Appaloosa Budget

What is the budget of Appaloosa?

"Appaloosa," a drama released in 2008, was directed by Ed Harris and stars Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris. The production budget was $20,000,000, 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: Appaloosa marks Ed Harris's second outing as director, following the 2000 biopic Pollock, in which he also starred; Harris co-wrote and co-produced Appaloosa with Robert Knott.

What were the major cost factors in Appaloosa?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Appaloosa."

• 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 Appaloosa's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $20,000,000, Appaloosa sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

• 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
• A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
• A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070

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

Appaloosa Box Office Performance

"Appaloosa" earned $20,211,394 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Appaloosa," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $20,211,394, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.

• Production Budget: $20,000,000
• Worldwide Gross: $20,211,394
• Net Return: $211,394
• ROI: approximately 1.1%

At 1.1%, "Appaloosa" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.

Appaloosa Production History

The soundtrack to Appaloosa was released on September 30, 2008.

Awards and Recognition

5 wins total

Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Appaloosa has an approval rating of 77% based on 162 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The consensus reads, "A traditional-genre Western, Appaloosa sets itself apart with smart psychology, an intriguing love triangle, and good chemistry between the leads."