Apollo 13 Budget
DramaHistory2h 20mUpdated
Synopsis
Based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon. Astronauts Lovell, Haise and Swigert were scheduled to fly Apollo 14, but are moved up to 13. It's 1970, and The US has already achieved their lunar landing goal, so there's little interest in this "routine" flight.. until that is, things go very wrong, and prospects of a safe return fade.
What is the budget of Apollo 13?
"Apollo 13," a drama released in 1995, was directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton. The production budget was $52,000,000, 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.
What were the major cost factors in Apollo 13?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Apollo 13."
- 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 Apollo 13's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $52,000,000, Apollo 13 sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Mamma Mia! (2008): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $609,841,637
- Catch Me If You Can (2002): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $352,114,312
- Bohemian Rhapsody (2018): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $910,813,521
- Dracula (2025): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $33,593,404
- Moulin Rouge! (2001): Budget $52,500,000, Worldwide Gross $179,213,434
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Apollo 13 Box Office Performance
"Apollo 13" earned $173,837,933 domestically and $355,237,933 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $52,000,000, 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 "Apollo 13," that break-even threshold was roughly $104,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $355,237,933, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $52,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $355,237,933
- Net Return: $303,237,933
- ROI: approximately 583.1%
At 583.1%, "Apollo 13" earned roughly $6.83 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 2 Oscars. 31 wins & 59 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Scott Millan (68th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: David MacMillan (68th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Rick Dior (68th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Steve Pederson (68th Academy Awards)
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Ed Harris
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Tom Hanks
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Ed Harris
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Bill Paxton
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Apollo 13 (1995)?
The production budget was $52,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $26,000,000 - $41,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $78,000,000 - $93,600,000.
How much did Apollo 13 (1995) earn at the box office?
Apollo 13 grossed $173,837,933 domestic, $181,400,000 international, totaling $355,237,933 worldwide.
Was Apollo 13 (1995) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $52,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$130,000,000, the film earned $355,237,933 theatrically - a 583% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Apollo 13?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Apollo 13's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $52,000,000, Apollo 13 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: Mamma Mia! (2008, $52,000,000); Catch Me If You Can (2002, $52,000,000); Bohemian Rhapsody (2018, $52,000,000).
Did Apollo 13 (1995) 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 Apollo 13?
The theatrical ROI was 583.1%, calculated as ($355,237,933 − $52,000,000) ÷ $52,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Apollo 13 (1995) win?
Won 2 Oscars. 31 wins & 59 nominations total.
Who directed Apollo 13 and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Ron Howard, written by Al Reinert, William Broyles Jr., shot by Dean Cundey, with music by James Horner, edited by Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill.
Where was Apollo 13 filmed?
Apollo 13 was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Apollo 13
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