A Civil Action Budget
Drama1h 55mUpdated
Synopsis
"A Civil Action" is a gripping legal drama based on the true story of environmental contamination and the fight for justice. The film follows Jan Schlichtmann, a tenacious personal injury lawyer portrayed by John Travolta, who takes on a case involving the families of children suffering from leukemia in a small Massachusetts town. As he delves deeper into the investigation, Schlichtmann uncovers a web of corporate negligence linked to two major companies accused of polluting the local water supply.
Faced with mounting challenges, including financial strain and the complexities of the legal system, Schlichtmann's determination is put to the test. The narrative explores themes of morality, the impact of corporate greed, and the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice. With a powerful supporting cast, including Robert Duvall and William H. Macy, "A Civil Action" highlights the emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by those who dare to confront powerful adversaries in the name of truth.
What is the budget of A Civil Action?
"A Civil Action," a drama released in 1998, was directed by Steven Zaillian and stars John Travolta, Robert Duvall. The production budget was $70,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for drama productions of the 1990s.
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.
- Filming & Locations: The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston.
What were the major cost factors in A Civil Action?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "A Civil Action."
- 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 A Civil Action's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $70,000,000, A Civil Action sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 300 (2007): Budget $65,000,000, Worldwide Gross $456,082,343
- A Knight's Tale (2001): Budget $65,000,000, Worldwide Gross $117,487,473
- 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001): Budget $62,000,000, Worldwide Gross $18,720,175
- 2 Guns (2013): Budget $61,000,000, Worldwide Gross $131,940,411
- 15 Minutes (2001): Budget $60,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,359,980
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
A Civil Action Box Office Performance
"A Civil Action" earned $56,709,981 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $70,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "A Civil Action," that break-even threshold was roughly $140,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $56,709,981, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $70,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $56,709,981
- Net Return: −$13,290,019
- ROI: approximately -19%
At -19%, "A Civil Action" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
A Civil Action Production History
The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston. The casting company hired many factory workers as extras for the film. [Filming] The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 5 wins & 10 nominations total
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, A Civil Action has an approval rating of 64% based on reviews from 72 critics. The site's consensus called the film "Intelligent and unconventional." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 68 out of 100, based on reviews from 26 critics indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B on scale of A to F.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make A Civil Action (1998)?
The production budget was $70,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $35,000,000 - $56,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $105,000,000 - $126,000,000.
How much did A Civil Action (1998) earn at the box office?
A Civil Action grossed $56,709,981 domestic, totaling $56,709,981 worldwide.
Was A Civil Action (1998) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $56,709,981 against an estimated $175,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing A Civil Action?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does A Civil Action's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $70,000,000, A Civil Action is classified as a mid-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 300 (2007, $65,000,000); A Knight's Tale (2001, $65,000,000); 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001, $62,000,000).
Did A Civil Action (1998) 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 A Civil Action?
The theatrical ROI was -19.0%, calculated as ($56,709,981 − $70,000,000) ÷ $70,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did A Civil Action (1998) win?
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 5 wins & 10 nominations total.
Who directed A Civil Action and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Steven Zaillian, written by Steven Zaillian, shot by Conrad Hall, with music by Danny Elfman, edited by Wayne Wahrman.
Where was A Civil Action filmed?
A Civil Action was filmed in United States of America. The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston. The casting company hired many factory workers as extras for the film. [Filming] The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts; Dedham, Massachusetts; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Northbridge, Massachusetts; Palmer, Massachusetts; Fenway Park; Boston Public Garden; and Beacon Hill, Boston. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
A Civil Action
Official Trailer
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