

Molly Budget
Updated
Synopsis
"Molly" (1999) is a heartwarming drama that explores the life of a young woman with a unique condition. The story centers around Molly, portrayed by Elisabeth Shue, who has been raised in a controlled environment due to her mental challenges. After her father’s death, she is thrust into the world outside, where she struggles to adapt to the complexities of life and relationships.
As Molly navigates her new reality, she forms a deep bond with her caregiver, played by Aaron Eckhart, who helps her discover the joys and trials of independence. The film delves into themes of love, acceptance, and the pursuit of happiness, showcasing Molly's journey of self-discovery and the impact of unconditional support. With a blend of humor and poignant moments, "Molly" ultimately highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
What is the budget of Molly?
"Molly," a drama released in 1999, was directed by John Duigan and stars Elisabeth Shue, Aaron Eckhart. The production budget was $21,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for drama productions of the 1990s.
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 Molly?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Molly."
- 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 Molly's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $21,000,000, Molly sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Blockers (2018): Budget $21,000,000, Worldwide Gross $94,017,294
- Death at a Funeral (2010): Budget $21,000,000, Worldwide Gross $49,050,886
- Everybody's Fine (2009): Budget $21,000,000, Worldwide Gross $16,443,609
- For Colored Girls (2010): Budget $21,000,000, Worldwide Gross $38,000,000
- Freedom Writers (2007): Budget $21,000,000, Worldwide Gross $43,095,175
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Molly Box Office Performance
"Molly" earned $17,650 domestically. Against a production budget of $21,000,000, 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 "Molly," that break-even threshold was roughly $42,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $17,650, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $21,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $17,650
- Net Return: −$20,982,350
- ROI: approximately -99.9%
At -99.9%, "Molly" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Molly (1999)?
The production budget was $21,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,500,000 - $16,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $31,500,000 - $37,800,000.
How much did Molly (1999) earn at the box office?
Box office figures are not publicly available.
Was Molly (1999) profitable?
Insufficient data for a profitability assessment.
What were the biggest costs in producing Molly?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Elisabeth Shue, Aaron Eckhart, Jill Hennessy); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Molly's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $21,000,000, Molly is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Blockers (2018, $21,000,000); Death at a Funeral (2010, $21,000,000); Everybody's Fine (2009, $21,000,000).
Did Molly (1999) 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 awards did Molly (1999) win?
N/A.
Who directed Molly and who were the key crew members?
Directed by John Duigan, written by Dick Christie, shot by Gabriel Beristain, with music by Trevor Jones, edited by Humphrey Dixon.
Where was Molly filmed?
Molly was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Molly
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