Bacurau Budget
Updated
Synopsis
Bacurau, a small settlement in Brazil's remote backcountry, is shaken by the death of its elderly matriarch. But something strange is happening in the village, and there's little time for mourning. The water supply has been cut off, animals are stampeding through the streets, and empty coffins are turning up on the roadside. One morning, the villagers wake up to find their home has disappeared from satellite maps completely. Under threat from an unknown enemy, Bacurau braces itself for a bloody, brutal fight for survival.
What is the budget of Bacurau?
"Bacurau," a mystery released in 2019, was directed by Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho and stars Bárbara Colen, Thomás Aquino. The production budget was $1,430,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for mystery productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a mystery production like this include:
- Talent & Director Compensation: Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
- Cinematography & Location Photography: Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages , surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
- Editorial & Sound Post-Production: Precision editing , controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals , requires extended post-production schedules.
What were the major cost factors in Bacurau?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Bacurau."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in mystery productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in mystery productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in mystery productions of this scale.
How Does Bacurau's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $1,430,000, Bacurau sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Embrace of the Serpent (2015): Budget $1,400,000, Worldwide Gross $1,320,005
- Dial M for Murder (1954): Budget $1,400,000, Worldwide Gross $3,000,000
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): Budget $1,400,000, Worldwide Gross $171,181,400
- Shelby Oaks (2025): Budget $1,400,000, Worldwide Gross $2,350,523
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938): Budget $1,488,423, Worldwide Gross $184,925,486
The median budget for wide-release mystery films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Bacurau Box Office Performance
"Bacurau" earned $58,115 domestically and $3,554,178 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $1,430,000, 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 "Bacurau," that break-even threshold was roughly $2,860,000. With worldwide earnings of $3,554,178, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $1,430,000
- Worldwide Gross: $3,554,178
- Net Return: $2,124,178
- ROI: approximately 148.5%
At 148.5%, "Bacurau" earned roughly $2.49 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
52 wins & 71 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Bacurau (2019)?
The production budget was $1,430,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $715,000 - $1,144,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $2,145,000 - $2,574,000.
How much did Bacurau (2019) earn at the box office?
Bacurau grossed $58,115 domestic, $3,496,063 international, totaling $3,554,178 worldwide.
Was Bacurau (2019) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $3,554,178 against an estimated $3,575,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Bacurau?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Bárbara Colen, Thomás Aquino, Silvero Pereira); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial; international production across Brazil, France.
How does Bacurau's budget compare to similar mystery films?
At $1,430,000, Bacurau is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release mystery films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Embrace of the Serpent (2015, $1,400,000); Dial M for Murder (1954, $1,400,000); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, $1,400,000).
Did Bacurau (2019) 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 Bacurau?
The theatrical ROI was 148.5%, calculated as ($3,554,178 − $1,430,000) ÷ $1,430,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Bacurau (2019) win?
52 wins & 71 nominations total.
Who directed Bacurau and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, written by Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho, shot by Pedro Sotero, with music by Mateus Alves, Tomaz Alves de Souza, edited by Eduardo Serrano.
Where was Bacurau filmed?
Bacurau was filmed in Brazil, France. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Bacurau
Official Trailer
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