Lean on Pete Budget
DramaAdventure2h 1mUpdated
Synopsis
Charley Thompson, a teenager living with his single father, gets a summer job working for horse trainer Del Montgomery. Bonding with an aging racehorse named Lean on Pete, Charley is horrified to learn he is bound for slaughter, and so he steals the horse, and the duo embark on an odyssey across the new American frontier.
What is the budget of Lean on Pete?
"Lean on Pete," a drama released in 2018, was directed by Andrew Haigh and stars Charlie Plummer, Amy Seimetz. The production budget was $8,000,000, 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.
- Production: In May 2015, it was announced Andrew Haigh would write and direct the film, based on the novel of the same name, with Tristan Goligher producing the film under his The Bureau banner, alongside Film4 Productions.
What were the major cost factors in Lean on Pete?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Lean on Pete."
- 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 Lean on Pete's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $8,000,000, Lean on Pete sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Mutant Chronicles (2008): Budget $8,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,131,057
- I'm Still Here (2024): Budget $8,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,361,572
- Pulp Fiction (1994): Budget $8,000,000, Worldwide Gross $213,928,762
- Little Miss Sunshine (2006): Budget $8,000,000, Worldwide Gross $100,523,351
- My Life as a Zucchini (2016): Budget $8,000,000, Worldwide Gross $5,873,256
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Lean on Pete Box Office Performance
"Lean on Pete" earned $2,400,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $8,000,000, 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 "Lean on Pete," that break-even threshold was roughly $16,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $2,400,000, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $8,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $2,400,000
- Net Return: −$5,600,000
- ROI: approximately -70%
At -70%, "Lean on Pete" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Lean on Pete Production History
Principal photography began on 13 August 2016, and took place in Portland and Burns, Oregon. Filming concluded on 10 September 2016. Among the locations was Portland Meadows racetrack, [Filming] Principal photography began on 13 August 2016, and took place in Portland and Burns, Oregon. Filming concluded on 10 September 2016. Among the locations was Portland Meadows racetrack,
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Lean on Pete (2018)?
The production budget was $8,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $4,000,000 - $6,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $12,000,000 - $14,400,000.
How much did Lean on Pete (2018) earn at the box office?
Lean on Pete grossed $2,400,000 worldwide.
Was Lean on Pete (2018) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $2,400,000 against an estimated $20,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Lean on Pete?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Charlie Plummer, Amy Seimetz, Travis Fimmel); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Lean on Pete's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $8,000,000, Lean on Pete is classified as a micro-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: Mutant Chronicles (2008, $8,000,000); I'm Still Here (2024, $8,000,000); Pulp Fiction (1994, $8,000,000).
Did Lean on Pete (2018) 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 Lean on Pete?
The theatrical ROI was -70.0%, calculated as ($2,400,000 − $8,000,000) ÷ $8,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
Who directed Lean on Pete and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Andrew Haigh, written by Andrew Haigh, shot by Magnus Nordenhof Jønck, with music by James Edward Barker, edited by Jonathan Alberts.
Where was Lean on Pete filmed?
Lean on Pete was filmed in United Kingdom. Principal photography began on 13 August 2016, and took place in Portland and Burns, Oregon. Filming concluded on 10 September 2016. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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Lean on Pete
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