Mirror Budget

What is the budget of Mirror?

"Mirror," a drama released in 1975, was directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and stars Margarita Terekhova, Ignat Daniltsev. The production budget was $825,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for drama productions of the 1970s.

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.
• Casting: Initially, Tarkovsky considered Alla Demidova and Swedish actress Bibi Andersson for the role of the mother. In the end, he chose Margarita Terekhova.

What were the major cost factors in Mirror?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Mirror."

• 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 Mirror's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $825,000, Mirror sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

• Touch of Evil (1958): Budget $829,000, Worldwide Gross $2,247,500
• Woman of the Hour (2024): Budget $836,057
• Dumbo (1941): Budget $812,000, Worldwide Gross $1,600,000
• Citizen Kane (1941): Budget $839,727, Worldwide Gross $23,218,000
• The Battle of Algiers (1966): Budget $800,000, Worldwide Gross $964,028

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

Mirror Box Office Performance

"Mirror" earned $22,168 domestically and $124,367 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $825,000, 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 "Mirror," that break-even threshold was roughly $1,650,000. With worldwide earnings of $124,367, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

• Production Budget: $825,000
• Worldwide Gross: $124,367
• Net Return: −$700,633
• ROI: approximately -84.9%

At -84.9%, "Mirror" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.

Mirror Production History

Initially, Tarkovsky considered Alla Demidova and Swedish actress Bibi Andersson for the role of the mother. In the end, he chose Margarita Terekhova.

Principal photography began in July 1973 and ended in March 1974. Outdoor scenes were shot in Tutshkovo, near Moscow, and indoor scenes were shot at the Mosfilm studio. The country house in the film was based on photographs of the house where Tarkovsky grew up.

Awards and Recognition

1 nomination total

Critical Reception

Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".