Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Materialists?

Directed by Celine Song, with Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal leading the cast, Materialists was produced by A24 with a confirmed budget of $20,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for romance films.

At $20,000,000, Materialists was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $50,000,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $187,000,000 → ROI: 835% • 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $60,427,839 → ROI: 202% • 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $11,798,854 → ROI: -41% • A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $17,400,000 → ROI: -13% • A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $12,007,070 → ROI: -40%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Lead Cast Compensation Romantic films depend entirely on the chemistry and appeal of their leads, making star casting decisions the most consequential budget item.

▸ Location Filming Picturesque, often international locations are central to the romantic genre's visual appeal.

▸ Music Supervision & Soundtrack Iconic songs can cost $250,000–500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland Key roles: Dakota Johnson as Lucy; Chris Evans as John; Pedro Pascal as Harry; Zoë Winters as Sophie

DIRECTOR: Celine Song CINEMATOGRAPHY: Shabier Kirchner MUSIC: Daniel Pemberton EDITING: Keith Fraase PRODUCTION: A24, Killer Films, 2AM, IPR.VC, Access Entertainment FILMED IN: United States of America, Finland

Box Office Performance

Materialists earned $36,521,973 domestically and $69,914,935 internationally, for a worldwide total of $106,436,908. International markets drove the majority of revenue (66%), indicating strong global appeal.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Materialists needed approximately $50,000,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $56,436,908.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $106,436,908 Budget: $20,000,000 Net: $86,436,908 ROI: 432.2%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Highly Profitable

Materialists was a clear financial success, generating $106,436,908 worldwide against a $20,000,000 production budget — a 432% ROI. After estimated marketing costs, the film still delivered substantial profit to A24.