Be Kind Rewind Budget
DramaComedy1h 42mUpdated
Synopsis
"Be Kind Rewind" is a quirky comedy directed by Michel Gondry that revolves around two friends, Mike and Jerry, who work at a struggling video rental store in Passaic, New Jersey. When Jerry accidentally erases all the tapes in the store, the duo hatches a plan to recreate the films themselves, using their limited resources and a healthy dose of creativity. As they produce their own low-budget versions of popular movies, the project unexpectedly attracts a loyal following from the local community. The film explores themes of friendship, creativity, and the nostalgia of cinema, all while delivering a heartfelt message about the importance of storytelling and the joy of collaboration. With its unique blend of humor and charm, "Be Kind Rewind" celebrates the magic of movies and the power of imagination.
What is the budget of Be Kind Rewind?
"Be Kind Rewind," a drama released in 2008, was directed by Michel Gondry and stars Jack Black, Yasiin Bey. 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.
What were the major cost factors in Be Kind Rewind?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Be Kind Rewind."
- 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 Be Kind Rewind's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Be Kind Rewind 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.
Be Kind Rewind Box Office Performance
"Be Kind Rewind" earned $11,175,164 domestically and $30,600,000 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 "Be Kind Rewind," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $30,600,000, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $30,600,000
- Net Return: $10,600,000
- ROI: approximately 53%
At 53%, "Be Kind Rewind" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
4 nominations total
Critical Reception
Writing in The New York Times, reviewer A. O. Scott called the film "inviting, undemanding and altogether wonderful" and added that "you'll want to see it again, or at least Swede it yourself."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Be Kind Rewind (2008)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Be Kind Rewind (2008) earn at the box office?
Be Kind Rewind grossed $11,175,164 domestic, $19,424,836 international, totaling $30,600,000 worldwide.
Was Be Kind Rewind (2008) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $30,600,000 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Be Kind Rewind?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Jack Black, Yasiin Bey, Danny Glover); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across United States of America, France.
How does Be Kind Rewind's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, Be Kind Rewind is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Be Kind Rewind (2008) 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 Be Kind Rewind?
The theatrical ROI was 53.0%, calculated as ($30,600,000 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Be Kind Rewind (2008) win?
4 nominations total.
Who directed Be Kind Rewind and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Michel Gondry, written by Michel Gondry, shot by Ellen Kuras, with music by Jean-Michel Bernard, edited by Jeff Buchanan.
Where was Be Kind Rewind filmed?
Be Kind Rewind was filmed in United States of America, France. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Be Kind Rewind
Official Trailer
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