Footloose Budget
DramaRomance1h 47mUpdated
Synopsis
Ren MacCormack is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont's local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s troubled daughter Ariel in the process.
What is the budget of Footloose?
"Footloose," a drama released in 2011, was directed by Herbert Ross and stars Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer. The production budget was $8,200,000, placing it in the low-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 Footloose?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Footloose."
- 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 Footloose's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $8,200,000, Footloose sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Scanner Darkly (2006): Budget $8,700,000, Worldwide Gross $7,659,918
- Capote (2005): Budget $7,000,000, Worldwide Gross $49,327,405
- By the Sea (2015): Budget $10,000,000, Worldwide Gross $3,727,746
- Eye for an Eye (2025): Budget $10,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Footloose Box Office Performance
"Footloose" earned $80,035,402 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $8,200,000, 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 "Footloose," that break-even threshold was roughly $16,400,000. With worldwide earnings of $80,035,402, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $8,200,000
- Worldwide Gross: $80,035,402
- Net Return: $71,835,402
- ROI: approximately 876%
At 876%, "Footloose" earned roughly $9.76 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 2 wins & 7 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Footloose (1984)?
The production budget was $8,200,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $4,100,000 - $6,560,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $12,300,000 - $14,760,000.
How much did Footloose (1984) earn at the box office?
Footloose grossed $80,035,402 domestic, totaling $80,035,402 worldwide.
Was Footloose (1984) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $8,200,000 and estimated total costs of ~$20,500,000, the film earned $80,035,402 theatrically - a 876% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Footloose?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Footloose's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $8,200,000, Footloose is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Scanner Darkly (2006, $8,700,000); Capote (2005, $7,000,000); By the Sea (2015, $10,000,000).
Did Footloose (1984) 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 Footloose?
The theatrical ROI was 876.0%, calculated as ($80,035,402 − $8,200,000) ÷ $8,200,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Footloose (1984) win?
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 2 wins & 7 nominations total.
Who directed Footloose and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Herbert Ross, written by Dean Pitchford, shot by Ric Waite, edited by Paul Hirsch.
Where was Footloose filmed?
Footloose was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Footloose
Official Trailer
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