In the Name of the Father

RDrama

Budget$13M

Domestic Box Office$25.1M

Worldwide Box Office$65.8M

Synopsis

Young Belfastian Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) admits that he was in London at the time of the incident. He also admits that he is not a model citizen, having committed a petty robbery while in London. He does however profess his innocence when it comes to the bombing of the Guildford Pub in London in 1974, the event which killed several people inside. A self-professed non-political person, he and his three co-accused, dubbed the Guildford Four, are thought to be provisional members of the I.R.A. Their self-professed innocence is despite each having signed a statement of guilt which they claim were signed under duress. Their case includes having provable alibis for the time frame of the bombing. And eventually, Joe McAndrew (Don Baker), a known I.R.A. member, admits to the bombing. Dubbed the Maguire Seven, seven others, primarily members of Gerry's extended family including his father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite), are accused of being accessories to the bombing. Following on the work initiated by Giuseppe, Gerry works on a campaign to prove their collective innocence, this work with the assistance of compassionate lawyer Gareth Peirce (Dame Emma Thompson). As Gareth works on this campaign, she is faced with obstacle after obstacle placed by Robert Dixon (Corin Redgrave), who led the initial investigation and questioning of the four accused on behalf of the Police.

Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for In the Name of the Father?

Directed by Jim Sheridan, with Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson leading the cast, In the Name of the Father was produced by Hell's Kitchen with a confirmed budget of $13,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for drama films.

At $13,000,000, In the Name of the Father was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $32,500,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Miss Sloane (2016): Budget $13,000,000 | Gross $9,101,546 → ROI: -30% • RoboCop (1987): Budget $13,000,000 | Gross $53,424,681 → ROI: 311% • The Godfather Part II (1974): Budget $13,000,000 | Gross $102,600,000 → ROI: 689% • The Holdovers (2023): Budget $13,000,000 | Gross $42,513,270 → ROI: 227% • Black Swan (2010): Budget $13,000,000 | Gross $329,398,046 → ROI: 2434%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Above-the-Line Talent Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances. Securing award-caliber actors and experienced directors represents the single largest budget line item, often consuming 30–40% of the total production budget.

▸ 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. Period dramas add the cost of era-accurate props, vehicles, and set decoration.

▸ Post-Production, Color Grading & Score The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone. Color grading, a nuanced musical score, and detailed sound mixing are critical to achieving the emotional resonance that defines the genre.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson, John Lynch, Corin Redgrave Key roles: Daniel Day-Lewis as Gerry Conlon; Pete Postlethwaite as Giuseppe Conlon; Emma Thompson as Gareth Peirce; John Lynch as Paul Hill

DIRECTOR: Jim Sheridan CINEMATOGRAPHY: Peter Biziou MUSIC: Trevor Jones EDITING: Gerry Hambling PRODUCTION: Hell's Kitchen FILMED IN: Ireland

Box Office Performance

In the Name of the Father earned $25,096,862 domestically and $40,700,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of $65,796,862. Revenue was split 38% domestic / 62% international.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), In the Name of the Father needed approximately $32,500,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $33,296,862.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $65,796,862 Budget: $13,000,000 Net: $52,796,862 ROI: 406.1%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Highly Profitable

In the Name of the Father was a clear financial success, generating $65,796,862 worldwide against a $13,000,000 production budget — a 406% ROI. After estimated marketing costs, the film still delivered substantial profit to Hell's Kitchen.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

The outsized success of In the Name of the Father likely influenced studio greenlight decisions for similar drama projects.

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Production

To prepare for the role of Gerry Conlon, Day-Lewis lost over in weight. To gain an insight into Conlon's thoughts and feelings at the time, Day-Lewis also spent three days and nights in a jail cell. He was prevented from sleeping by a group of thugs, who would bang on the door every ten minutes with tin cups through the night, then he was interrogated by three different teams of real Special Branch officers for nine hours. He would also insist that crew members throw cold water at him and verbally abuse him. He also kept his Belfast accent on and off set.

Day-Lewis has stated in an interview that he went through all this because otherwise "How could I understand how an innocent man could sign that confession and destroy his own life."

▸ Filming & Locations

The film was shot primarily in Ireland. * South Lotts, Dublin, Ireland (used for opening Belfast scenes) * Sheriff Street, Dublin, Ireland (Sheriff Street flats complex (now demolished) used for riot scene) * Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Ireland (as Park Royal Prison) * Liverpool, England (used for many London scenes) * Manchester Town Hall, Manchester, England (Courtyard used for external scenes of The Old Bailey)

[Filming locations] The film was shot primarily in Ireland. * South Lotts, Dublin, Ireland (used for opening Belfast scenes) * Sheriff Street, Dublin, Ireland (Sheriff Street flats complex (now demolished) used for riot scene) * Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Ireland (as Park Royal Prison) * Liverpool, England (used for many London scenes) * Manchester Town Hall, Manchester, England (Courtyard used for external scenes of The Old Bailey)

▸ Music & Score

The soundtrack of the film includes the song "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart", performed by Sinéad O'Connor and written by Bono, Gavin Friday, and Maurice Seezer. The soundtrack also includes "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. However, the Bob Dylan Song "Like a Rolling Stone" was not included on the album due to licensing restrictions.

The soundtrack featured these songs: # Bono and Gavin Friday - "In the Name of the Father" (5:42) # The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (5:09) # Bono and Gavin Friday - "Billy Boola" (3:45) # The Kinks - "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" (3:00) # Trevor Jones - "Interrogation" (7:11) # Bob Marley and the Wailers - "Is This Love" (3:51) # Trevor Jones - "Walking the Circle" (4:42) # Thin Lizzy - "Whiskey in the Jar" (5:44) # Trevor Jones - "Passage of Time" (5:52) # Sinéad O'Connor - "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" (6:21)

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: Nominated for 7 Oscars. 7 wins & 41 nominations total

Awards Won: ★ Golden Bear ★ National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Nominations: ○ Academy Award for Best Film Editing (66th Academy Awards) ○ European Film Award for Best Film (7th European Film Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Picture (66th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Director (66th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (66th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Actor (66th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (66th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (66th Academy Awards)