Capote Budget
CrimeDrama1h 54mUpdated
Synopsis
Famed writer Truman Capote, southern born and bred but now part of the New York City social circle, is growing weary of his current assignment of writing autobiographical type pieces for the New Yorker. After reading a newspaper article about the just occurred November 14, 1959 cold blooded murders of the Clutter family in their rural Kansas home, Truman feels compelled to write about that event as his next article. So he and his personal assistant Nelle Harper Lee, also a southern born New Yorker and an aspiring writer of her own, head to Kansas to research the story first-hand. Truman hopes to use his celebrity status to gain access to whomever he needs, such as to Laura Kinney, a friend of the Clutter daughter she who discovered the bodies, and to Alvin Dewey, the lead police investigator and also a Clutter family friend. If his celebrity doesn't work, Truman will grease the wheels by whatever means necessary. When the police eventually charge suspects, two young men named Dick Hickcock and Perry Smith, Truman uses those same tactics to gain access to them. Truman's fascination with the story makes him believe that he can revolutionize writing by expanding the germ of the article into what he calls a non-fiction novel. His personal involvement also changes as he grows emotionally attached to Perry, the seemingly sensitive and thus probable submissive in the criminal pairing, thus Truman becoming part of the story itself. Article or non-fiction novel, Truman knows that he has to take it to its natural conclusion, something which he cannot force. But also missing are the details of the November 14, 1959 event itself, something that neither Dick or Perry have divulged even in testimony.
What is the budget of Capote?
"Capote," a crime released in 2005, was directed by Bennett Miller and stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener. The production budget was $7,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for crime productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a crime production like this include:
- Talent & Director Compensation: Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
- Cinematography & Location Photography: Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages , surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
- Editorial & Sound Post-Production: Precision editing , controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals , requires extended post-production schedules.
What were the major cost factors in Capote?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Capote."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
How Does Capote's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $7,000,000, Capote sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Scanner Darkly (2006): Budget $8,700,000, Worldwide Gross $7,659,918
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Capote Box Office Performance
"Capote" earned $28,750,530 domestically and $49,327,405 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $7,000,000, 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 "Capote," that break-even threshold was roughly $14,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $49,327,405, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $7,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $49,327,405
- Net Return: $42,327,405
- ROI: approximately 604.7%
At 604.7%, "Capote" earned roughly $7.05 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 59 wins & 89 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman (78th Academy Awards)
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Critical Reception
Capote received acclaim from critics, with Hoffman's performance the subject of particular praise. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 89% of critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 8.20/10 based on 197 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Capote (2005)?
The production budget was $7,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $3,500,000 - $5,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $10,500,000 - $12,600,000.
How much did Capote (2005) earn at the box office?
Capote grossed $28,750,530 domestic, $20,576,875 international, totaling $49,327,405 worldwide.
Was Capote (2005) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $7,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$17,500,000, the film earned $49,327,405 theatrically - a 605% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Capote?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr.); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial; international production across United States of America, Canada.
How does Capote's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $7,000,000, Capote is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Scanner Darkly (2006, $8,700,000).
Did Capote (2005) 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 Capote?
The theatrical ROI was 604.7%, calculated as ($49,327,405 − $7,000,000) ÷ $7,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Capote (2005) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 59 wins & 89 nominations total.
Who directed Capote and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Bennett Miller, written by Dan Futterman, shot by Adam Kimmel, with music by Mychael Danna, edited by Christopher Tellefsen.
Where was Capote filmed?
Capote was filmed in United States of America, Canada. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Capote
Official Trailer
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