Drumline Budget
DramaRomanceComedyMusic1h 58mUpdated
Synopsis
"Drumline" (2002) follows the journey of a talented young drummer, Devon Miles, who dreams of becoming a top performer in a prestigious college marching band. Hailing from the streets of New York, Devon's passion for music and rhythm drives him to enroll at the fictional Atlanta A&T University, where he quickly discovers that success requires more than just talent.
As he navigates the challenges of college life, Devon faces the strict discipline of the band’s demanding leader, Dr. Lee, and the competitive nature of his fellow band members. Tensions rise as he struggles to fit in and prove himself, particularly against the backdrop of a rivalry with the band’s star snare drummer, Sean.
Through a series of trials, including personal conflicts and the pressure to uphold the band’s legacy, Devon learns valuable lessons about teamwork, respect, and the importance of hard work. The film culminates in an electrifying showdown at a national competition, showcasing not only the power of music but also the spirit of perseverance and unity. "Drumline" is a celebration of culture, rhythm, and the transformative power of music.
What is the budget of Drumline?
"Drumline," a drama released in 2002, was directed by Charles Stone III and stars Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldaña. The production budget was $20,000,000, 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.
What were the major cost factors in Drumline?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Drumline."
- 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 Drumline's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Drumline sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Drumline Box Office Performance
"Drumline" earned $56,399,184 domestically and $57,600,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Drumline," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $57,600,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $57,600,000
- Net Return: $37,600,000
- ROI: approximately 188%
At 188%, "Drumline" earned roughly $2.88 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
13 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Drumline (2002)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Drumline (2002) earn at the box office?
Drumline grossed $56,399,184 domestic, $1,200,816 international, totaling $57,600,000 worldwide.
Was Drumline (2002) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $20,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$50,000,000, the film earned $57,600,000 theatrically - a 188% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Drumline?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldaña, Orlando Jones); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Drumline's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, Drumline is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Drumline (2002) 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 Drumline?
The theatrical ROI was 188.0%, calculated as ($57,600,000 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Drumline (2002) win?
13 nominations total.
Who directed Drumline and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Charles Stone III, written by Tina Gordon, Shawn Schepps, shot by Shane Hurlbut, with music by John Powell, edited by Patricia Bowers, Bill Pankow.
Where was Drumline filmed?
Drumline was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Drumline
Official Trailer
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
