A History of Violence Budget
DramaThrillerCrime1h 36mUpdated
Synopsis
"A History of Violence" is a gripping psychological thriller directed by David Cronenberg, based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke. The film follows Tom Stall, a seemingly ordinary family man living in a small Indiana town. His life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes a local hero after thwarting a violent robbery at his diner, which catapults him into the media spotlight.
As Tom's newfound fame grows, so does the scrutiny of his past. Mysterious figures from his previous life emerge, threatening to unravel the peaceful existence he has built with his wife, Edie, and their two children. The tension escalates as Tom is forced to confront the dark secrets he has buried, leading to a harrowing exploration of identity, violence, and the consequences of one's actions. The film masterfully blends elements of suspense and drama, ultimately questioning the nature of violence and its impact on family and society.
What is the budget of A History of Violence?
"A History of Violence," a drama released in 2005, was directed by David Cronenberg and stars Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello. The production budget was $32,000,000, 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.
- Production: The film is loosely based on the original graphic novel. Screenwriter Josh Olson intended from the beginning to use the original story as a springboard to explore the themes that interested him.
What were the major cost factors in A History of Violence?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "A History of Violence."
- 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 History of Violence's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $32,000,000, A History of Violence sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Alive (1993): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,700,000
- Apocalypse Now (1979): Budget $31,500,000, Worldwide Gross $150,000,000
- 21 Bridges (2019): Budget $33,000,000, Worldwide Gross $49,900,000
- Arachnophobia (1990): Budget $31,000,000, Worldwide Gross $53,200,000
- A Hologram for the King (2016): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,169,507
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
A History of Violence Box Office Performance
"A History of Violence" earned $31,504,633 domestically and $61,477,797 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $32,000,000, 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 History of Violence," that break-even threshold was roughly $64,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $61,477,797, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $32,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $61,477,797
- Net Return: $29,477,797
- ROI: approximately 92.1%
At 92.1%, "A History of Violence" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
A History of Violence Production History
The soundtrack to A History of Violence was released on October 11, 2005. The score was composed by Howard Shore.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 37 wins & 84 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Critical Reception
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make A History of Violence (2005)?
The production budget was $32,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $16,000,000 - $25,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $48,000,000 - $57,600,000.
How much did A History of Violence (2005) earn at the box office?
A History of Violence grossed $31,504,633 domestic, $29,973,164 international, totaling $61,477,797 worldwide.
Was A History of Violence (2005) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $61,477,797 against an estimated $80,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing A History of Violence?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Germany, United States of America.
How does A History of Violence's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $32,000,000, A History of Violence is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Alive (1993, $32,000,000); Apocalypse Now (1979, $31,500,000); 21 Bridges (2019, $33,000,000).
Did A History of Violence (2005) 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 History of Violence?
The theatrical ROI was 92.1%, calculated as ($61,477,797 − $32,000,000) ÷ $32,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did A History of Violence (2005) win?
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 37 wins & 84 nominations total.
Who directed A History of Violence and who were the key crew members?
Directed by David Cronenberg, written by Josh Olson, shot by Peter Suschitzky, with music by Howard Shore, edited by Ronald Sanders.
Where was A History of Violence filmed?
A History of Violence was filmed in Germany, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
A History of Violence
Official Trailer
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