

First They Killed My Father Budget
Updated
Synopsis
A 5-year-old girl embarks on a harrowing quest for survival amid the sudden rise and terrifying reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
What is the budget of First They Killed My Father?
"First They Killed My Father," a war released in 2017, was directed by Angelina Jolie and stars Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak. The production budget was $24,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for war productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a war 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: On July 23, 2015, it was announced that Angelina Jolie would direct a film adaptation of the memoir First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung for Netflix, for which Jolie and Ung co-wrote the script.
What were the major cost factors in First They Killed My Father?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "First They Killed My Father."
- Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in war productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in war productions of this scale.
- Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in war productions of this scale.
How Does First They Killed My Father's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $24,000,000, First They Killed My Father 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
- Fences (2016): Budget $24,000,000, Worldwide Gross $64,400,000
- Foxcatcher (2014): Budget $24,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,096,300
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004): Budget $24,000,000, Worldwide Gross $236,049,757
The median budget for wide-release war films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
First They Killed My Father Production History
Principal photography on the film began in early November 2015 in Siem Reap and wrapped in February 2016 in Battambang, Cambodia. The filming also took place in Phnom Penh. [Filming] Principal photography on the film began in early November 2015 in Siem Reap and wrapped in February 2016 in Battambang, Cambodia. The filming also took place in Phnom Penh.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make First They Killed My Father (2017)?
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 First They Killed My Father (2017) earn at the box office?
Box office figures are not publicly available.
Was First They Killed My Father (2017) profitable?
Insufficient data for a profitability assessment.
What were the biggest costs in producing First They Killed My Father?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, Sveng Socheata); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does First They Killed My Father's budget compare to similar war films?
At $24,000,000, First They Killed My Father is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release war 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); Fences (2016, $24,000,000).
Did First They Killed My Father (2017) 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.
Who directed First They Killed My Father and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Angelina Jolie, written by Angelina Jolie, Loung Ung, shot by Anthony Dod Mantle, with music by Marco Beltrami, edited by Xavier Box, Patricia Rommel.
Where was First They Killed My Father filmed?
First They Killed My Father was filmed in United States of America. Principal photography on the film began in early November 2015 in Siem Reap and wrapped in February 2016 in Battambang, Cambodia. The filming also took place in Phnom Penh. [Filming] Principal photography on the film began in early November 2015 in Siem Reap and wrapped in February 2016 in Battambang, Cambodia. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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First They Killed My Father
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