

Girl, Interrupted Budget
Updated
Synopsis
The searing true story of Susanna Kaysen, a young woman who finds herself at a renowned mental institution for troubled young women, where she must choose between the world of people who belong on the inside — like the seductive and dangerous Lisa — or the often difficult world of reality on the outside.
What is the budget of Girl, Interrupted?
"Girl, Interrupted," a drama released in 1999, was directed by James Mangold and stars Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie. The production budget was $40,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for drama productions of the 1990s.
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 Girl, Interrupted?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Girl, Interrupted."
- 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 Girl, Interrupted's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $40,000,000, Girl, Interrupted sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 42 (2013): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $95,020,213
- A Few Good Men (1992): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $243,240,178
- Big Trouble (2002): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $8,493,890
- Boomerang (1992): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $131,052,444
- Fifty Shades of Grey (2015): Budget $40,000,000, Worldwide Gross $569,651,467
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Girl, Interrupted Box Office Performance
"Girl, Interrupted" earned $28,912,646 domestically and $48,350,205 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $40,000,000, 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 "Girl, Interrupted," that break-even threshold was roughly $80,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $48,350,205, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $48,350,205
- Net Return: $8,350,205
- ROI: approximately 20.9%
At 20.9%, "Girl, Interrupted" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 9 wins & 11 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: Angelina Jolie (72nd Academy Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Girl, Interrupted (1999)?
The production budget was $40,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $20,000,000 - $32,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $60,000,000 - $72,000,000.
How much did Girl, Interrupted (1999) earn at the box office?
Girl, Interrupted grossed $28,912,646 domestic, $19,437,559 international, totaling $48,350,205 worldwide.
Was Girl, Interrupted (1999) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $48,350,205 against an estimated $100,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Girl, Interrupted?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Girl, Interrupted's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $40,000,000, Girl, Interrupted is classified as a mid-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: 42 (2013, $40,000,000); A Few Good Men (1992, $40,000,000); Big Trouble (2002, $40,000,000).
Did Girl, Interrupted (1999) 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 Girl, Interrupted?
The theatrical ROI was 20.9%, calculated as ($48,350,205 − $40,000,000) ÷ $40,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Girl, Interrupted (1999) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 9 wins & 11 nominations total.
Who directed Girl, Interrupted and who were the key crew members?
Directed by James Mangold, written by Lisa Loomer, James Mangold, Anna Hamilton Phelan, shot by Jack N. Green, with music by Mychael Danna, edited by Kevin Tent.
Where was Girl, Interrupted filmed?
Girl, Interrupted was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Girl, Interrupted
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