The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)

The Stanford Prison Experiment poster
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $649,690Details
International Box Office $18,860Details
Worldwide Box Office $668,550
Home Market Performance
Est. Domestic DVD Sales $89,783 Details
Est. Domestic Blu-ray Sales $40,431 Details
Total Est. Domestic Video Sales $130,214
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 $830,793

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,501-9,600) 9,581 $649,690
All Time International Box Office (Rank 22,601-22,700) 22,614 $18,860
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 16,901-17,000) 16,906 $668,550
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,159 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,425 $649,690
All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,561 $18,860
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,108 $668,550

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

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
MPAA Rating: R for language including abusive behavior and some sexual references.
(Rating bulletin 2376, 6/3/2015)
Running Time: 122 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Spy!
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: College, Prison, Cruel Wardens or Prison Guards, Scientific Experiment Gone Awry, Research Scientist, 1970s, Sundance Film Festival 2015
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

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Top 2015 Theater Average 60 $18,757 Jul 17, 2015 3

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,501-9,600) 9,581 $649,690
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 9,201-9,300) 9,212 $830,793
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 8,601-8,700) 8,680 $649,690
Top 2015 Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300) 240 $649,690
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,159 $649,690
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office for Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,330 $830,793
Top 2015 Limited Release Movies at the Domestic Box Office 99 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 801-900) 831 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 8,501-8,600) 8,566 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 701-800) 761 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,562 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,425 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for IFC Films Movies 73 $649,690

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Jul 17, 2015 - $10,000   2 $5,000   $10,000 1

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
United Kingdom 6/10/2016 $2,567 4 4 4 $2,567 6/22/2016
 
Rest of World $16,293
 
International Total$18,860 6/22/2016

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 22,601-22,700) 22,614 $18,860
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,302 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,518 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 19,301-19,400) 19,359 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,347 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 6,601-6,700) 6,648 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,561 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for IFC Films Movies (Rank 201-300) 294 $18,860

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 16,901-17,000) 16,906 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 15,501-15,600) 15,573 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,400 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 14,401-14,500) 14,416 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,150 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,588 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,108 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for IFC Films Movies (Rank 101-200) 189 $668,550

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.

Lead Ensemble Members

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 Cast

Nelsan Ellis    Jesse Fletcher
Johnny Simmons    Jeff Jansen/1037
Nick Braun    Karl Vandy
Thomas Mann    Prisoner 416
Ki Hong Lee    Gavin Lee/3401

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

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

Home Market Releases for January 12th, 2016

January 12th, 2016

David Bowie: Blackstar

It is a busy week for first run releases with four of them on this week's list. Of these, The Martian is the biggest and the best. It would have been the Pick of the Week except for two things. One, the screener is late. Two, David Bowie passed away over the weekend. He died after an 18-month battle with cancer and just two days after his last album came out. This is the the most poignant Rock'n'Roll death since Freddie Mercury and it seems fitting to give Blackstar the title of Pick of the Week. More...

Home Market Releases for November 17th, 2015

November 17th, 2015

Rush: R40 Live

It's an off week of sorts. The biggest release is extended edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. In fact, there are five versions of this film that are near the top of the list. There are not a lot of other first-run releases on this week's list, which means we have to look to the classics for potential Pick of the Week contenders. Fortunately, there are plenty of those worth picking up. Leading the way is The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki on Blu-ray. It is expensive, but you get a lot for your money. There is another top-notch release this week, Rush - R40 Live on DVD or Blu-ray, which wins the coveted Puck of the Week for best Canadian release. More...

Per Theater Chart: Irrational has Very Reasonable Debut

July 22nd, 2015

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

The $10,000 club was led by Irrational Man with $175,312 in five theaters for an average of $35,062. While this was the best average of the weekend, it was the weakest opening weekend for a Woody Allen movie since You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The Stanford Prison Experiment was next with an average of $18,757 in two theaters. Its reviews are good, but not great, so its chances to expand significantly are still just 50/50. Up next is a pair of wide releases, Ant-Man and Minions, which earned averages of $14,841 and $11,430 respectively. The final entrant in the $10,000 club was Bajrangi Bhaijaan with an average of $10,239; however, it was playing in 256 theaters and arguably it had the most impressive opening for any limited release this week. This is the second weekend in a row a Bollywood film did this well on the per theater chart. More...

Limited and VOD Releases: Holmes is on the Case

July 17th, 2015

Mr. Holmes

There are very few films on this week's list that have a real shot at earning mainstream success. I would like to think Court or A Hard Day could do so, but they are both foreign-language films and that's usually too big of an obstacle to overcome. Mr. Holmes has both the cast and the reviews to thrive, but it is playing in more than 300 theaters. That might be too many to thrive. Let's hope I'm being too pessimistic. More...


