First Cow Budget
DramaWestern2h 2mUpdated
Synopsis
A loner and cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee). The men collaborate on a business, although its longevity is reliant upon the participation of a wealthy landowner's prized milking cow.
What is the budget of First Cow?
"First Cow," a drama released in 2020, was directed by Kelly Reichardt and stars John Magaro, Orion Lee. The production budget was $2,000,000, placing it in the micro-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 First Cow?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "First Cow."
- 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 First Cow's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $2,000,000, First Cow sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Seven Samurai (1954): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $105,000,000
- The Great Dictator (1940): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,000,000
- Sing Sing (2024): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $3,401,789
- The Lives of Others (2006): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $77,672,685
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $8,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
First Cow Box Office Performance
"First Cow" earned $101,068 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $2,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "First Cow," that break-even threshold was roughly $4,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $101,068, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $2,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $101,068
- Net Return: −$1,898,932
- ROI: approximately -94.9%
At -94.9%, "First Cow" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
21 wins & 141 nominations total
- Q3405870 (2020 Deauville American Film Festival)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make First Cow (2020)?
The production budget was $2,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,000,000 - $1,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $3,000,000 - $3,600,000.
How much did First Cow (2020) earn at the box office?
First Cow grossed $101,068 domestic, totaling $101,068 worldwide.
Was First Cow (2020) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $101,068 against an estimated $5,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing First Cow?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does First Cow's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $2,000,000, First Cow is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Seven Samurai (1954, $2,000,000); The Great Dictator (1940, $2,000,000); Sing Sing (2024, $2,000,000).
Did First Cow (2020) 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 First Cow?
The theatrical ROI was -94.9%, calculated as ($101,068 − $2,000,000) ÷ $2,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did First Cow (2020) win?
21 wins & 141 nominations total.
Who directed First Cow and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Kelly Reichardt, written by Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond, shot by Christopher Blauvelt, with music by William Tyler, edited by Kelly Reichardt.
Where was First Cow filmed?
First Cow was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
First Cow
Official Trailer
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