Bringing Out The Dead Budget

1999

Drama2h 1m

Updated April 25, 2026

Budget

$32,000,000

Domestic Box Office

$16,797,191

Worldwide Box Office

$16,797,191

Synopsis

"Bringing Out the Dead" is a haunting drama directed by Martin Scorsese, set against the backdrop of New York City's gritty streets in the late 1990s. The film follows Frank Pierce, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, a weary paramedic grappling with the emotional toll of his job. Haunted by the ghosts of those he couldn't save, Frank navigates the chaotic world of emergency medical services, where life and death hang in the balance.

As he works alongside a diverse team of fellow paramedics, including the cynical and jaded Larry (John Goodman) and the compassionate but troubled Marcus (Ving Rhames), Frank's mental state begins to deteriorate. The film delves into his encounters with various patients and their families, revealing the profound impact of trauma and loss. Amidst the chaos, Frank becomes infatuated with Mary (Patricia Clarkson), a woman connected to one of his calls, which adds a layer of complexity to his already tumultuous life.

Through a series of surreal and often darkly comedic vignettes, "Bringing Out the Dead" explores themes of redemption, mortality, and the struggle to find meaning in a world filled with suffering. Scorsese's masterful direction, combined with Cage's intense performance, creates a visceral experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

What is the budget of Bringing Out The Dead?

"Bringing Out The Dead," a drama released in 1999, was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette. The production budget was $32,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for drama productions of the 1990s.

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.
Production: Bringing Out the Dead is an adaptation of the 1998 novel of the same name by Joe Connelly.

What were the major cost factors in Bringing Out The Dead?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Bringing Out The Dead."

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 Bringing Out The Dead's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $32,000,000, Bringing Out The Dead 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
Bombshell (2019): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $61,404,394

The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Bringing Out The Dead Box Office Performance

"Bringing Out The Dead" earned $16,797,191 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $32,000,000, 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 "Bringing Out The Dead," that break-even threshold was roughly $64,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $16,797,191, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $32,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $16,797,191
Net Return: −$15,202,809
ROI: approximately -47.5%

At -47.5%, "Bringing Out The Dead" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.

Bringing Out The Dead Production History

* "T.B. Sheets" , Van Morrison * "The September of My Years" , Frank Sinatra * "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" , Johnny Thunders * "Bell Boy" , The Who * "Mr. Highway" , Elmer Bernstein * "Threat" , Elmer Bernstein * "Llegaste a Mi" , Marc Anthony * "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" , R.E.M.