Bombshell Budget
Drama1h 49mUpdated
Synopsis
A revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; Fox News, and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.
What is the budget of Bombshell?
"Bombshell," a drama released in 2019, was directed by Jay Roach and stars Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie. The production budget was $32,000,000, 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.
- Casting: Alongside the directing and writing announcements, it was reported that Charlize Theron had entered negotiations to portray Kelly in the film.
What were the major cost factors in Bombshell?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Bombshell."
- 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 Bombshell's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $32,000,000, Bombshell sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A History of Violence (2005): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $61,477,797
- Alive (1993): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,700,000
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $31,882,724
- Bogus (1996): Budget $32,000,000
- Apocalypse Now (1979): Budget $31,500,000, Worldwide Gross $150,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Bombshell Box Office Performance
"Bombshell" earned $31,762,808 domestically and $61,404,394 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $32,000,000, 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 "Bombshell," that break-even threshold was roughly $64,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $61,404,394, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $32,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $61,404,394
- Net Return: $29,404,394
- ROI: approximately 91.9%
At 91.9%, "Bombshell" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Bombshell Production History
Alongside the directing and writing announcements, it was reported that Charlize Theron had entered negotiations to portray Kelly in the film. Later that month, it was announced that John Lithgow had been cast as Roger Ailes. In September 2018, it was reported that Allison Janney had been cast as lawyer Susan Estrich and that Kate McKinnon had been cast to play a fictional producer.
Principal photography for the film began on October 22, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. [Filming] Principal photography for the film began on October 22, 2018, in Los Angeles, California.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 25 wins & 63 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Kazu Hiro (92nd Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Vivian Baker (92nd Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Anne Morgan (92nd Academy Awards)
- Producers Guild Stanley Kramer Award
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The website's critics consensus reads: "Bombshell benefits from a terrific cast and a worthy subject, but its impact is muffled by a frustrating inability to go deeper than the sensationalistic surface." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on reviews from 46 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Bombshell cost to make?
The production budget was $32,000,000. Annapurna Pictures and Bron Studios financed the film, with Lionsgate handling North American distribution after acquiring rights for approximately $14,000,000.
How much did Bombshell earn at the box office?
The film grossed $32,016,602 domestically and $29,200,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $61,200,000. It opened limited on December 13, 2019, before expanding wide on December 20.
Who stars in Bombshell?
Charlize Theron plays Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman plays Gretchen Carlson, and Margot Robbie plays the fictional composite character Kayla Pospisil. John Lithgow plays Roger Ailes, with supporting roles for Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell, and Mark Duplass.
Who directed Bombshell?
Jay Roach directed the film. Roach had previously directed Trumbo (2015), the Austin Powers trilogy, and Meet the Parents (2000). His political work for HBO included Game Change (2012) and Recount (2008).
Did Bombshell win any awards?
Yes. The film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker. Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie received Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominations. Theron transformed into Megyn Kelly through extensive prosthetic work that took up to three hours daily.
Is Bombshell based on a true story?
Yes. The film dramatizes the sexual harassment lawsuits against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes brought by Gretchen Carlson in July 2016, which led to Ailes's ouster and a reported $20,000,000 settlement to Carlson. Megyn Kelly's public allegation followed and accelerated Ailes's departure.
Where was Bombshell filmed?
Principal photography took place in Los Angeles, with the Fox News headquarters interiors reconstructed on stages at Hollywood Center Studios. The production avoided New York exteriors to control costs, using LA locations to double for limited Manhattan establishing shots.
What did critics think of Bombshell?
The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised the cast performances, particularly the makeup-assisted Theron transformation, while objecting to a sometimes scattered narrative structure.
Was Bombshell profitable?
The theatrical run produced a modest loss. Against the $32,000,000 budget and an estimated $25,000,000 to $30,000,000 in awards-season marketing spend, the worldwide gross of approximately $61,200,000 fell short of theatrical break-even. Home video and streaming licensing brought the film into aggregate modest profit.
How does Bombshell compare to The Loudest Voice?
Bombshell ($32,000,000 budget, $61,200,000 worldwide) released within months of Showtime's competing miniseries The Loudest Voice (2019), in which Russell Crowe played Roger Ailes. The miniseries took a longer view of Ailes's career while Bombshell focused on the harassment cases. Both projects accelerated public scrutiny of network workplace culture.
Official Trailer
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