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Released
2009 · FILM

Whatever Works

A cantankerous New York intellectual begrudgingly takes in an idealistic Southern runaway, forcing both to confront their loneliness and stubborn worldviews as they navigate love, ambition, and the chaos of city life.

“A new comedy!”

Directed by
Woody Allen, Murphy Occhino
Written by
Woody Allen
Rated
MPA · PG-13
Runtime
93 min
ComedyRomance

Synopsis

*Whatever Works* explores the relationship between a crotchety misanthrope, Boris, and a naïve, impressionable young runaway from the south, Melody. When Melody arrives in New York City, she ends up staying with Boris, whose abrasive personality and unconventional views challenge her perception of the world. As their lives become increasingly entangled, the film delves into themes of loneliness, personal growth, and the unexpected connections that can form between people from very different backgrounds.

Credits

Actors
Editor
Production Designer
Director of Photography
Writers
Directors

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How many hands made this film

The scale of the collaboration

A crew of 173+ credited

Why a floor?

This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.

Craft leads on file

Edited by Alisa LepselterShot by Harris SavidesDesigned by Santo LoquastoSound by Gary AlperCostumes by Suzy BenzingerStunts by Peter BucossiVFX by Randall Balsmeyer

Box Office

2009 · Box office

⚖️ Fell short of break-even — grossed 2.4× its budget

Why 2.5×?

Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).

Worldwide gross

$36.0M

Budget$15.0M
Worldwide gross$36.0M
break-even (2.5×)

US & Canada: $5.3M — 15% of worldwide · International: $30.7M (85%)

Opening weekend: $266K — 5% of its US run. It had legs — it kept earning long after opening weekend.

Opening week (7-day): $379K — 7% of its US & Canada run.

Peak 9 theaters

Versions & cuts

  • Tribeca· 92 min

Also known as

  • Whatever Works - Liebe sich wer kannde
  • Si la cosa funcionaes
  • Basta che funzioniit
  • Whatever Works - Basta che funzioniit
  • (English)Whatever Works
  • (Bulgarian)Каквото дойде
Release dates around the world3 countries · show
  • United StatesApr 22, 2009
  • FranceJun 19, 2009
  • CanadaJun 26, 2009

Companies

ProductionPerdido Productions, Sony Pictures Classics, Wild Bunch, Gravier Productions
DistributionSony Pictures Classics, ACME, Audio Visual Entertainment, Medusa Distribuzione
Special effectsBig Film Design
Other companiesWild Bunch, 42West, AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services, ARRI Camera Service Center, Carhartt, Cast & Crew Entertainment Services

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