Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Budget
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Synopsis
"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" (2009) is a gripping crime drama directed by Werner Herzog, featuring Nicolas Cage in a standout performance as Terence McDonagh, a corrupt and drug-addicted police officer in post-Katrina New Orleans. The film follows McDonagh as he navigates the chaotic landscape of the city, grappling with his own moral decay while investigating the murder of a Senegalese family. As he delves deeper into the case, his addiction spirals out of control, leading him into a world of violence, betrayal, and desperation. The narrative explores themes of redemption and the human condition, showcasing McDonagh's struggle between his duties as a law enforcement officer and his self-destructive tendencies. With Herzog's unique directorial style, the film presents a haunting yet darkly humorous portrayal of a man on the edge, ultimately questioning the nature of justice in a city rife with corruption.
What is the budget of Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans?
"Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans," a drama released in 2009, was directed by Werner Herzog and stars Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes. The production budget was $25,000,000, 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.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography began on July 7, 2008, in Louisiana and also around South Mississippi, shooting some scenes at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.
What were the major cost factors in Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans."
- 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 Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000,000, Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $133,000,000
- A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,700,000
- Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,719,357
- All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,000,000
- August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $66,122,026
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans Box Office Performance
"Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans" earned $1,702,112 domestically and $10,589,102 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans," that break-even threshold was roughly $50,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $10,589,102, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $25,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $10,589,102
- Net Return: −$14,410,898
- ROI: approximately -57.6%
At -57.6%, "Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Bad Lieutenant Port of Call New Orleans Production History
Principal photography began on July 7, 2008, in Louisiana and also around South Mississippi, shooting some scenes at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis. [Filming] Principal photography began on July 7, 2008, in Louisiana and also around South Mississippi, shooting some scenes at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 13 nominations total
Critical Reception
The film received largely positive reviews from critics. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 86% rating based on 154 reviews, with a rating average of 7.24/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Befitting its unorthodox origins, this Bad Lieutenant benefits from Werner Herzog's typically fearless direction and a delightfully unhinged Nicolas Cage in the title role." On Metacritic, the film has a 69 out of 100 rating based on 32 critics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans cost to make?
The production budget was $25,000,000. Nu Image and Millennium Films financed the project, with First Look Studios initially attached to distribute. The film exploited Louisiana's film tax credit program for a substantial portion of the production budget.
How much did the film earn at the box office?
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans grossed $1,725,083 domestically and $7,000,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $8,700,000. It opened to a soft $1,053,000 on November 20, 2009, in a limited 64-theater release.
Is this film a sequel to the 1992 Bad Lieutenant?
No. Werner Herzog has been emphatic that the film is not a sequel or remake of Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant (1992). The shared title was a producer decision over Herzog's objections; Herzog later said he had not seen Ferrara's film and had no awareness of it during production.
Who directed Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans?
Werner Herzog directed the film. Herzog's prior feature work included Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972), Fitzcarraldo (1982), Grizzly Man (2005), and Rescue Dawn (2006). Bad Lieutenant marked one of his rare engagements with the contemporary American studio system.
Who stars in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans?
Nicolas Cage stars as Terence McDonagh, a corrupt New Orleans homicide detective with an addiction to painkillers. Eva Mendes plays prostitute Frankie Donnenfeld, with Val Kilmer, Jennifer Coolidge, Brad Dourif, Fairuza Balk, Shawn Hatosy, and Xzibit in supporting roles.
Where was Bad Lieutenant filmed?
Principal photography took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008. The post-Hurricane Katrina setting was integral to the script, with location work in the French Quarter, the Lower Ninth Ward, and various working police precincts. Louisiana's film tax credit provided a 25% to 30% rebate on qualified spending.
What did critics think of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans?
The film received strong reviews, with an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised Nicolas Cage's manic central performance, which Roger Ebert called one of the actor's career-best, and Herzog's surreal directorial choices.
Was Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans profitable?
No. Against the $25,000,000 production budget and an estimated $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $8,700,000 represented a substantial theatrical loss. Strong home video and critical reputation extended the film's cultural footprint, but not enough to recoup the production investment.
Did the iguana scene actually happen on set?
Yes. The hallucinatory iguana scenes were shot with real iguanas, with Werner Herzog personally operating the handheld camera for those takes after the scheduled cinematographer declined. Herzog described the iguana sequences as among the most enjoyable directorial work of his career.
How does Bad Lieutenant compare to other Werner Herzog American features?
Bad Lieutenant's $8,700,000 worldwide gross outperformed Herzog's Rescue Dawn (2006, $10,000,000 budget, $7,200,000 worldwide) but fell short of his documentary Grizzly Man (2005, $3,400,000 worldwide on a tiny budget). His subsequent My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) had a smaller release and a similar break-even outcome.
Official Trailer
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