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Amores Perros movie poster

Amores Perros Budget

2000RDramaThriller2h 34m

Updated

Budget
$2,000,000
Domestic Box Office
$5,408,467
Worldwide Box Office
$20,908,467

Synopsis

On the brink of the new Millennium in the bustling City of Mexico, one horrible car accident intertwines inextricably the lives of three perfect strangers. Octavio, a rebellious adolescent who is secretly in love with his sister-in-law, dreams of escaping his miserable life, and for this reason, he enters reluctantly the obscure world of dog fighting with his lethal dog Cofi. And then unexpectedly, Valeria, a stunning woman and famous supermodel, will cross paths with Octavio, while in the meantime, her pampered little dog Richie manages to vanish into thin air in the confined space of her apartment. Lastly, Chivo, an ex-guerrilla vagabond, after abandoning his little daughter, unable to make up for lost time, he channels his love to the city's strays and a mortally wounded Rottweiler. In the end, even though all the weary characters, men and beasts, wish for a bright future, in this life-changing journey in the pursuit of love, sometimes infidelity, sin and death can get in the way.

What is the budget of Amores Perros?

"Amores Perros," a drama released in 2000, was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and stars Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal. The production budget was $2,000,000, placing it in the micro-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: Produced by Zeta Film and AltaVista Films, production began on 12 April 1999.

What were the major cost factors in Amores Perros?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Amores Perros."

  • 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 Amores Perros's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $2,000,000, Amores Perros sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

  • Seven Samurai (1954): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $105,000,000
  • The Great Dictator (1940): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,000,000
  • Sing Sing (2024): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $3,401,789
  • The Lives of Others (2006): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $77,672,685
  • Anatomy of a Murder (1959): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $8,000,000

The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Amores Perros Box Office Performance

"Amores Perros" earned $5,408,467 domestically and $20,908,467 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $2,000,000, 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 "Amores Perros," that break-even threshold was roughly $4,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $20,908,467, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.

  • Production Budget: $2,000,000
  • Worldwide Gross: $20,908,467
  • Net Return: $18,908,467
  • ROI: approximately 945.4%

At 945.4%, "Amores Perros" earned roughly $10.45 for every $1 invested in production.

Awards and Recognition

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 56 wins & 24 nominations total

  • National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Language Film: Alejandro González Iñárritu
  • BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language: Alejandro González Iñárritu
  • Ariel Award for Best Picture
  • London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did it cost to make Amores Perros (2000)?

The production budget was $2,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,000,000 - $1,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $3,000,000 - $3,600,000.

How much did Amores Perros (2000) earn at the box office?

Amores Perros grossed $5,408,467 domestic, $15,500,000 international, totaling $20,908,467 worldwide.

Was Amores Perros (2000) profitable?

Yes. Against a production budget of $2,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$5,000,000, the film earned $20,908,467 theatrically - a 945% ROI on production costs alone.

What were the biggest costs in producing Amores Perros?

The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Bauche); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.

How does Amores Perros's budget compare to similar drama films?

At $2,000,000, Amores Perros is classified as a micro-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: Seven Samurai (1954, $2,000,000); The Great Dictator (1940, $2,000,000); Sing Sing (2024, $2,000,000).

Did Amores Perros (2000) 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 Amores Perros?

The theatrical ROI was 945.4%, calculated as ($20,908,467 − $2,000,000) ÷ $2,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.

What awards did Amores Perros (2000) win?

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 56 wins & 24 nominations total.

Who directed Amores Perros and who were the key crew members?

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, written by Guillermo Arriaga, shot by Rodrigo Prieto, with music by Gustavo Santaolalla, edited by Luis Carballar, Fernando Pérez Unda.

Where was Amores Perros filmed?

Amores Perros was filmed in Mexico. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Filmmakers

Amores Perros

Producers
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Production Companies
Altavista Films, Zeta Film
Director
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Writers
Guillermo Arriaga
Casting
Manuel Teil, Sonia Guerrero, Jorge Guerrero
Key Cast
Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Bauche, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero, Jorge Salinas
Cinematographer
Rodrigo Prieto
Composer
Gustavo Santaolalla

Official Trailer

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