First Reformed Budget
Drama1h 53mUpdated
Synopsis
Forty-six year old Reverend Ernst Toller is the pastor at the historic First Reformed Church in upstate New York. It is seen as the "tourist" church or the "souvenir shop" (its historical significance partly it being a stop on the underground railroad before the slaves crossed into Canada) by Abundant Life, which owns the church and which operates a modern self-named five thousand seat church overseen by Reverend Joel Jeffers. First Reformed is celebrating its two hundred fiftieth anniversary this year, for which a major event is planned, modest in size only at First Reformed itself although the dignitaries like the governor and mayor will be at attendance there, while the event will be simulcast at Abundant Life. Most of the speech-making will be done by local industrialist Ed Balq, a major benefactor of Abundant Life and who is the major donor for the necessary upgrades at First Reformed to be able to hold the event there, and for the event itself, while Toller's participation will be minimal beyond the introductory sermon. First Reformed is generally a sparsely attended church meaning that Toller doesn't have to do much direct ministering, although he does have the stock answers when asked how God factors into this or that situation in one's life. Toller himself has long been divorced, his marriage which could not survive the death of their son, Joseph, in war. Because of that history, Toller believes he is incapable of human love, despite a brief relationship with Esther, the choir mistress at Abundant Life, she who is arguably still in love with him. Toller is neglecting the warning signs about his poor health, the symptoms pointing to a probable diagnosis of stomach cancer, which is only exacerbated by his largely liquid (i.e. alcohol) diet. Toller is already examining his life and work in writing a daily journal for a year, that journal which he intends no one ever to read, but these issues in Toller's life become more pointed when a new pregnant congregant, Mary, asks him to speak to her husband Michael, who Toller will learn is an environmentalist concerned about bringing another human life into what he already sees as a world doomed because of man's role in climate change.
What is the budget of First Reformed?
"First Reformed," a drama released in 2018, was directed by Paul Schrader and stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried. The production budget was $3,500,000, 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.
- Production: The restrained style of First Reformed recalls the films of Yasujiro Ozu, Robert Bresson, and Carl Theodor Dreyer that Schrader wrote about in his 1972 book Transcendental Style in Film.
What were the major cost factors in First Reformed?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "First Reformed."
- 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 Reformed's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $3,500,000, First Reformed sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Call Me by Your Name (2017): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $43,143,046
- Kimi (2022): Budget $3,500,000
- Joe Bell (2020): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $1,700,000
- The Rental (2020): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $4,311,042
- Honey Boy (2019): Budget $3,500,000, Worldwide Gross $3,400,977
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
First Reformed Box Office Performance
"First Reformed" earned $3,448,256 domestically and $3,988,612 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $3,500,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "First Reformed," that break-even threshold was roughly $7,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $3,988,612, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $3,500,000
- Worldwide Gross: $3,988,612
- Net Return: $488,612
- ROI: approximately 14%
At 14%, "First Reformed" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 62 wins & 108 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Critical Reception
A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "First Reformed wrestles with contemporary reality, but it isn't a work of realism in the way that term is conventionally understood.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make First Reformed (2018)?
The production budget was $3,500,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,750,000 - $2,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $5,250,000 - $6,300,000.
How much did First Reformed (2018) earn at the box office?
First Reformed grossed $3,448,256 domestic, $540,356 international, totaling $3,988,612 worldwide.
Was First Reformed (2018) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $3,988,612 against an estimated $8,750,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing First Reformed?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across United States of America, United Kingdom.
How does First Reformed's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $3,500,000, First Reformed is classified as a micro-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: Call Me by Your Name (2017, $3,500,000); Kimi (2022, $3,500,000); Joe Bell (2020, $3,500,000).
Did First Reformed (2018) 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 Reformed?
The theatrical ROI was 14.0%, calculated as ($3,988,612 − $3,500,000) ÷ $3,500,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did First Reformed (2018) win?
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 62 wins & 108 nominations total.
Who directed First Reformed and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Paul Schrader, written by Paul Schrader, shot by Alexander Dynan, with music by Brian Williams, edited by Ben Rodriguez Jr..
Where was First Reformed filmed?
First Reformed was filmed in United States of America, United Kingdom. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
First Reformed
Official Trailer
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