A Dangerous Method Budget
Drama1h 39mUpdated
Synopsis
On the eve of World War I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, A Dangerous Method takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross, a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries.
In this exploration of sensuality, ambition and deceit set the scene for the pivotal moment when Jung, Freud and Sabina come together and split apart, forever changing the face of modern thought.
What is the budget of A Dangerous Method?
"A Dangerous Method," a drama released in 2011, was directed by David Cronenberg and stars Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen. The production budget was $15,000,000, placing it in the low-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.
- Production: Hampton's earliest version of the screenplay, dating back to the 1990s, was written for Julia Roberts in the role of Sabina Spielrein, but the film was never realized.
What were the major cost factors in A Dangerous Method?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "A Dangerous Method."
- 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 Dangerous Method's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $15,000,000, A Dangerous Method sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 127 Hours (2010): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $35,700,000
- A Cinderella Story (2004): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $70,067,909
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
A Dangerous Method Box Office Performance
"A Dangerous Method" earned $5,704,709 domestically and $27,462,041 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $15,000,000, 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 "A Dangerous Method," that break-even threshold was roughly $30,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $27,462,041, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $15,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $27,462,041
- Net Return: $12,462,041
- ROI: approximately 83.1%
At 83.1%, "A Dangerous Method" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
19 wins & 38 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make A Dangerous Method (2011)?
The production budget was $15,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $7,500,000 - $12,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $22,500,000 - $27,000,000.
How much did A Dangerous Method (2011) earn at the box office?
A Dangerous Method grossed $5,704,709 domestic, $21,757,332 international, totaling $27,462,041 worldwide.
Was A Dangerous Method (2011) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $27,462,041 against an estimated $37,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing A Dangerous Method?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada.
How does A Dangerous Method's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $15,000,000, A Dangerous Method is classified as a low-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: 127 Hours (2010, $18,000,000); A Cinderella Story (2004, $19,000,000); 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000).
Did A Dangerous Method (2011) 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 Dangerous Method?
The theatrical ROI was 83.1%, calculated as ($27,462,041 − $15,000,000) ÷ $15,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did A Dangerous Method (2011) win?
19 wins & 38 nominations total.
Who directed A Dangerous Method and who were the key crew members?
Directed by David Cronenberg, written by Christopher Hampton, shot by Peter Suschitzky, with music by Howard Shore, edited by Ronald Sanders.
Where was A Dangerous Method filmed?
A Dangerous Method was filmed in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
A Dangerous Method
Official Trailer
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