
Hot Fuzz
Synopsis
Top London cop PC Nicholas Angel is good. Too good. To stop the rest of his team looking bad, he is reassigned to the quiet town of Sandford. He is paired with Danny Butterman, who endlessly questions him on the action lifestyle. Everything seems quiet for Angel until two actors are found decapitated. It is called an accident, but Angel won't accept that, especially when more and more people turn up dead. Angel and Danny clash with everyone while they try to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the apparent "accidents".
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for Hot Fuzz?
Directed by Edgar Wright, with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent leading the cast, Hot Fuzz was produced by Big Talk Studios with a confirmed budget of $12,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for crime films.
At $12,000,000, Hot Fuzz was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $30,000,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• Goon (2012): Budget $12,000,000 | Gross $6,985,158 → ROI: -42% • Jobs (2013): Budget $12,000,000 | Gross $42,100,000 → ROI: 251% • All That Jazz (1979): Budget $12,000,000 | Gross $37,823,676 → ROI: 215% • 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): Budget $12,000,000 | Gross $71,923,560 → ROI: 499% • Wolfwalkers (2020): Budget $12,000,000 | Gross $1,310,720 → ROI: -89%
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ Talent & Director Compensation Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
▸ Cinematography & Location Photography Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages — surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
▸ Editorial & Sound Post-Production Precision editing — controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals — requires extended post-production schedules.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine, Rafe Spall Key roles: Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel; Nick Frost as PC Danny Butterman; Jim Broadbent as Inspector Frank Butterman; Paddy Considine as DS Andy Wainwright
DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright CINEMATOGRAPHY: Jess Hall MUSIC: David Arnold EDITING: Chris Dickens PRODUCTION: Big Talk Studios, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Ingenious Media FILMED IN: France, United Kingdom
Box Office Performance
Hot Fuzz earned $23,637,265 domestically and $56,962,735 internationally, for a worldwide total of $80,600,000. International markets drove the majority of revenue (71%), indicating strong global appeal.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Hot Fuzz needed approximately $30,000,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $50,600,000.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $80,600,000 Budget: $12,000,000 Net: $68,600,000 ROI: 571.7%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Highly Profitable
Hot Fuzz was a clear financial success, generating $80,600,000 worldwide against a $12,000,000 production budget — a 572% ROI. After estimated marketing costs, the film still delivered substantial profit to Big Talk Studios.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
The outsized success of Hot Fuzz likely influenced studio greenlight decisions for similar crime projects.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: 2 wins & 9 nominations total









































































































































































































































































































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