Don't Worry Darling Budget
Science FictionMysteryThriller2h 3mUpdated
Synopsis
While her husband leaves home every day to work in a top secret facility, a young 1950s housewife begins to question her life when she notices strange behavior from the other wives in the neighborhood.
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for Don't Worry Darling?
Directed by Olivia Wilde, with Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine leading the cast, Don't Worry Darling was produced by Vertigo Entertainment with a confirmed budget of $35,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for science fiction films.
With a $35,000,000 budget, Don't Worry Darling sits in the mid-range of studio releases. Marketing costs for a wide release at this level typically add $30–60 million, putting the break-even point near $87,500,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• 1941 (1979): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $94,900,000 → ROI: 171% • Two for the Money (2005): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $30,526,509 → ROI: -13% • Ghost Ship (2002): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $71,142,361 → ROI: 103% • Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross N/A • Lion of the Desert (1981): Budget $35,000,000 | Gross $1,502,136 → ROI: -96%
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ Visual Effects & CGI Pipeline Sci-fi films are among the most VFX-intensive productions in Hollywood. Creating photorealistic alien worlds, spacecraft, creatures, and futuristic environments requires hundreds of VFX artists working for months, often at multiple studios simultaneously. VFX budgets for major sci-fi films regularly exceed $50–100 million.
▸ Production Design & World-Building Creating a believable sci-fi world required significant investment in set construction, prop fabrication, and conceptual design — from physical environments through LED volume stages and virtual production technology.
▸ Technology & Camera Systems Cutting-edge camera rigs, motion capture stages, LED volume stages (virtual production), and proprietary rendering technology often push the technical budget far beyond conventional filming costs.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, KiKi Layne Key roles: Florence Pugh as Alice; Harry Styles as Jack; Chris Pine as Frank; Olivia Wilde as Bunny
DIRECTOR: Olivia Wilde CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matthew Libatique MUSIC: John Powell EDITING: Affonso Gonçalves PRODUCTION: Vertigo Entertainment, New Line Cinema FILMED IN: United States of America
Box Office Performance
Don't Worry Darling earned $45,309,403 domestically and $41,390,597 internationally, for a worldwide total of $86,700,000. Revenue was split 52% domestic / 48% international.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Don't Worry Darling needed approximately $87,500,000 to break even. The film fell $800,000 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $86,700,000 Budget: $35,000,000 Net: $51,700,000 ROI: 147.7%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Profitable
Don't Worry Darling delivered a solid return, earning $86,700,000 worldwide on a $35,000,000 budget (148% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Vertigo Entertainment.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: 10 wins & 19 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Don't Worry Darling (2022)?
The production budget was $35,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $17,500,000 - $28,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $52,500,000 - $63,000,000.
How much did Don't Worry Darling (2022) earn at the box office?
Don't Worry Darling grossed $45,309,403 domestic, $41,390,597 international, totaling $86,700,000 worldwide.
Was Don't Worry Darling (2022) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $86,700,000 against an estimated $87,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Don't Worry Darling?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Chris Pine); visual effects pipelines, virtual production technology, and speculative world-building.
How does Don't Worry Darling's budget compare to similar science fiction films?
At $35,000,000, Don't Worry Darling is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release science fiction films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 1941 (1979, $35,000,000); Two for the Money (2005, $35,000,000); Ghost Ship (2002, $35,000,000).
Did Don't Worry Darling (2022) 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 Don't Worry Darling?
The theatrical ROI was 147.7%, calculated as ($86,700,000 − $35,000,000) ÷ $35,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Don't Worry Darling (2022) win?
10 wins & 19 nominations total.
Who directed Don't Worry Darling and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Olivia Wilde, written by Carey van Dyke, Shane van Dyke, Katie Silberman, shot by Matthew Libatique, with music by John Powell, edited by Affonso Gonçalves.
Where was Don't Worry Darling filmed?
Don't Worry Darling was filmed in United States of America.
Filmmakers
Don't Worry Darling
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