What is the average budget of a movie?
Question by Dave “The Man”: What is the average budget of a movie?
I want to know how much each component of a movie makes. Not the overall cost. So what I’m really asking is: In percentages, how is budget of a movie allotted? In specifics, I would like to know the average (in either percentage or hard number – both would be awesome) for these in particular:
Director
Producer
Writer
Equipment
Sets
Special Effects
Props
The more info you can give me, the better. And remember, percentages, people! I really need it in percentages. Oh, and if this bit of info helps at all, I’m planning on using student actors who won’t cost much (if anything) at all.
In addition, any other money saving ideas for a low budget movie that won’t be detrimental to the quality of my movie would be much appreciated.
Best answer:
Answer by Justin H
I have never heard of any specific formulas that apply to all movies. I know the bulk of the budget usually goes towards sets, costumes, digital effects, and all the related things – including related personnel.
Unless the director or the leading actors are big names, the budget for cast is usually much smaller than you might think. Unless the top name is someone like a Will Smith, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, or some other big name, no one on the cast usually makes more than a couple million. Some of these other names get $ 20 million+ per picture.
When it comes to producers and directors, they often get a cut of the gross rather than a salary. Even some actors like Tom Cruise usually get something off the back end rather than a salary.
The other thing to consider is the type of picture. If it’s just a drama, then it will be a small budget that goes disproportionately to cast. Same if it’s a major studio tent pole with an ensemble cast (something along the lines of Oceans Eleven). If it’s a special effects driven movie, the digital effects can often be more than 50% of the total budget.
What do you think? Answer below!
