6 Underground is the latest action extravaganza from director Michael Bay, but how much did it cost to make? As most viewers know, the director is no stranger to bombastic spectacle, which is why his films always look great on the big screen. However, this time around audiences get to experience the "Bayhem" in a different manner. While it is playing in a very limited number of theaters in certain markets, 6 Underground is a Netflix film, meaning most people will watch it from the comfort of their own homes on the streaming service.
Even though 6 Underground will largely be seen on TVs and mobile devices, Bay stayed true to his very distinct style while making the movie. Marketing materials have told viewers this is very much a classic Bay production, complete with all the over-the-top set pieces moviegoers have come to expect. Like other Netflix original films, 6 Underground's visuals look extremely cinematic, suggesting the company didn't cut corners when funding the project. As it turns out, this was a pricey endeavor.
The production budget for 6 Underground is reportedly $150 million, which is in the same ballpark of 2019 theatrical tentpoles like Captain Marvel ($152 million), Spider-Man: Far From Home ($160 million), and Detective Pikachu ($150 million). 6 Underground is actually cheaper than some notable box office flops from this year, including Dark Phoenix ($200 million) and Terminator: Dark Fate ($185 million).
Normally, a film's production budget is the barometer for how much it needs to gross in order to turn a profit. If 6 Underground was getting a traditional theatrical release, it'd need to earn approximately $300 million worldwide just to break even. But because this is a Netflix film, that line of thinking essentially goes out the window. Whether 6 Underground is a success or not won't be determined by ticket sales; Netflix is hoping this attracts large viewership figures over the holiday season. What 6 Underground's price tag shows is Netflix will fork over the money for a project they believe is worthwhile. Martin Scorsese's The Irishman cost $159 million due to the extensive digital de-aging visual effects used throughout the film. In their quest to provide high-profile content amidst the streaming wars, Netflix doesn't blink at sizable investments.
Funnily enough, the Netflix release may benefit 6 Underground. Outside of the Deadpool series, Reynolds frankly isn't the biggest box office draw; even the well-received Detective Pikachu brought in $144.1 million domestically. His biggest non-franchise film in the past few years is The Hitman's Bodyguard, which earned a modest $75.4 million in the U.S. Bay, who's long found box office success, took a bit of a hit when Transformers: The Last Knight underwhelmed with $130.1 million domestically. This isn't to say 6 Underground wouldn't have been able to find an audience if it was playing in theaters, but the odds likely would have been stacked against it. Now, it doesn't have to worry about any competition at the multiplex and can just enjoy life as a home viewing option.
