19 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | 5 | $535,666 | +4% | 1,665 | $322 | $10,787,610 | 20 | |
| Jan 14, 1998 | 4 | $500,748 | -7% | 1,665 | $301 | $11,288,368 | 21 | |
| Jan 15, 1998 | 5 | $491,974 | -2% | 1,665 | $295 | $11,780,342 | 22 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 7 | $1,610,000 | +227% | -30% | 1,752 | $919 | $13,112,000 | 23 |
| Jan 17, 1998 | 6 | $2,760,000 | +71% | -23% | 1,752 | $1,575 | $15,872,000 | 24 |
| Jan 18, 1998 | 7 | $1,775,000 | -36% | +3% | 1,752 | $1,013 | $17,647,000 | 25 |
| Jan 19, 1998 | 10 | $718,453 | -60% | +39% | 1,752 | $410 | $19,975,137 | 26 |
| Jan 20, 1998 | 7 | $408,333 | -43% | -24% | 1,752 | $233 | $18,383,519 | 27 |
| Jan 21, 1998 | 7 | $338,418 | -17% | -32% | 1,752 | $193 | $18,721,937 | 28 |
| Jan 22, 1998 | 8 | $268,063 | -21% | -46% | 1,752 | $153 | $18,990,000 | 29 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $1,130,000 | +322% | -30% | 1,726 | $655 | $20,120,000 | 30 |
| Jan 24, 1998 | 6 | $2,405,000 | +113% | -13% | 1,726 | $1,393 | $22,525,000 | 31 |
| Jan 25, 1998 | 6 | $731,000 | -70% | -59% | 1,726 | $424 | $23,296,000 | 32 |
| Jan 26, 1998 | 6 | $396,103 | -46% | -45% | 1,726 | $229 | $23,692,476 | 33 |
| Jan 27, 1998 | 4 | $470,375 | +19% | +15% | 1,726 | $273 | $24,162,751 | 34 |
| Jan 28, 1998 | 4 | $436,257 | -7% | +29% | 1,726 | $253 | $24,599,405 | 35 |
| Jan 29, 1998 | 4 | $423,399 | -3% | +58% | 1,726 | $245 | $25,022,804 | 36 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 8 | $1,145,000 | +170% | +1% | 1,685 | $680 | $25,903,000 | 37 |
| Jan 31, 1998 | 7 | $2,120,000 | +85% | -12% | 1,685 | $1,258 | $28,023,000 | 38 |
| Feb 1, 1998 | 8 | $1,165,000 | -45% | +59% | 1,685 | $691 | $29,533,670 | 39 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | 7 | $253,822 | -78% | -36% | 1,685 | $151 | $29,787,492 | 40 |
| Feb 3, 1998 | 6 | $340,160 | +34% | -28% | 1,685 | $202 | $30,137,452 | 41 |
| Feb 4, 1998 | 7 | $235,332 | -31% | -46% | 1,685 | $140 | $30,422,984 | 42 |
| Feb 5, 1998 | 6 | $267,337 | +14% | -37% | 1,685 | $159 | $30,690,321 | 43 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $830,000 | +210% | -28% | 1,586 | $523 | $31,261,000 | 44 |
| Feb 7, 1998 | 8 | $1,680,000 | +102% | -21% | 1,586 | $1,059 | $32,941,000 | 45 |
| Feb 8, 1998 | 8 | $849,000 | -49% | -27% | 1,586 | $535 | $33,804,000 | 46 |
| Feb 9, 1998 | 7 | $205,810 | -76% | -19% | 1,586 | $130 | $34,009,529 | 47 |
| Feb 10, 1998 | 7 | $235,127 | +14% | -31% | 1,586 | $148 | $34,244,656 | 48 |
| Feb 11, 1998 | 7 | $223,308 | -5% | -5% | 1,586 | $141 | $34,473,054 | 49 |
| Feb 12, 1998 | 7 | $200,000 | -10% | -25% | 1,586 | $126 | $34,524,000 | 50 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 1997 | 32 | $199,812 | 3 | $66,604 | $231,950 | 2 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 19 | $1,725,852 | +764% | 69 | $25,012 | $1,957,802 | 3 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 5 | $9,544,568 | +453% | 1,665 | $5,732 | $11,502,370 | 4 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 8 | $7,412,671 | -22% | 1,752 | $4,231 | $18,915,041 | 5 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $5,842,885 | -21% | 1,726 | $3,385 | $24,757,926 | 6 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 8 | $5,672,985 | -3% | 1,685 | $3,367 | $30,430,911 | 7 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $4,001,588 | -29% | 1,586 | $2,523 | $34,432,499 | 8 |
| Feb 13, 1998 | 12 | $3,037,409 | -24% | 1,102 | $2,756 | $37,469,908 | 9 |
| Feb 20, 1998 | 12 | $2,049,693 | -33% | 1,031 | $1,988 | $39,519,601 | 10 |
| Feb 27, 1998 | 15 | $1,287,217 | -37% | 850 | $1,514 | $40,806,818 | 11 |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 21 | $557,414 | -57% | 540 | $1,032 | $41,364,232 | 12 |
