Call Me by Your Name Budget
RomanceDrama2h 12mUpdated
Synopsis
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, the new film by Luca Guadagnino, is a sensual and transcendent tale of first love, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman. It's the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17-year-old young man, spends his days in his family's 17th-century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio's sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old American college graduate student working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio's father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever.
What is the budget of Call Me by Your Name?
"Call Me by Your Name," a romance released in 2017, was directed by Luca Guadagnino and stars Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet. The production budget was $3,500,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for romance productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a romance production like this include:
- Lead Cast Compensation: Romantic films depend entirely on the chemistry and appeal of their leads, making star casting decisions the most consequential budget item.
- Location Filming: Picturesque, often international locations are central to the romantic genre's visual appeal.
- Music Supervision & Soundtrack: Iconic songs can cost $250,000 to 500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.
- Casting: In 2015, Shia LaBeouf and Greta Scacchi were reportedly set to be cast in the film.
What were the major cost factors in Call Me by Your Name?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Call Me by Your Name."
- Lead Cast Compensation: Lead Cast Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
- Music Supervision: Music Supervision & Soundtrack is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
How Does Call Me by Your Name's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $3,500,000, Call Me by Your Name sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Kimi (2022): Budget $3,500,000
- Joe Bell (2020): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $1,700,000
- The Rental (2020): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $4,311,042
- Honey Boy (2019): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $3,400,977
- First Reformed (2018): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $3,988,612
The median budget for wide-release romance films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Call Me by Your Name Box Office Performance
"Call Me by Your Name" earned $18,095,701 domestically and $43,143,046 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $3,500,000, 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 "Call Me by Your Name," that break-even threshold was roughly $7,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $43,143,046, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $3,500,000
- Worldwide Gross: $43,143,046
- Net Return: $39,643,046
- ROI: approximately 1132.7%
At 1132.7%, "Call Me by Your Name" earned roughly $12.33 for every $1 invested in production.
Call Me by Your Name Production History
In 2015, Shia LaBeouf and Greta Scacchi were reportedly set to be cast in the film. In September 2016, Ivory confirmed they were no longer involved in the project. Ivory said he got along with LaBeouf, who had read for the film in New York City, but the production company later felt he was unsuitable after his "various troubles".
Principal photography began on May 9, 2016, and wrapped in June, lasting around 33 days. The film was shot primarily in Crema and the surrounding province of Cremona. An unusual series of rainstorms coincided with the shooting schedule, with heavy rain on 28 of the shooting days.
Guadagnino chose the music for Call Me by Your Name himself. Impressed by the lyricism of American songwriter Sufjan Stevens, Stevens declined the voiceover role The project marked the first time Stevens had written songs explicitly for a feature-film soundtrack. Alongside Stevens's songs, several classical pieces and 1980s pop songs are on the soundtrack.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 107 wins & 263 nominations total
- American Film Institute Awards
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: James Ivory (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Luca Guadagnino (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Peter Spears (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Howard Rosenman (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Rodrigo Teixeira (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Émilie Georges (31st European Film Awards)
- European Film Award , People's Choice Award for Best European Film: Marco Morabito (31st European Film Awards)
Critical Reception
At its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Call Me by Your Name received a standing ovation. When it screened at Alice Tully Hall as part of the New York Film Festival, it received a ten-minute ovation, the longest in the festival's history. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 95% based on 363 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Call Me by Your Name (2017)?
The production budget was $3,500,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,750,000 - $2,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $5,250,000 - $6,300,000.
How much did Call Me by Your Name (2017) earn at the box office?
Call Me by Your Name grossed $18,095,701 domestic, $25,047,345 international, totaling $43,143,046 worldwide.
Was Call Me by Your Name (2017) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $3,500,000 and estimated total costs of ~$8,750,000, the film earned $43,143,046 theatrically - a 1133% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Call Me by Your Name?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg); lead talent, aspirational location filming, and a carefully curated soundtrack; international production across Brazil, France, Italy, United States of America.
How does Call Me by Your Name's budget compare to similar romance films?
At $3,500,000, Call Me by Your Name is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release romance films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Kimi (2022, $3,500,000); Joe Bell (2020, $3,500,000); The Rental (2020, $3,500,000).
Did Call Me by Your Name (2017) 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 Call Me by Your Name?
The theatrical ROI was 1132.7%, calculated as ($43,143,046 − $3,500,000) ÷ $3,500,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Call Me by Your Name (2017) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 107 wins & 263 nominations total.
Who directed Call Me by Your Name and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, written by James Ivory, shot by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, with music by John Adams, Sufjan Stevens, edited by Walter Fasano.
Where was Call Me by Your Name filmed?
Call Me by Your Name was filmed in Brazil, France, Italy, United States of America. Principal photography began on May 9, 2016, and wrapped in June, lasting around 33 days. The film was shot primarily in Crema and the surrounding province of Cremona. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Call Me by Your Name
Official Trailer
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