Here’s How Much Each Jason Bourne Movie Made at the Box Office

As a longtime fan of the Bourne series, I must say that each new installment has been a thrilling ride for me. The way these movies blend high-octane action with thought-provoking political commentary is truly unique and captivating.

In modern-day Hollywood, few film characters encapsulate the 21st century as well as Jason Bourne. Originally conceived by Robert Ludlum, this iconic character, brought to life by Matt Damon in all cinematic adaptations, was first introduced in three of Ludlum’s novels from 1980 to 1990. Later, Eric Van Lustbader wrote eleven novels about Bourne between 2004 and 2019, while Brian Freeman has penned three since 2020. Excitingly for fans, a new installment is currently in development.

How did the Bourne films fare at the cinema? Generally speaking, the Bourne movies distributed by Universal Pictures have enjoyed successful theatrical performances. With each movie delivering high-quality content and a steady supply of additional reading material, fan excitement has stayed consistently high. The latest release boasts the best numbers yet, suggesting that Universal Pictures could look forward to further success if they continue their current strategy.

Here’s how the box office numbers look for each Jason Bourne Film, ranked from lowest to highest.

5 The Bourne Identity (2002)

$214 Million

Efforts to create a film based on the character Jason Bourne started as far back as 1981, but progress was often delayed due to typical hurdles in production known as development hell. However, things took a turn when director Doug Liman expressed interest and Universal Studios acquired the rights from Warner Bros. This led us to witness “The Bourne Identity,” an intriguing tale about a man suffering from psychogenic amnesia who is pulled from the Mediterranean Sea by fishermen. He embarks on a journey to discover his real identity, which leads him to be pursued by assassins and ultimately unveil a massive CIA conspiracy.

Powering Through a Stacked 2002 Summer

At first, Liman considered reaching out to well-known actors such as Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone for the part of Jason Bourne. It’s uncertain if the profits could have been greater with them involved, but we’re delighted that Matt Damon ended up being cast instead.

In the sweltering heat of summer 2002, I found myself amidst a cinematic battleground with The Bourne Identity. Titans like xXx, Men in Black II, Spider-Man, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and even the ever-entertaining Austin Powers in Goldmember were all vying for the audience’s attention. But, much like its titular character, the film proved resilient and persevered. With its pulsating momentum and enigmatic atmosphere, it managed to carve out a niche for itself, drawing in enough viewers to ensure a sequel.

4 The Bourne Legacy (2012)

$276 Million

The Bourne Legacy is essentially a film revolving around the Jason Bourne universe, but without Jason Bourne himself in the lead role. Though images of him and numerous mentions pepper the narrative, it’s Matt Damon who opted out if director Paul Greengrass wasn’t involved again. With Damon stepping aside, Jeremy Renner was brought on board to play Aaron Cross, a member of a clandestine program named Outcome. Living a tranquil, intellectual existence, Cross’ peace is shattered when Eric Byer (Edward Norton), the architect of the unit, decides to wipe out everyone associated with it.

Matt Damon’s Absence Discouraged Some Fans

Despite being well-received within its genre, The Bourne Legacy underperformed in terms of franchise standards, a result that can be expected given it was a Bourne film without Jason Bourne himself. The decision to create a Bourne movie sans Bourne was bound to disappoint some loyal fans. At the time, Jeremy Renner was not as established an actor as he is today. Regardless, the fourth installment continues to be an overlooked gem in the spy genre. Renner delivers an impressive performance, and so does the rest of the cast.

3 The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

$290 Million

In “The Bourne Supremacy,” Jason Bourne seems to have found tranquility in India, but his peace is disrupted when Russian agent Kirill (Karl Urban from “The Boys”) falsely accuses him of stealing millions from the CIA. Kirill then pursues Bourne with the intention of eliminating him, and unfortunately, a bullet intended for Bourne kills his girlfriend, Marie instead. This sets off the classic scenario where the protagonist avenges the death of their lover, as Bourne seeks justice while also working to clear his name.

Audiences Were Eager to See What’s Next

With the first entry proving incredibly engaging, many flocked to buy tickets, anxious to witness Bourne’s next move. Nominated for multiple awards, such as three at the World Stunt Awards, this clever and skeptical installment serves both as a timely critique of the American intelligence apparatus, and a thrilling action movie. Each member of the supporting cast delivers exceptional performances that align perfectly with director Paul Greengrass’ sharp script. It comes as no surprise that the film spent eight of its first nine weeks in the Top 10 at the domestic box office.

2 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

$444 Million

2007’s top ten films, as selected by the National Board of Review, includes “The Bourne Ultimatum.” In this final installment, Jason Bourne continues his vengeful pursuit. When a reporter from “The Guardian” uncovers classified CIA operations, he digs deeper, prompting Bourne to promise him all the necessary intel to bring Bourne’s former employers to justice. However, things escalate as shadowy figures dispatch assassins to eliminate both Bourne and the journalist, creating a deadly cat-and-mouse game.

A Win for Both Matt Damon and the Studio

Despite having the same title as Robert Ludlum’s 1990 best-selling novel, it tells a completely different story. However, this isn’t necessarily a drawback. With its atmospheric, sometimes even poetic, depiction, this visually captivating spy-action movie encourages us to reflect on societal matters such as the struggle of conformity, the inevitability of change, and the urge to act righteously.

The film “The Bourne Ultimatum,” with Matt Damon as the lead, notched up an impressive worldwide gross of $444.1 million, surpassing its production budget of $110 million. This made it Matt Damon’s most financially successful movie to date. Furthermore, its opening weekend earnings of $69,283,690 set a new record for the highest August opening weekend, outperforming “Rush Hour 3.” The title held this spot for an impressive seven years until it was eventually surpassed by James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” in 2014.

1 Jason Bourne (2016)

$415 Million

In a shocking twist, Matt Damon’s reappearance in the series took everyone by surprise. It seemed as though he yearned for the character of Bourne, and the franchise felt the same way. This time around, director Paul Greengrass opted against using a convoluted title like “The Bourne Whatever”. Instead, he chose the straightforward Jason Bourne, which proved effective. In the opening scenes, it’s hinted that either the CIA is inept or Bourne is exceptionally elusive, as they have yet to apprehend him. To track him down, they dispatch Heather Lee, head of cyber-security. Simultaneously, Bourne endeavors to unearth information about his father’s past.

Bourne’s Return Was Justified

Jason Bourne is a heartfelt and beautifully captured story revolving around a well-known character. Director Paul Greengrass delicately manages the narrative with admirable restraint and sensitivity, incorporating more dialogue and espionage visuals compared to previous installments. As a result, the film turned out to be a significant commercial success, earning nearly triple its production cost. In 50 different countries, it debuted at the top spot, making it the highest-grossing film in the Bourne series. Notably, it was also one of the second-highest grossing Hollywood films of 2016, trailing only movies based on comic book superheroes or talking animal cartoons.

2024-10-29 02:32