Judy Budget
DramaHistoryMusic1h 58mUpdated
Synopsis
Thirty years after starring in The Wizard of Oz (1939), beloved actress and singer Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger) arrives in London, England to perform sold-out shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub. While there, she reminisces with friends and fans and begins a whirlwind romance with musician Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock), her soon-to-be fifth husband.
What is the budget of Judy?
"Judy," a drama released in 2019, was directed by Rupert Goold and stars Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley. The production budget was $10,000,000, 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.
What were the major cost factors in Judy?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Judy."
- 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 Judy's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $10,000,000, Judy sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- By the Sea (2015): Budget $10,000,000, Worldwide Gross $3,727,746
- Eye for an Eye (2025): Budget $10,000,000
- Goal! (2005): Budget $10,000,000, Worldwide Gross $27,610,873
- Phantom (2013): Budget $10,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,197,759
- War of the Worlds (2025): Budget $10,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Judy Box Office Performance
"Judy" earned $24,313,888 domestically and $38,981,322 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $10,000,000, 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 "Judy," that break-even threshold was roughly $20,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $38,981,322, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $10,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $38,981,322
- Net Return: $28,981,322
- ROI: approximately 289.8%
At 289.8%, "Judy" earned roughly $3.9 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 24 wins & 68 nominations total
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress: Motion Picture Drama
- Academy Award for Best Actress: Renée Zellweger (92nd Academy Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Judy (2019)?
The production budget was $10,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $5,000,000 - $8,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $15,000,000 - $18,000,000.
How much did Judy (2019) earn at the box office?
Judy grossed $24,313,888 domestic, $14,667,434 international, totaling $38,981,322 worldwide.
Was Judy (2019) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $10,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$25,000,000, the film earned $38,981,322 theatrically - a 290% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Judy?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Judy's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $10,000,000, Judy 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: By the Sea (2015, $10,000,000); Eye for an Eye (2025, $10,000,000); Goal! (2005, $10,000,000).
Did Judy (2019) 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 Judy?
The theatrical ROI was 289.8%, calculated as ($38,981,322 − $10,000,000) ÷ $10,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Judy (2019) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 24 wins & 68 nominations total.
Who directed Judy and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Rupert Goold, written by Tom Edge, shot by Ole Bratt Birkeland, with music by Gabriel Yared, edited by Melanie Oliver.
Where was Judy filmed?
Judy was filmed in United Kingdom. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Judy
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