I Swear Budget
DramaHistory2h 1mUpdated
Synopsis
John Davidson: diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at a young age which alienated him from his peers, he struggled with a condition few people had witnessed.
What is the budget of I Swear?
"I Swear," a drama released in 2025, was directed by Kirk Jones and stars Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake. The production budget was $6,000,000, 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.
- Production: Robert Aramayo's casting as Davidson was revealed on 27 August 2024,
What were the major cost factors in I Swear?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "I Swear."
- 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 I Swear's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $6,000,000, I Swear sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- The Godfather (1972): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $245,066,411
- Chinatown (1974): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $30,000,000
- The Father (2020): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $21,029,340
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,909,209
- Kagemusha (1980): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $4,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
I Swear Box Office Performance
"I Swear" earned $8,682,832 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $6,000,000, 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 "I Swear," that break-even threshold was roughly $12,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $8,682,832, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $6,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $8,682,832
- Net Return: $2,682,832
- ROI: approximately 44.7%
At 44.7%, "I Swear" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
Won 2 BAFTA 6 wins & 18 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make I Swear (2025)?
The production budget was $6,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $3,000,000 - $4,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $9,000,000 - $10,800,000.
How much did I Swear (2025) earn at the box office?
I Swear grossed $8,682,832 worldwide.
Was I Swear (2025) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $8,682,832 against an estimated $15,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing I Swear?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across United Kingdom, Ireland.
How does I Swear's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $6,000,000, I Swear is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: The Godfather (1972, $6,000,000); Chinatown (1974, $6,000,000); The Father (2020, $6,000,000).
Did I Swear (2025) 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 I Swear?
The theatrical ROI was 44.7%, calculated as ($8,682,832 − $6,000,000) ÷ $6,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did I Swear (2025) win?
Won 2 BAFTA 6 wins & 18 nominations total.
Who directed I Swear and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Kirk Jones, written by Kirk Jones, shot by James Blann, with music by Stephen Rennicks, edited by Sam Sneade.
Where was I Swear filmed?
I Swear was filmed in United Kingdom, Ireland. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
I Swear
Official Trailer
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