Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Budget
Updated
Synopsis
Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal.
What is the budget of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," a comedy released in 1939, was directed by Frank Capra and stars James Stewart, Jean Arthur. The production budget was $1,500,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for comedy productions of the 1930s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a comedy production like this include:
- Talent Salaries & Producing Deals: Established comedic talent can command $15 to 20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals.
- Production & Location Filming: While comedies generally avoid the VFX costs of action films, location shooting in recognizable cities or exotic locales adds meaningful production expense.
- Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising): Comedies rely heavily on marketing to build opening-weekend momentum.
- Production: Columbia Pictures originally purchased Lewis R.
What were the major cost factors in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
How Does Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $1,500,000, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Satantango (1994): Budget $1,500,000
- City Lights (1931): Budget $1,500,000, Worldwide Gross $4,250,000
- Tampopo (1985): Budget $1,500,000
- Modern Times (1936): Budget $1,500,000, Worldwide Gross $1,800,000
- Roman Holiday (1953): Budget $1,500,000, Worldwide Gross $12,000,000
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Box Office Performance
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" earned $144,738 domestically and $9,600,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $1,500,000, 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 "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," that break-even threshold was roughly $3,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $9,600,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
Box Office Breakdown
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
At 540%, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" earned roughly $6.4 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 1 Oscar. 8 wins & 12 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award for Best Story: Lewis R. Foster (12th Academy Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)?
The production budget was $1,500,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $750,000 - $1,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $2,250,000 - $2,700,000.
How much did Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) earn at the box office?
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington grossed $144,738 domestic, $9,455,262 international, totaling $9,600,000 worldwide.
Was Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $1,500,000 and estimated total costs of ~$3,750,000, the film earned $9,600,000 theatrically - a 540% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns.
How does Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's budget compare to similar comedy films?
At $1,500,000, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Satantango (1994, $1,500,000); City Lights (1931, $1,500,000); Tampopo (1985, $1,500,000).
Did Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 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 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
The theatrical ROI was 540.0%, calculated as ($9,600,000 − $1,500,000) ÷ $1,500,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) win?
Won 1 Oscar. 8 wins & 12 nominations total.
Who directed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Frank Capra, written by Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster, shot by Joseph Walker, with music by Dimitri Tiomkin, edited by Gene Havlick, Al Clark.
Where was Mr. Smith Goes to Washington filmed?
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was filmed in United States of America.
Filmmakers
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Official Trailer
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