| Mar 13, 1998 | 27 | $422,511 | -24% | 319 | $1,324 | $41,786,743 | 13 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | 32 | $239,676 | -43% | 321 | $747 | $42,026,419 | 14 |
| Mar 27, 1998 | 35 | $134,007 | -44% | 130 | $1,031 | $42,160,426 | 15 |
| Apr 3, 1998 | 44 | $95,640 | -29% | 103 | $929 | $42,256,066 | 16 |
| Apr 10, 1998 | 24 | $406,387 | +325% | 395 | $1,029 | $42,662,453 | 17 |
| Apr 17, 1998 | 33 | $219,631 | -46% | 280 | $784 | $42,882,084 | 18 |
| Apr 24, 1998 | 47 | $100,808 | -54% | 170 | $593 | $42,982,892 | 19 |
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $92,079 (0.2% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 5.54 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 67.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Production Budget: | $15,000,000 (worldwide box office is 4.3 times production budget) |
| Theater counts: | 3 opening theaters/1,752 max. theaters, 7.9 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $103,910,489 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | December 25th, 1997 (Wide) by New Line |
| MPA Rating: | R for language |
| Running Time: | 105 minutes |
| Plot point: | C.I.A., Conspiracy Theory, False Identity, News, Political, Political Assassination, Rescue, Sex Crimes |
| Social setting: | Political Campaign, TV News |
| Subgenre: | Comedy Drama |
| Source: | Based on Fiction Book/Short Story |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | New Line Cinema |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 1997 | 35 | $92,079 | 3 | $30,693 | $124,217 | 1 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 17 | $1,195,214 | +1,198% | 69 | $17,322 | $1,427,164 | 2 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 4 | $7,778,122 | +551% | 1,665 | $4,672 | $9,735,924 | 3 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 7 | $5,754,364 | -26% | 1,752 | $3,284 | $17,256,734 | 4 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $4,381,332 | -24% | 1,726 | $2,538 | $23,296,373 | 5 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 7 | $4,775,744 | +9% | 1,685 | $2,834 | $29,533,670 | 6 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $3,372,808 | -29% | 1,586 | $2,127 | $33,803,719 | 7 |
| Feb 13, 1998 | 12 | $2,574,034 | -24% | 1,102 | $2,336 | $37,006,533 | 8 |
| Feb 20, 1998 | 12 | $1,607,788 | -38% | 1,031 | $1,559 | $39,077,696 | 9 |
| Feb 27, 1998 | 15 | $987,084 | -39% | 850 | $1,161 | $40,506,685 | 10 |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 21 | $415,953 | -58% | 540 | $770 | $41,222,771 | 11 |
| Mar 13, 1998 | 27 | $297,803 | -28% | 319 | $934 | $41,662,035 | 12 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | 33 | $172,154 | -42% | 321 | $536 | $41,958,897 | 13 |
| Mar 27, 1998 | 36 | $95,163 | -45% | 130 | $732 | $42,121,582 | 14 |
| Apr 3, 1998 | 46 | $64,457 | -32% | 103 | $626 | $42,224,883 | 15 |
| Apr 10, 1998 | 25 | $264,617 | +311% | 395 | $670 | $42,520,683 | 16 |
| Apr 17, 1998 | 32 | $157,873 | -40% | 280 | $564 | $42,820,326 | 17 |
| Apr 24, 1998 | 48 | $70,421 | -55% | 170 | $414 | $42,952,505 | 18 |
| May 1, 1998 | 59 | $39,632 | -44% | 102 | $389 | $43,022,524 | 19 |
Daily Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | %YD | %LW | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 1998 | 4 | $2,290,000 | 1,665 | $1,375 | $4,238,000 | 16 | ||
| Jan 10, 1998 | 5 | $3,565,000 | +56% | 1,665 | $2,141 | $7,803,000 | 17 | |
| Jan 11, 1998 | 4 | $1,731,000 | -51% | 1,665 | $1,040 | $9,735,924 | 18 | |
| Jan 12, 1998 | 4 | $516,030 | -70% | 1,665 | $310 | $10,251,954 | 19 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | 5 | $535,666 | +4% | 1,665 | $322 | $10,787,610 | 20 | |
| Jan 14, 1998 | 4 | $500,748 | -7% | 1,665 | $301 | $11,288,368 | 21 | |
