42 Budget
Drama2h 8mUpdated
Synopsis
In 1947, Branch Rickey put himself at the forefront of history when he signed Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking Major League Baseball's infamous color line. But the deal also put both Robinson and Rickey in the firing line of the public, the press and other players.
Facing blatant racism from every side, even his own team, Robinson was forced to demonstrate tremendous courage and restraint by not reacting in kind, knowing that any incident could destroy his and Rickey's hopes. Instead, Number 42 let his talent on the field do the talking - ultimately winning over fans and his teammates, silencing his critics, and paving the way for others to follow.
In 1997, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 for all teams, making it the first number in sports to be universally retired. The only exception is every year on April 15th - Jackie Robinson Day - commemorating the date of his first game as a Brooklyn Dodger. On that day alone, players from every team proudly wear the number 42 to honor the man who altered the course of history..
What is the budget of 42?
"42," a drama released in 2013, was directed by Brian Helgeland and stars Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford. The production budget was $40,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for drama productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a drama production like this include:
- Above-the-Line Talent: Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances.
- Location Filming & Period Production Design: Authentic locations , whether contemporary or historical , require scouting, permits, travel, lodging, and often significant dressing to match the story's time period.
- Post-Production, Color Grading & Score: The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone.
- Casting: Boseman's breakthrough role came with 42, in which he portrayed the lead role of Robinson.
What were the major cost factors in 42?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "42."
- Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
How Does 42's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $40,000,000, 42 sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Few Good Men (1992): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $243,240,178
- 8 Mile (2002): Budget $41,000,000, Worldwide Gross $242,875,078
- Along Came Polly (2004): Budget $42,000,000, Worldwide Gross $178,300,000
- 28 Days (2000): Budget $43,000,000, Worldwide Gross $62,198,945
- A Monster Calls (2016): Budget $43,000,000, Worldwide Gross $47,309,313
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
42 Box Office Performance
"42" earned $95,059,709 domestically and $95,020,213 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $40,000,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "42," that break-even threshold was roughly $80,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $95,020,213, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $95,020,213
- Net Return: $55,020,213
- ROI: approximately 137.6%
At 137.6%, "42" earned roughly $2.38 for every $1 invested in production.
42 Production History
Boseman's breakthrough role came with 42, in which he portrayed the lead role of Robinson. When asked about Robinson and Rachel, Hegeland emphasized the importance that the actors "be accepted at once by the audience." He found it tricky for "someone famous to play someone else famous". Boseman had been directing an off-Broadway play in the East Village when he auditioned for the role, and was considering giving up acting to pursue directing full-time.
In the spring of 2012, Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, served as a stand-in for Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Filming at the stadium began on April 21, 2012. Some interior scenes were shot at Atlanta Film Studios Paulding County in Hiram, Georgia.
42s soundtrack features an orchestral score composed by Mark Isham who developed the main themes through piano at his in-built studio in his house. The score had emphasis on French horns and solo trumpet, being the voice of Robinson. Bilge Ebiri of Vulture called it as "predictably twinkly, treacly score" while noting the presence of four musical crescendos in the first fifteen minutes.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 21 nominations total
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, 42 holds an approval rating of 81% based on 195 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some." On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make 42 (2013)?
The production budget was $40,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $20,000,000 - $32,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $60,000,000 - $72,000,000.
How much did 42 (2013) earn at the box office?
42 grossed $95,059,709 domestic, $-39,496 international, totaling $95,020,213 worldwide.
Was 42 (2013) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $95,020,213 against an estimated $100,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing 42?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does 42's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $40,000,000, 42 is classified as a mid-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Few Good Men (1992, $40,000,000); 8 Mile (2002, $41,000,000); Along Came Polly (2004, $42,000,000).
Did 42 (2013) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for 42?
The theatrical ROI was 137.6%, calculated as ($95,020,213 − $40,000,000) ÷ $40,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did 42 (2013) win?
3 wins & 21 nominations total.
Who directed 42 and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Brian Helgeland, written by Brian Helgeland, shot by Don Burgess, with music by Mark Isham, edited by Peter McNulty, Kevin Stitt.
Where was 42 filmed?
42 was filmed in United States of America. In the spring of 2012, Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, served as a stand-in for Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Filming at the stadium began on April 21, 2012. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
42
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