Inherent Vice Budget
DramaMysteryComedy2h 29mUpdated
Synopsis
When private eye Doc Sportello’s ex-old lady suddenly out of nowhere shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him in a loony bin… well, easy for her to say.
What is the budget of Inherent Vice?
"Inherent Vice," a drama released in 2014, was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin. The production budget was $20,000,000, 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 Inherent Vice?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Inherent Vice."
- 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 Inherent Vice's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Inherent Vice sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Inherent Vice Box Office Performance
"Inherent Vice" earned $8,110,975 domestically and $14,810,975 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Inherent Vice," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $14,810,975, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $14,810,975
- Net Return: −$5,189,025
- ROI: approximately -25.9%
At -25.9%, "Inherent Vice" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 15 wins & 99 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Inherent Vice (2014)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Inherent Vice (2014) earn at the box office?
Inherent Vice grossed $8,110,975 domestic, $6,700,000 international, totaling $14,810,975 worldwide.
Was Inherent Vice (2014) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $14,810,975 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Inherent Vice?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Inherent Vice's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, Inherent Vice is classified as a low-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: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Inherent Vice (2014) 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 Inherent Vice?
The theatrical ROI was -25.9%, calculated as ($14,810,975 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Inherent Vice (2014) win?
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 15 wins & 99 nominations total.
Who directed Inherent Vice and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, written by Paul Thomas Anderson, shot by Robert Elswit, with music by Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, edited by Leslie Jones.
Where was Inherent Vice filmed?
Inherent Vice was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Inherent Vice
Official Trailer
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