Men of Honor Budget
Drama2h 9mUpdated
Synopsis
Carl Brashear is an ambitious sharecropper who joins the U.S. Navy to become the world’s first black master diver. But as he works through diving training, the bitter and racist Master Chief Billy Sunday sets out to make Carl’s journey as difficult as possible. Despite the entire Navy doubting his potential and sabotaging his training, the determined Carl proves that he can overcome the discrimination around him.
What is the budget of Men of Honor?
"Men of Honor," a drama released in 2000, was directed by George Tillman Jr. and stars Robert De Niro, Cuba Gooding Jr.. The production budget was $32,000,000, placing it in the mid-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: The film features the classic US Navy Mark V diving equipment used by the Navy from 1915 until 1985.
What were the major cost factors in Men of Honor?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Men of Honor."
- 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 Men of Honor's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $32,000,000, Men of Honor sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A History of Violence (2005): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $61,477,797
- Alive (1993): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,700,000
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $31,882,724
- Bogus (1996): Budget $32,000,000
- Bombshell (2019): Budget $32,000,000, Worldwide Gross $61,404,394
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Men of Honor Box Office Performance
"Men of Honor" earned $48,818,921 domestically and $82,300,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $32,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Men of Honor," that break-even threshold was roughly $64,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $82,300,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $32,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $82,300,000
- Net Return: $50,300,000
- ROI: approximately 157.2%
At 157.2%, "Men of Honor" earned roughly $2.57 for every $1 invested in production.
Men of Honor Production History
Mark Isham's soundtrack album was released in 2000.
Awards and Recognition
11 nominations total
Critical Reception
The film opened in third place at the North American box office behind Little Nicky and Charlie's Angels, the latter of which was on its second week at the top spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Men of Honor (2000)?
The production budget was $32,000,000. Twentieth Century Fox produced the film, with State Street Pictures co-financing the prestige biopic vehicle for Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr.
How much did Men of Honor earn at the box office?
The film grossed $48,818,921 domestically and $33,210,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $82,000,000. It opened to $13,488,800 on November 10, 2000, finishing second behind The Sixth Sense star Bruce Willis vehicle Unbreakable.
Is Men of Honor based on a true story?
Yes. The film dramatizes the life of Carl Brashear, the first African American U.S. Navy Master Diver, who fought through racial prejudice and a near-fatal leg injury to qualify for the Navy's most demanding diving role. The events span the 1950s to the 1970s.
Who directed Men of Honor?
George Tillman Jr. directed the film. Tillman had previously directed Soul Food (1997) for $7,000,000 against a $43,000,000 worldwide gross and later directed Notorious (2009) and The Hate U Give (2018).
Who stars in Men of Honor?
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Carl Brashear and Robert De Niro plays the racist and ultimately redemptive Master Chief Billy Sunday. Supporting cast includes Charlize Theron, Aunjanue Ellis, Hal Holbrook, David Conrad, and Powers Boothe.
Where was Men of Honor filmed?
Principal photography took place in Vallejo and the Bay Area of California, including the decommissioned Mare Island Naval Shipyard, with additional underwater sequences shot in tank facilities. Diving sequences required dedicated underwater stunt coordination.
What did critics think of Men of Honor?
The film received mixed reviews, with a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Critics praised the performances of Gooding and De Niro but objected to what they viewed as a formulaic biopic structure.
Did Men of Honor win any awards?
Cuba Gooding Jr. received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. The film was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for Best Original Score for Mark Isham. It did not receive major Academy Award attention.
Was Men of Honor profitable?
Yes. Against a $32,000,000 production budget and an estimated $25,000,000 to $30,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of approximately $82,000,000 produced a modest theatrical profit. Strong home video and television syndication revenue extended the film's commercial life.
Is Carl Brashear still alive?
No. Carl Brashear served as a consultant on the film and met regularly with Cuba Gooding Jr. during pre-production. Brashear died on July 25, 2006, at age 75, six years after the film's release.
Official Trailer
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