A Few Good Men Budget
Drama2h 18mUpdated
Synopsis
"A Few Good Men" is a gripping courtroom drama that delves into the complexities of military justice and moral dilemmas. The story follows Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, a young and somewhat apathetic Navy lawyer, who is assigned to defend two Marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier at Guantanamo Bay. As Kaffee navigates the intricacies of the case, he teams up with the determined Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, who believes there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
As the trial unfolds, the tension escalates, revealing a web of loyalty, honor, and the harsh realities of military life. The film culminates in a powerful confrontation between Kaffee and Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, the commanding officer whose orders may have led to the tragic events. With memorable performances and sharp dialogue, "A Few Good Men" challenges viewers to consider the cost of truth and the moral responsibilities of those in power.
What is the budget of A Few Good Men?
"A Few Good Men," a drama released in 1992, was directed by Rob Reiner and stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson. The production budget was $40,000,000, placing it in the mid-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: Filming began on October 21, 1991, at the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C.
What were the major cost factors in A Few Good Men?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "A Few Good Men."
- 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 Few Good Men's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $40,000,000, A Few Good Men sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 42 (2013): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $95,020,213
- 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 era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
A Few Good Men Box Office Performance
"A Few Good Men" earned $141,340,178 domestically and $243,240,178 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $40,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "A Few Good Men," that break-even threshold was roughly $80,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $243,240,178, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $243,240,178
- Net Return: $203,240,178
- ROI: approximately 508.1%
At 508.1%, "A Few Good Men" earned roughly $6.08 for every $1 invested in production.
A Few Good Men Production History
Filming began on October 21, 1991, at the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. The film's Guantanamo Bay scenes were filmed in Southern California at Crystal Cove State Park, Fort MacArthur, and Naval Air Station Point Mugu. Although 200 off-duty Marines were allowed to serve as extras for the film, the U.S.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 4 Oscars. 11 wins & 30 nominations total
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor: Jack Nicholson
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- MTV Movie Award for Best Movie
- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson
Critical Reception
left|On Rotten Tomatoes, A Few Good Men has an approval rating of 85% based on 133 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "An old-fashioned courtroom drama with a contemporary edge, A Few Good Men succeeds on the strength of its stars, with Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and especially Jack Nicholson delivering powerful performances that more than compensate for the predictable plot." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 62 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make A Few Good Men (1992)?
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 A Few Good Men (1992) earn at the box office?
A Few Good Men grossed $141,340,178 domestic, $101,900,000 international, totaling $243,240,178 worldwide.
Was A Few Good Men (1992) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $40,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$100,000,000, the film earned $243,240,178 theatrically - a 508% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing A Few Good Men?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does A Few Good Men's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $40,000,000, A Few Good Men 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: 42 (2013, $40,000,000); 8 Mile (2002, $41,000,000); Along Came Polly (2004, $42,000,000).
Did A Few Good Men (1992) 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 Few Good Men?
The theatrical ROI was 508.1%, calculated as ($243,240,178 − $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 A Few Good Men (1992) win?
Nominated for 4 Oscars. 11 wins & 30 nominations total.
Who directed A Few Good Men and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Rob Reiner, written by Aaron Sorkin, shot by Robert Richardson, with music by Marc Shaiman, edited by Robert Leighton, Steven Nevius.
Where was A Few Good Men filmed?
A Few Good Men was filmed in United States of America. Filming began on October 21, 1991, at the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. The film's Guantanamo Bay scenes were filmed in Southern California at Crystal Cove State Park, Fort MacArthur, and Naval Air Station Point Mugu. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
A Few Good Men
Official Trailer
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