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Memoir of a Snail movie poster

Memoir of a Snail Budget

2024RAnimationDramaComedy1h 34m

Updated

Budget
$4,350,000
Domestic Box Office
$669,798
Worldwide Box Office
$7

Synopsis

A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel - a hoarder of snails, romance novels, and guinea pigs.

What is the budget of Memoir of a Snail?

"Memoir of a Snail," a animation released in 2024, was directed by Adam Elliot and stars Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee. The production budget was $4,350,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for animation productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a animation production like this include:

  • Animation Production Pipeline: The bulk of an animated film's budget funds the multi-year production pipeline: storyboarding, character modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
  • Voice Talent: Celebrity voice casting has become standard for studio animation, with A-list actors earning $5 to 15 million for voice roles.
  • Music, Songs & Sound Design: Original songs and orchestral scores are central to animated storytelling. Sound design for animated worlds must be created entirely from scratch.
  • Production: Memoir of a Snail was developed over an eight-year period. In February 2024, it was announced that Sarah Snook was cast as the lead.

What were the major cost factors in Memoir of a Snail?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Memoir of a Snail."

  • Animation Production Pipeline: Animation Production Pipeline is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
  • Voice Talent: Voice Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.
  • Music: Music, Songs & Sound Design is one of the primary cost drivers in animation productions of this scale.

How Does Memoir of a Snail's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $4,350,000, Memoir of a Snail sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

  • Secrets & Lies (1996): Budget $4,500,000, Worldwide Gross $13,417,292
  • Hard Boiled (1992): Budget $4,500,000, Worldwide Gross $2,592,782
  • Get Out (2017): Budget $4,500,000, Worldwide Gross $255,407,969
  • Donnie Darko (2001): Budget $4,500,000, Worldwide Gross $7,500,000
  • Requiem for a Dream (2000): Budget $4,500,000, Worldwide Gross $7,390,108

The median budget for wide-release animation films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Memoir of a Snail Box Office Performance

"Memoir of a Snail" earned $669,798 domestically and $7 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $4,350,000, 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 "Memoir of a Snail," that break-even threshold was roughly $8,700,000. With worldwide earnings of $7, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

  • Production Budget: $4,350,000
  • Worldwide Gross: $7
  • Net Return: −$4,349,993
  • ROI: approximately -100%

At -100%, "Memoir of a Snail" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.

Awards and Recognition

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 19 wins & 73 nominations total

  • Annecy Cristal for a Feature Film (Annecy 2024)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did it cost to make Memoir of a Snail (2024)?

The production budget was $4,350,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $2,175,000 - $3,480,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $6,525,000 - $7,830,000.

How much did Memoir of a Snail (2024) earn at the box office?

Memoir of a Snail grossed $669,798 domestic, $-669,791 international, totaling $7 worldwide.

Was Memoir of a Snail (2024) profitable?

The film did not break even theatrically, earning $7 against an estimated $10,875,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.

What were the biggest costs in producing Memoir of a Snail?

The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver); multi-year animation production, celebrity voice talent, and original musical compositions.

How does Memoir of a Snail's budget compare to similar animation films?

At $4,350,000, Memoir of a Snail is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release animation films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Secrets & Lies (1996, $4,500,000); Hard Boiled (1992, $4,500,000); Get Out (2017, $4,500,000).

Did Memoir of a Snail (2024) 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 Memoir of a Snail?

The theatrical ROI was -100.0%, calculated as ($7 − $4,350,000) ÷ $4,350,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.

What awards did Memoir of a Snail (2024) win?

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 19 wins & 73 nominations total.

Who directed Memoir of a Snail and who were the key crew members?

Directed by Adam Elliot, written by Adam Elliot, shot by Gerald Thompson, with music by Elena Kats-Chernin, edited by Bill Murphy.

Where was Memoir of a Snail filmed?

Memoir of a Snail was filmed in Australia. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Filmmakers

Memoir of a Snail

Producers
Adam Elliot, Liz Kearney
Production Companies
Arenamedia, MIFF Premiere Fund
Director
Adam Elliot
Writers
Adam Elliot
Key Cast
Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver, Magda Szubanski, Dominique Pinon, Tony Armstrong
Cinematographer
Gerald Thompson
Composer
Elena Kats-Chernin

Official Trailer

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