

Macbeth Budget
Updated
Synopsis
Feature film adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play about General Macbeth whose ambitious wife urges him to use wicked means in order to gain power of the throne over the sitting king, Duncan.
What is the budget of Macbeth?
"Macbeth," a drama released in 2015, was directed by Justin Kurzel and stars Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard. The production budget was $15,000,000, 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.
- Filming & Locations: The production company behind Macbeth is See-Saw Films; the film was distributed by StudioCanal worldwide.
What were the major cost factors in Macbeth?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Macbeth."
- 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 Macbeth's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $15,000,000, Macbeth sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Dangerous Method (2011): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $27,462,041
- Ben-Hur (1959): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $164,000,000
- Land of the Dead (2005): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $47,074,133
- Into the Wild (2007): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,255,142
- King's Ransom (2005): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $4,139,856
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Macbeth Box Office Performance
"Macbeth" earned $16,322,067 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $15,000,000, 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 "Macbeth," that break-even threshold was roughly $30,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $16,322,067, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $15,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $16,322,067
- Net Return: $1,322,067
- ROI: approximately 8.8%
At 8.8%, "Macbeth" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Macbeth Production History
The production company behind Macbeth is See-Saw Films; the film was distributed by StudioCanal worldwide. Principal photography took place over seven weeks in England and Scotland, beginning on 6 February 2014 in Scotland. On 21 February, filming took place at Hankley Common in Elstead, Surrey.
Critical Reception
Macbeth has received positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 80% based on 198 reviews, with an average rating of 7.24/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Faithful to the source material without sacrificing its own cinematic flair, Justin Kurzel's Macbeth rises on the strength of a mesmerizing Michael Fassbender performance to join the upper echelon of big-screen Shakespeare adaptations." Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 71 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Macbeth (2015)?
The production budget was $15,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $7,500,000 - $12,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $22,500,000 - $27,000,000.
How much did Macbeth (2015) earn at the box office?
Macbeth grossed $16,322,067 worldwide.
Was Macbeth (2015) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $16,322,067 against an estimated $37,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Macbeth?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across France, United Kingdom.
How does Macbeth's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $15,000,000, Macbeth 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: A Dangerous Method (2011, $15,000,000); Ben-Hur (1959, $15,000,000); Land of the Dead (2005, $15,000,000).
Did Macbeth (2015) 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 Macbeth?
The theatrical ROI was 8.8%, calculated as ($16,322,067 − $15,000,000) ÷ $15,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
Who directed Macbeth and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Justin Kurzel, written by Michael Lesslie, Jacob Koskoff, Todd Louiso, shot by Adam Arkapaw, with music by Jed Kurzel, edited by Chris Dickens.
Where was Macbeth filmed?
Macbeth was filmed in France, United Kingdom. The production company behind Macbeth is See-Saw Films; the film was distributed by StudioCanal worldwide. Principal photography took place over seven weeks in England and Scotland, beginning on 6 February 2014 in Scotland. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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Macbeth
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