Lakeview Terrace Budget
DramaCrimeThriller1h 50mUpdated
Synopsis
"Lakeview Terrace" (2008) is a gripping thriller that delves into the complexities of race, family, and the consequences of obsession. The story follows Chris and Lisa Mattson, a young interracial couple who move into a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, eager to start their new life together. However, their idyllic existence is soon disrupted by their next-door neighbor, Abel Turner, a strict and volatile LAPD officer.
Abel, who harbors deep-seated prejudices and a fierce sense of territoriality, becomes increasingly hostile towards the couple, particularly as he perceives their relationship as a threat to the community's fabric. As tensions escalate, Chris and Lisa find themselves caught in a dangerous game of psychological warfare, where Abel's obsession with maintaining control spirals out of control. The film explores themes of fear, prejudice, and the lengths one will go to protect their home, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that forces all characters to confront their own biases and moral boundaries.
What is the budget of Lakeview Terrace?
"Lakeview Terrace," a drama released in 2008, was directed by Neil LaBute and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson. 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 Lakeview Terrace?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Lakeview Terrace."
- 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 Lakeview Terrace's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Lakeview Terrace 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 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Lakeview Terrace Box Office Performance
"Lakeview Terrace" earned $39,263,506 domestically and $27,640,028 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Lakeview Terrace," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $27,640,028, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $27,640,028
- Net Return: $7,640,028
- ROI: approximately 38.2%
At 38.2%, "Lakeview Terrace" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Awards and Recognition
1 nomination total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Lakeview Terrace (2008)?
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 Lakeview Terrace (2008) earn at the box office?
Lakeview Terrace grossed $39,263,506 domestic, $-11,623,478 international, totaling $27,640,028 worldwide.
Was Lakeview Terrace (2008) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $27,640,028 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Lakeview Terrace?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Lakeview Terrace's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, Lakeview Terrace is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s 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 Lakeview Terrace (2008) 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 Lakeview Terrace?
The theatrical ROI was 38.2%, calculated as ($27,640,028 − $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 Lakeview Terrace (2008) win?
1 nomination total.
Who directed Lakeview Terrace and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Neil LaBute, written by David Loughery, Howard Korder, shot by Rogier Stoffers, with music by Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna, edited by Joel Plotch.
Where was Lakeview Terrace filmed?
Lakeview Terrace was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Lakeview Terrace
Official Trailer
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
