Minari Budget
Drama1h 55mUpdated
Synopsis
Yearning to own a small patch of land and be more than a chicken sexer, the ambitious paterfamilias, Jacob Yi, relocates his Korean-American family: sceptical wife, Monica, and their children, David and Anne, from California to 1980s rural Arkansas, to start afresh and capture the elusive American Dream. However, new beginnings are always challenging, and to find out what is best for the family, let alone start a 50-acre farm to grow and sell Korean fruits and vegetables, is easier said than done. But, amid sincere promises, cultural unease, fleeting hopes, and the ever-present threat of financial disaster, Jacob is convinced that he has found their own slice of Eden in the rich, dark soil of Arkansas. Can grandma Soonja's humble but resilient minari help the Yi family figure out their place in the world?
What is the budget of Minari?
"Minari," a drama released in 2021, was directed by Lee Isaac Chung and stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri. The production budget was $2,000,000, placing it in the micro-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.
What were the major cost factors in Minari?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Minari."
- 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 Minari's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $2,000,000, Minari sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Seven Samurai (1954): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $105,000,000
- The Great Dictator (1940): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,000,000
- Sing Sing (2024): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $3,401,789
- The Lives of Others (2006): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $77,672,685
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959): Budget $2,000,000, Worldwide Gross $8,000,000
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Minari Box Office Performance
"Minari" earned $3,110,580 domestically and $12,900,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $2,000,000, 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 "Minari," that break-even threshold was roughly $4,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $12,900,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $2,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $12,900,000
- Net Return: $10,900,000
- ROI: approximately 545%
At 545%, "Minari" earned roughly $6.45 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 120 wins & 241 nominations total
- Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Award
- Sundance Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Minari (2021)?
The production budget was $2,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $1,000,000 - $1,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $3,000,000 - $3,600,000.
How much did Minari (2021) earn at the box office?
Minari grossed $3,110,580 domestic, $9,789,420 international, totaling $12,900,000 worldwide.
Was Minari (2021) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $2,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$5,000,000, the film earned $12,900,000 theatrically - a 545% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Minari?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Youn Yuh-jung); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Minari's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $2,000,000, Minari is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Seven Samurai (1954, $2,000,000); The Great Dictator (1940, $2,000,000); Sing Sing (2024, $2,000,000).
Did Minari (2021) 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 Minari?
The theatrical ROI was 545.0%, calculated as ($12,900,000 − $2,000,000) ÷ $2,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Minari (2021) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 120 wins & 241 nominations total.
Who directed Minari and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, written by Lee Isaac Chung, shot by Lachlan Milne, with music by Emile Mosseri, edited by Harry Yoon.
Where was Minari filmed?
Minari was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Minari
Official Trailer
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