

Hacksaw Ridge Budget
Updated
Synopsis
The true story of Desmond T. Doss, the conscientious objector who, at the Battle of Okinawa, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his incredible bravery and regard for his fellow soldiers. We see his upbringing and how this shaped his views, especially his religious view and anti-killing stance. We see Doss's trials and tribulations after enlisting in the US Army and trying to become a medic. Finally, we see the hell on Earth that was Hacksaw Ridge.
What is the budget of Hacksaw Ridge?
"Hacksaw Ridge," a drama released in 2016, was directed by Mel Gibson and stars Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington. The production budget was $40,000,000, placing it in the mid-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 Hacksaw Ridge?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Hacksaw Ridge."
- 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 Hacksaw Ridge's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $40,000,000, Hacksaw Ridge 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 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Hacksaw Ridge Box Office Performance
"Hacksaw Ridge" earned $67,209,615 domestically and $175,302,354 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $40,000,000, 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 "Hacksaw Ridge," that break-even threshold was roughly $80,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $175,302,354, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $175,302,354
- Net Return: $135,302,354
- ROI: approximately 338.3%
At 338.3%, "Hacksaw Ridge" earned roughly $4.38 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 2 Oscars. 57 wins & 115 nominations total
- AACTA Award for Best Direction: Mel Gibson
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Kevin O'Connell (89th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Andy Wright (89th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Robert Mackenzie (89th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Sound: Peter Grace (89th Academy Awards)
- AACTA Award for Best Original Screenplay: Robert Schenkkan
- AACTA Award for Best Original Screenplay: Andrew Knight
- AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Hugo Weaving
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Hacksaw Ridge (2016)?
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 Hacksaw Ridge (2016) earn at the box office?
Hacksaw Ridge grossed $67,209,615 domestic, $108,092,739 international, totaling $175,302,354 worldwide.
Was Hacksaw Ridge (2016) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $40,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$100,000,000, the film earned $175,302,354 theatrically - a 338% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Hacksaw Ridge?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does Hacksaw Ridge's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $40,000,000, Hacksaw Ridge is classified as a mid-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: 42 (2013, $40,000,000); A Few Good Men (1992, $40,000,000); Big Trouble (2002, $40,000,000).
Did Hacksaw Ridge (2016) 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 Hacksaw Ridge?
The theatrical ROI was 338.3%, calculated as ($175,302,354 − $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 Hacksaw Ridge (2016) win?
Won 2 Oscars. 57 wins & 115 nominations total.
Who directed Hacksaw Ridge and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Mel Gibson, written by Robert Schenkkan, Andrew Knight, shot by Simon Duggan, with music by Rupert Gregson-Williams, edited by John Gilbert.
Where was Hacksaw Ridge filmed?
Hacksaw Ridge was filmed in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Hacksaw Ridge
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