May December

Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for May December?

Directed by Todd Haynes, with Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton leading the cast, May December was produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions with a confirmed budget of $20,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for drama films.

At $20,000,000, May December 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

▸ Above-the-Line Talent Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances. Securing award-caliber actors and experienced directors represents the single largest budget line item, often consuming 30–40% of the total production budget.

▸ 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. Period dramas add the cost of era-accurate props, vehicles, and set decoration.

▸ Post-Production, Color Grading & Score The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone. Color grading, a nuanced musical score, and detailed sound mixing are critical to achieving the emotional resonance that defines the genre.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton, Cory Michael Smith, Elizabeth Yu Key roles: Natalie Portman as Elizabeth; Julianne Moore as Gracie; Charles Melton as Joe Yoo; Cory Michael Smith as Georgie

DIRECTOR: Todd Haynes CINEMATOGRAPHY: Christopher Blauvelt MUSIC: Marcelo Zarvos, Michel Legrand EDITING: Affonso Gonçalves PRODUCTION: Gloria Sanchez Productions, Killer Films, MountainA, Taylor & Dodge, Project Infinity FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

May December earned $4,232,370 in worldwide box office revenue.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), May December needed approximately $50,000,000 to break even. The film fell $45,767,630 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $4,232,370 Budget: $20,000,000 Net: $-15,767,630 ROI: -78.8%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Unprofitable (Theatrical)

May December earned $4,232,370 against a $20,000,000 budget (-79% ROI), falling short of theatrical profitability. Ancillary revenue may have reduced the deficit.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

The underperformance may have increased risk aversion around low-budget drama productions.

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Production

Screenwriter Samy Burch outlined the script with her husband, Alex Mechanik, and completed the screenplay on Memorial Day, 2019. Producer Jessica Elbaum came onboard after reading the screenplay. In June 2021, it was announced that Portman and Moore were cast in the film. Portman recruited Todd Haynes to direct. In January 2023, it was reported that Piper Curda, Elizabeth Yu, and Gabriel Chung had joined the cast.

Principal photography took place in Savannah, Georgia, and wrapped after 23 days in November 2022. Haynes's longtime collaborator Edward Lachman was initially going to serve as cinematographer, but was replaced by Christopher Blauvelt after injuring his hip.

Haynes said the film is partly inspired by the Ingmar Bergman films Persona (1966) and Winter Light (1963). While not a direct adaptation, he also stated that the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal "became very, very helpful to get very specific about the research, and we learned things from that relationship".

▸ Music & Score

Marcelo Zarvos's score for the film is an adaptation and reorchestration of Michel Legrand's music for The Go-Between. Legrand was credited along with Zarvos.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 44 wins & 185 nominations total

Additional Recognition: May December was ranked tenth in Sight and Sounds list of the 50 best films of 2023, out of 363 films nominated by 106 British and international participants. In France, Cahiers du Cinéma placed it second on their top 10 films of 2024. Some critics noted the omission of acting nominations for Portman, Melton and Moore at the 96th Academy Awards, despite being nominated at other major awards associations.

! scope="col" |Award / Film Festival ! scope="col" |Date of ceremony ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Recipient(s) ! scope="col" |Result ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |

! scope="row"| AACTA International Awards

! rowspan="1" scope="row"| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards

! scope="row"| Academy Awards

! scope="row" |American Film Institute

! rowspan="5" scope="row"| Alliance of Women Film Journalists

! scope="row"| Artios Awards

! rowspan="2" scope="row" |Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards

! rowspan="3" scope="row"| Austin Film Critics Association

! rowspan="5" scope="row"| Boston Society of Film Critics

! scope="row" |Cannes Film Festival

! scope="row" |Celebration of Cinema & Television

! scope="row" rowspan="7"|Chicago Film Critics Association

! rowspan="3" scope="row" | Critics' Choice Movie Awards | rowspan="3" |January 14, 2024

! scope="row"| Costume Designers Guild Awards

! rowspan="3" scope="row"| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association

! rowspan="5" scope="row"| Dublin Film Critics Circle

! scope="row" rowspan="8"| Florida Film Critics Ci...