I think generally twice the budget to break even. Anything past that is a success. However, it varies depending on marketing and expectations. Some sleeper hits make multiple times their budget on minimal marketing, just from word of mouth. Some huge blockbusters spend lots on marketing and barely make a profit without going over 2.5 times budget.
I don’t know what made you think that, but you’re wrong. Both Tron 1 and Tron 2 were moderate successes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tron:_Legacy
2.5 the budget is a financial success.
Tron 82 cost 17 mill to make and made 32 mill.
Tron Legacy cost 170 mill to make and made 400 mill.
The Wikipedia articles literally say “moderate success”
That’s assuming today’s standards for a film’s financial success are the same as in the early 80s. Were they?
I think generally twice the budget to break even. Anything past that is a success. However, it varies depending on marketing and expectations. Some sleeper hits make multiple times their budget on minimal marketing, just from word of mouth. Some huge blockbusters spend lots on marketing and barely make a profit without going over 2.5 times budget.