LBJ Budget
DramaHistory1h 38mUpdated
Synopsis
After powerful Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson loses the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination to Senator John F. Kennedy, he agrees to be his young rival’s running mate. But once they win the election, despite his extensive legislative experience and shrewd political instincts, Johnson finds himself sidelined in the role of vice president. That all changes on Nov. 22, 1963, when Kennedy is assassinated and Johnson, with his devoted wife Lady Bird by his side, is suddenly thrust into the presidency. As the nation mourns, Johnson must contend with longtime adversary Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and one-time mentor Georgia Senator Richard Russell as he seeks to honor JFK’s legacy by championing the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What is the budget of LBJ?
"LBJ," a drama released in 2017, was directed by Rob Reiner and stars Woody Harrelson, Michael Stahl-David. 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 LBJ?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "LBJ."
- 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 LBJ's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, LBJ 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.
LBJ Box Office Performance
"LBJ" earned $2,470,979 domestically and $2,510,151 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 "LBJ," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $2,510,151, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $2,510,151
- Net Return: −$17,489,849
- ROI: approximately -87.4%
At -87.4%, "LBJ" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
1 nomination total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make LBJ (2017)?
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 LBJ (2017) earn at the box office?
LBJ grossed $2,470,979 domestic, $39,172 international, totaling $2,510,151 worldwide.
Was LBJ (2017) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $2,510,151 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing LBJ?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Woody Harrelson, Michael Stahl-David, Richard Jenkins); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does LBJ's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, LBJ 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 LBJ (2017) 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 LBJ?
The theatrical ROI was -87.4%, calculated as ($2,510,151 − $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 LBJ (2017) win?
1 nomination total.
Who directed LBJ and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Rob Reiner, written by Joey Hartstone, shot by Barry Markowitz, with music by Marc Shaiman, edited by Bob Joyce.
Where was LBJ filmed?
LBJ was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
LBJ
Official Trailer
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