Beats Budget
Updated
Synopsis
Two best friends in a small Scottish town in the summer of '94 who head out for one last night together before life takes them in different directions. Going to an illegal rave, the boys journey into an underworld of anarchy, freedom and collision with the law as they share a night that they will never forget.
What is the budget of Beats?
"Beats," a drama released in 2019, was directed by Brian Welsh and stars Lorn Macdonald, Laura Fraser. The production budget was $25,000, placing it in the micro-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 Beats?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Beats."
- 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 Beats's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000, Beats sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Cure (1997): Budget $20,000, Worldwide Gross $234,821
- Rome, Open City (1945): Budget $20,000, Worldwide Gross $1,000,000
- Terrifier (2018): Budget $35,000, Worldwide Gross $421,798
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Beats Box Office Performance
"Beats" earned $310,827 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Beats," that break-even threshold was roughly $50,000. With worldwide earnings of $310,827, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $25,000
- Worldwide Gross: $310,827
- Net Return: $285,827
- ROI: approximately 1143.3%
At 1143.3%, "Beats" earned roughly $12.43 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
5 wins & 11 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Beats (2019)?
The production budget was $25,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $12,500 - $20,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $37,500 - $45,000.
How much did Beats (2019) earn at the box office?
Beats grossed $310,827 worldwide.
Was Beats (2019) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $25,000 and estimated total costs of ~$62,500, the film earned $310,827 theatrically - a 1143% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Beats?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Lorn Macdonald, Laura Fraser, Brian Ferguson); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Beats's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $25,000, Beats is classified as a ultra-low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Cure (1997, $20,000); Rome, Open City (1945, $20,000); Terrifier (2018, $35,000).
Did Beats (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 Beats?
The theatrical ROI was 1143.3%, calculated as ($310,827 − $25,000) ÷ $25,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Beats (2019) win?
5 wins & 11 nominations total.
Who directed Beats and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Brian Welsh, written by Brian Welsh, Kieran Hurley, shot by Benjamin Kračun, with music by Penelope Trappes, Stephen Hindman, edited by Robin Hill.
Where was Beats filmed?
Beats was filmed in United Kingdom. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Beats
Official Trailer
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