Eddington Budget
WesternComedyCrime2h 28mUpdated
Synopsis
In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.
What is the budget of Eddington?
"Eddington," a western released in 2025, was directed by Ari Aster and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Deirdre O'Connell. The production budget was $25,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for western productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a western production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
- Production: Ari Aster wrote a script for a contemporary Western film that he had at one point considered making as his directorial debut.
How Does Eddington's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000,000, Eddington sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $133,000,000
- A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,700,000
- Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,719,357
- All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,000,000
- August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $66,122,026
The median budget for wide-release western films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Eddington Box Office Performance
"Eddington" earned $10,223,277 domestically and $13,738,227 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
- Production Budget: $25,000,000
- Estimated Prints & Advertising (P&A): approximately $30,000,000
- Total Estimated Investment: approximately $55,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $13,738,227
- Net Return: approximately -$11,261,773
- ROI: approximately -45%
At approximately -45%, Eddington did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
At -45%, "Eddington" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Eddington Production History
On April 9, 2025, it was announced that Bobby Krlic would compose the film's score, after previously collaborating with Aster on Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid. On May 7, it was announced that Daniel Pemberton would also be composing the film's score alongside Krlic.
Awards and Recognition
Eddington premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. The film's Cannes selection positioned it as one of the most anticipated arthouse releases of the year, with Ari Aster's reputation for boundary-pushing genre work generating significant festival buzz. Filmmaker John Waters named Eddington his favorite film of 2025.
The film received 10 additional nominations across various industry recognitions and one win, though its divisive reception limited its presence in the mainstream awards conversation. The Cannes premiere and subsequent critical discussion ensured Eddington remained a prominent title in year-end retrospectives and best-of lists among genre-oriented critics.
Critical Reception
Eddington earned a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 284 reviews. The critics' consensus summarized the film as one that "carries a stellar cast, fearless direction by Ari Aster and an off-kilter story, but its tonal misdirection will often leave viewers wanting." Metacritic reported a score of 65 out of 100 based on 50 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Audiences gave the film a CinemaScore of C+, suggesting a significant gap between critical appreciation and general audience satisfaction.
Supporters praised Aster's ambition and the ensemble performances. David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film an A-, writing that it captures "the day-to-day extent to which our digital future has stripped people of their ability to self-identify." Owen Gleiberman of Variety called it "a brazenly provocative Western thriller" and highlighted Joaquin Phoenix's performance as "among his most layered" recent work. The film's satirical approach to American mythology and its neo-Western framework drew favorable comparisons to the Coen Brothers and Paul Thomas Anderson.
Detractors found the film's tonal shifts exhausting rather than provocative. Justin Chang of The New Yorker criticized it as "a slog, but with ambitions," arguing that the satire falls flat despite the committed performances. The C+ CinemaScore reflected mainstream audiences' difficulty with Aster's unconventional pacing and darkly comic sensibility, a pattern consistent with the director's previous work on Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Eddington?
Eddington was produced on a budget of $25,000,000. The film was financed by A24, Access Entertainment, and IPR.VC, with production handled through Ari Aster's Square Peg and 828 Productions. The budget covered location filming in New Mexico, an ensemble cast led by Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, and cinematography by Darius Khondji.
How much did Eddington earn at the box office?
Eddington earned approximately $13,700,000 at the worldwide box office. The film opened in the United States on July 18, 2025 through A24, debuting at $4,300,000 from 2,111 theaters in sixth place. By its second weekend, receipts had dropped to $1,600,000.
Was Eddington profitable?
Based on theatrical box office alone, Eddington was not profitable. With $13,700,000 in worldwide gross against a $25,000,000 production budget, the film fell well short of recouping its costs theatrically. Accounting for marketing expenses and the exhibitor split, the theatrical losses were significant. Home video, streaming, and international licensing may improve the picture over time.
What were the biggest costs in producing Eddington?
Major cost categories included cast salaries for Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler, location filming across Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences in New Mexico, cinematography by the acclaimed Darius Khondji, dual scoring by Daniel Pemberton and Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak), and the production design required to depict a small New Mexico town during the 2020 pandemic.
How does Eddington's budget compare to similar A24 films?
Eddington's $25,000,000 budget represents the higher end of A24's range. Aster's previous A24 films had smaller budgets: Hereditary (2018) cost approximately $10,000,000 and Midsommar (2019) approximately $9,000,000, though Beau Is Afraid (2023) reportedly cost $35,000,000. Other A24 ensemble dramas like Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) were made for approximately $25,000,000.
Did Eddington go over budget?
There are no public reports of budget overruns on Eddington. Principal photography took place from March through May 2024 in New Mexico. Aster had written the script years before his directorial debut, shelving it for approximately five years while making Hereditary and Midsommar, so the project had extensive pre-production development time.
What was the return on investment for Eddington?
Eddington's theatrical ROI was negative. With $13,700,000 in worldwide gross against a $25,000,000 budget, the gross ROI was approximately negative 45%. The formula: ($13,700,000 minus $25,000,000) divided by $25,000,000 times 100 equals negative 45.2%. The film's divisive critical reception and ambitious three-hour-plus runtime limited its commercial appeal.
What awards did Eddington receive?
Eddington premiered in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or. The film screened at multiple international festivals including Sydney, Fantasia, Rome, and Tokyo. Director John Waters named it the best film of 2025. The film did not win the Palme d'Or but generated significant critical discussion.
Who directed Eddington?
Eddington was directed by Ari Aster, known for Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), and Beau Is Afraid (2023). Aster wrote the screenplay years before his directorial debut and shelved the project to make his first three features. He has indicated a follow-up with returning characters is in development.
Where was Eddington filmed?
Eddington was filmed in Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, from March through May 2024. Director Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix scouted New Mexico locations in August 2023 before production began. The New Mexico setting was integral to the story, which is set in the fictional town of Eddington during the 2020 pandemic.
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Eddington
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