"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.