Fences Budget
Drama2h 19mUpdated
Synopsis
Troy Maxson is a mid-century Pittsburgh sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career, but was too old when the major leagues began admitting black players. He tries to be a good husband and father, but his lost dream of glory eats at him, and causes him to make a decision that threatens to tear his family apart.
What is the budget of Fences?
"Fences," a drama released in 2016, was directed by Denzel Washington and stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis. The production budget was $24,000,000, 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 Fences?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Fences."
- 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 Fences's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $24,000,000, Fences sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Double Take (2001): Budget $24,000,000, Worldwide Gross $31,600,000
- Faster (2010): Budget $24,000,000, Worldwide Gross $23,081,726
- 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
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Fences Box Office Performance
"Fences" earned $57,682,904 domestically and $64,400,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $24,000,000, 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 "Fences," that break-even threshold was roughly $48,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $64,400,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $24,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $64,400,000
- Net Return: $40,400,000
- ROI: approximately 168.3%
At 168.3%, "Fences" earned roughly $2.68 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 60 wins & 122 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis (89th Academy Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Fences (2016)?
The production budget was $24,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $12,000,000 - $19,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $36,000,000 - $43,200,000.
How much did Fences (2016) earn at the box office?
Fences grossed $57,682,904 domestic, $6,717,096 international, totaling $64,400,000 worldwide.
Was Fences (2016) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $24,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$60,000,000, the film earned $64,400,000 theatrically - a 168% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Fences?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Canada, United States of America.
How does Fences's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $24,000,000, Fences is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Double Take (2001, $24,000,000); Faster (2010, $24,000,000); 1408 (2007, $25,000,000).
Did Fences (2016) 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 Fences?
The theatrical ROI was 168.3%, calculated as ($64,400,000 − $24,000,000) ÷ $24,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Fences (2016) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 60 wins & 122 nominations total.
Who directed Fences and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Denzel Washington, written by August Wilson, shot by Charlotte Bruus Christensen, with music by Marcelo Zarvos, edited by Hughes Winborne.
Where was Fences filmed?
Fences was filmed in Canada, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Fences
Official Trailer
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