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Full Financials
  7. Cast & Crew
  8. Trailer

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 $830,793

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,501-9,600) 9,581 $649,690
All Time International Box Office (Rank 22,601-22,700) 22,614 $18,860
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 16,901-17,000) 16,906 $668,550
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,159 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,425 $649,690
All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,561 $18,860
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,108 $668,550

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

Amazon VOD:Amazon
iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play

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
MPAA Rating: R for language including abusive behavior and some sexual references.
(Rating bulletin 2376, 6/3/2015)
Running Time: 122 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Spy!
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: College, Prison, Cruel Wardens or Prison Guards, Scientific Experiment Gone Awry, Research Scientist, 1970s, Sundance Film Festival 2015
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

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Top 2015 Theater Average 60 $18,757 Jul 17, 2015 3

Lead Ensemble Members

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 Cast

Nelsan Ellis    Jesse Fletcher
Johnny Simmons    Jeff Jansen/1037
Nick Braun    Karl Vandy
Thomas Mann    Prisoner 416
Ki Hong Lee    Gavin Lee/3401

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

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

Home Market Releases for January 12th, 2016

January 12th, 2016

David Bowie: Blackstar

It is a busy week for first run releases with four of them on this week's list. Of these, The Martian is the biggest and the best. It would have been the Pick of the Week except for two things. One, the screener is late. Two, David Bowie passed away over the weekend. He died after an 18-month battle with cancer and just two days after his last album came out. This is the the most poignant Rock'n'Roll death since Freddie Mercury and it seems fitting to give Blackstar the title of Pick of the Week. More...

Home Market Releases for November 17th, 2015

November 17th, 2015

Rush: R40 Live

It's an off week of sorts. The biggest release is extended edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. In fact, there are five versions of this film that are near the top of the list. There are not a lot of other first-run releases on this week's list, which means we have to look to the classics for potential Pick of the Week contenders. Fortunately, there are plenty of those worth picking up. Leading the way is The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki on Blu-ray. It is expensive, but you get a lot for your money. There is another top-notch release this week, Rush - R40 Live on DVD or Blu-ray, which wins the coveted Puck of the Week for best Canadian release. More...

Per Theater Chart: Irrational has Very Reasonable Debut

July 22nd, 2015

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

The $10,000 club was led by Irrational Man with $175,312 in five theaters for an average of $35,062. While this was the best average of the weekend, it was the weakest opening weekend for a Woody Allen movie since You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The Stanford Prison Experiment was next with an average of $18,757 in two theaters. Its reviews are good, but not great, so its chances to expand significantly are still just 50/50. Up next is a pair of wide releases, Ant-Man and Minions, which earned averages of $14,841 and $11,430 respectively. The final entrant in the $10,000 club was Bajrangi Bhaijaan with an average of $10,239; however, it was playing in 256 theaters and arguably it had the most impressive opening for any limited release this week. This is the second weekend in a row a Bollywood film did this well on the per theater chart. More...

Limited and VOD Releases: Holmes is on the Case

July 17th, 2015

Mr. Holmes

There are very few films on this week's list that have a real shot at earning mainstream success. I would like to think Court or A Hard Day could do so, but they are both foreign-language films and that's usually too big of an obstacle to overcome. Mr. Holmes has both the cast and the reviews to thrive, but it is playing in more than 300 theaters. That might be too many to thrive. Let's hope I'm being too pessimistic. More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 9,501-9,600) 9,581 $649,690
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 9,201-9,300) 9,212 $830,793
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 8,601-8,700) 8,680 $649,690
Top 2015 Movies at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 201-300) 240 $649,690
All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,159 $649,690
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office for Limited Release Movies (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,330 $830,793
Top 2015 Limited Release Movies at the Domestic Box Office 99 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 801-900) 831 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 8,501-8,600) 8,566 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 701-800) 761 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,562 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,401-3,500) 3,425 $649,690
All Time Domestic Box Office for IFC Films Movies 73 $649,690

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossDays
Jul 17, 2015 - $10,000   2 $5,000   $10,000 1

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
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

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
United Kingdom 6/10/2016 $2,567 4 4 4 $2,567 6/22/2016
 
Rest of World $16,293
 
International Total$18,860 6/22/2016

International Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time International Box Office (Rank 22,601-22,700) 22,614 $18,860
All Time International Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 21,301-21,400) 21,302 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,518 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 19,301-19,400) 19,359 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,347 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 6,601-6,700) 6,648 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,561 $18,860
All Time International Box Office for IFC Films Movies (Rank 201-300) 294 $18,860

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 16,901-17,000) 16,906 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 15,501-15,600) 15,573 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Based on Real Life Events Movies (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,400 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 14,401-14,500) 14,416 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Dramatization Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,150 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Drama Movies (Rank 4,501-4,600) 4,588 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,108 $668,550
All Time Worldwide Box Office for IFC Films Movies (Rank 101-200) 189 $668,550

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.