Mustang Budget
Drama1h 37mUpdated
Synopsis
Early summer. In a village in northern Turkey, Lale and her four sisters are walking home from school, playing innocently with some boys. The immorality of their play sets off a scandal that has unexpected consequences. The family home is progressively transformed into a prison; instruction in homemaking replaces school and marriages start being arranged. The five sisters who share a common passion for freedom, find ways of getting around the constraints imposed on them.
What is the budget of Mustang?
"Mustang," a drama released in 2015, was directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven and stars Güneş Nezihe Şensoy, Doğa Zeynep Doğuşlu. The production budget was $1,300,000, 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.
- Production: After graduating from La Fémis film school in 2006, Ergüven was initially developing a film about the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
What were the major cost factors in Mustang?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Mustang."
- 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 Mustang's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $1,300,000, Mustang sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Andrei Rublev (1966): Budget $1,300,000, Worldwide Gross $24,173
- The Celebration (1998): Budget $1,300,000
- The Last Picture Show (1971): Budget $1,300,000, Worldwide Gross $29,133,000
- Drive My Car (2021): Budget $1,300,000, Worldwide Gross $15,356,046
- Nine Queens (2000): Budget $1,300,000, Worldwide Gross $12,413,888
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Mustang Box Office Performance
"Mustang" earned $845,464 domestically and $5,300,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $1,300,000, 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 "Mustang," that break-even threshold was roughly $2,600,000. With worldwide earnings of $5,300,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $1,300,000
- Worldwide Gross: $5,300,000
- Net Return: $4,000,000
- ROI: approximately 307.7%
At 307.7%, "Mustang" earned roughly $4.08 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 46 wins & 63 nominations total
- European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year: Deniz Gamze Ergüven (28th European Film Awards)
- Lux Prize
Critical Reception
Mustang has received widespread acclaim from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 97%, based on 156 reviews, with an average rating of 8.14/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Mustang delivers a bracing , and thoroughly timely , message whose power is further bolstered by the efforts of a stellar ensemble cast." Metacritic reports a score of 83 out of 100, based on 29 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Mustang (2015)?
The production budget was $1,300,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $650,000 - $1,040,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $1,950,000 - $2,340,000.
How much did Mustang (2015) earn at the box office?
Mustang grossed $845,464 domestic, $4,454,536 international, totaling $5,300,000 worldwide.
Was Mustang (2015) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $1,300,000 and estimated total costs of ~$3,250,000, the film earned $5,300,000 theatrically - a 308% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Mustang?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Güneş Nezihe Şensoy, Doğa Zeynep Doğuşlu, Elit İşcan); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Turkey, France, Germany.
How does Mustang's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $1,300,000, Mustang is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Andrei Rublev (1966, $1,300,000); The Celebration (1998, $1,300,000); The Last Picture Show (1971, $1,300,000).
Did Mustang (2015) 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 Mustang?
The theatrical ROI was 307.7%, calculated as ($5,300,000 − $1,300,000) ÷ $1,300,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Mustang (2015) win?
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 46 wins & 63 nominations total.
Who directed Mustang and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, written by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Alice Winocour, shot by Ersin Gök, David Chizallet, with music by Warren Ellis, edited by Mathilde Van de Moortel.
Where was Mustang filmed?
Mustang was filmed in Turkey, France, Germany. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Mustang
Official Trailer
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