| Jan 15, 1998 | 5 | $491,974 | -2% | 1,665 | $295 | $11,780,342 | 22 | |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 7 | $1,610,000 | +227% | -30% | 1,752 | $919 | $13,112,000 | 23 |
| Jan 17, 1998 | 6 | $2,760,000 | +71% | -23% | 1,752 | $1,575 | $15,872,000 | 24 |
| Jan 18, 1998 | 7 | $1,775,000 | -36% | +3% | 1,752 | $1,013 | $17,647,000 | 25 |
| Jan 19, 1998 | 10 | $718,453 | -60% | +39% | 1,752 | $410 | $19,975,137 | 26 |
| Jan 20, 1998 | 7 | $408,333 | -43% | -24% | 1,752 | $233 | $18,383,519 | 27 |
| Jan 21, 1998 | 7 | $338,418 | -17% | -32% | 1,752 | $193 | $18,721,937 | 28 |
| Jan 22, 1998 | 8 | $268,063 | -21% | -46% | 1,752 | $153 | $18,990,000 | 29 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $1,130,000 | +322% | -30% | 1,726 | $655 | $20,120,000 | 30 |
| Jan 24, 1998 | 6 | $2,405,000 | +113% | -13% | 1,726 | $1,393 | $22,525,000 | 31 |
| Jan 25, 1998 | 6 | $731,000 | -70% | -59% | 1,726 | $424 | $23,296,000 | 32 |
| Jan 26, 1998 | 6 | $396,103 | -46% | -45% | 1,726 | $229 | $23,692,476 | 33 |
| Jan 27, 1998 | 4 | $470,375 | +19% | +15% | 1,726 | $273 | $24,162,751 | 34 |
| Jan 28, 1998 | 4 | $436,257 | -7% | +29% | 1,726 | $253 | $24,599,405 | 35 |
| Jan 29, 1998 | 4 | $423,399 | -3% | +58% | 1,726 | $245 | $25,022,804 | 36 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 8 | $1,145,000 | +170% | +1% | 1,685 | $680 | $25,903,000 | 37 |
| Jan 31, 1998 | 7 | $2,120,000 | +85% | -12% | 1,685 | $1,258 | $28,023,000 | 38 |
| Feb 1, 1998 | 8 | $1,165,000 | -45% | +59% | 1,685 | $691 | $29,533,670 | 39 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | 7 | $253,822 | -78% | -36% | 1,685 | $151 | $29,787,492 | 40 |
| Feb 3, 1998 | 6 | $340,160 | +34% | -28% | 1,685 | $202 | $30,137,452 | 41 |
| Feb 4, 1998 | 7 | $235,332 | -31% | -46% | 1,685 | $140 | $30,422,984 | 42 |
| Feb 5, 1998 | 6 | $267,337 | +14% | -37% | 1,685 | $159 | $30,690,321 | 43 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $830,000 | +210% | -28% | 1,586 | $523 | $31,261,000 | 44 |
| Feb 7, 1998 | 8 | $1,680,000 | +102% | -21% | 1,586 | $1,059 | $32,941,000 | 45 |
| Feb 8, 1998 | 8 | $849,000 | -49% | -27% | 1,586 | $535 | $33,804,000 | 46 |
| Feb 9, 1998 | 7 | $205,810 | -76% | -19% | 1,586 | $130 | $34,009,529 | 47 |
| Feb 10, 1998 | 7 | $235,127 | +14% | -31% | 1,586 | $148 | $34,244,656 | 48 |
| Feb 11, 1998 | 7 | $223,308 | -5% | -5% | 1,586 | $141 | $34,473,054 | 49 |
| Feb 12, 1998 | 7 | $200,000 | -10% | -25% | 1,586 | $126 | $34,524,000 | 50 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 1997 | 32 | $199,812 | 3 | $66,604 | $231,950 | 2 | |
| Jan 2, 1998 | 19 | $1,725,852 | +764% | 69 | $25,012 | $1,957,802 | 3 |
| Jan 9, 1998 | 5 | $9,544,568 | +453% | 1,665 | $5,732 | $11,502,370 | 4 |
| Jan 16, 1998 | 8 | $7,412,671 | -22% | 1,752 | $4,231 | $18,915,041 | 5 |
| Jan 23, 1998 | 6 | $5,842,885 | -21% | 1,726 | $3,385 | $24,757,926 | 6 |
| Jan 30, 1998 | 8 | $5,672,985 | -3% | 1,685 | $3,367 | $30,430,911 | 7 |
| Feb 6, 1998 | 8 | $4,001,588 | -29% | 1,586 | $2,523 | $34,432,499 | 8 |
| Feb 13, 1998 | 12 | $3,037,409 | -24% | 1,102 | $2,756 | $37,469,908 | 9 |
| Feb 20, 1998 | 12 | $2,049,693 | -33% | 1,031 | $1,988 | $39,519,601 | 10 |
| Feb 27, 1998 | 15 | $1,287,217 | -37% | 850 | $1,514 | $40,806,818 | 11 |
| Mar 6, 1998 | 21 | $557,414 | -57% | 540 | $1,032 | $41,364,232 | 12 |
| Mar 13, 1998 | 27 | $422,511 | -24% | 319 | $1,324 | $41,786,743 | 13 |
| Mar 20, 1998 | 32 | $239,676 | -43% | 321 | $747 | $42,026,419 | 14 |
| Mar 27, 1998 | 35 | $134,007 | -44% | 130 | $1,031 | $42,160,426 | 15 |
| Apr 3, 1998 | 44 | $95,640 | -29% | 103 | $929 | $42,256,066 | 16 |
| Apr 10, 1998 | 24 | $406,387 | +325% | 395 | $1,029 | $42,662,453 | 17 |
| Apr 17, 1998 | 33 | $219,631 | -46% | 280 | $784 | $42,882,084 | 18 |
| Apr 24, 1998 | 47 | $100,808 | -54% | 170 | $593 | $42,982,892 | 19 |