Nine Queens Budget
CrimeThrillerDrama1h 54mUpdated
Synopsis
Early one morning, Marcos observes Juan successfully pulling off a bill-changing scam on a cashier, and then getting caught as he attempts to pull the same trick on the next shift. Marcos steps in, claiming to be a policeman, and drags Juan out of the store. Once they are back on the street, Marcos reveals himself to be a fellow swindler with a game of much higher stakes in mind, and he invites Juan to be his partner in crime. A once-in-a-lifetime scheme seemingly falls into their laps - an old-time con man enlists them to sell a forged set of extremely valuable rare stamps, The Nine Queens. The tricky negotiations that ensue bring into the picture a cast of suspicious characters, including Marcos' sister Valeria, their younger brother Federico and a slew of thieves, conmen and pickpockets. As the deceptions mount, it becomes more and more difficult to figure out who is conning whom.
What is the budget of Nine Queens?
"Nine Queens," a crime released in 2000, was directed by Fabián Bielinsky and stars Ricardo Darín, Gastón Pauls. The production budget was $1,300,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for crime productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a crime production like this include:
- Talent & Director Compensation: Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
- Cinematography & Location Photography: Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages , surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
- Editorial & Sound Post-Production: Precision editing , controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals , requires extended post-production schedules.
- Filming & Locations: Before filming was scheduled to begin, Bielinsky shot scenes for a week with Pauls, Darín, and a reduced crew as a "warm-up".
What were the major cost factors in Nine Queens?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Nine Queens."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
How Does Nine Queens's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $1,300,000, Nine Queens 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
- Mustang (2015): Budget $1,300,000, Worldwide Gross $5,300,000
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Nine Queens Box Office Performance
"Nine Queens" earned $1,222,889 domestically and $12,413,888 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 "Nine Queens," that break-even threshold was roughly $2,600,000. With worldwide earnings of $12,413,888, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $1,300,000
- Worldwide Gross: $12,413,888
- Net Return: $11,113,888
- ROI: approximately 854.9%
At 854.9%, "Nine Queens" earned roughly $9.55 for every $1 invested in production.
Nine Queens Production History
Before filming was scheduled to begin, Bielinsky shot scenes for a week with Pauls, Darín, and a reduced crew as a "warm-up". They then had another week of pre-production before filming. Filming lasted for seven weeks.
Awards and Recognition
22 wins & 8 nominations total
Critical Reception
Nine Queens garnered mostly positive reviews from film critics. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 92% approval rating based on 95 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's consensus reads: "Deliciously twist-filled, Nine Queens is a clever and satisfying crime caper." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80/100 based on 30 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Nine Queens (2000)?
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 Nine Queens (2000) earn at the box office?
Nine Queens grossed $1,222,889 domestic, $11,190,999 international, totaling $12,413,888 worldwide.
Was Nine Queens (2000) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $1,300,000 and estimated total costs of ~$3,250,000, the film earned $12,413,888 theatrically - a 855% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Nine Queens?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Ricardo Darín, Gastón Pauls, Leticia Brédice); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does Nine Queens's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $1,300,000, Nine Queens is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s 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 Nine Queens (2000) 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 Nine Queens?
The theatrical ROI was 854.9%, calculated as ($12,413,888 − $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 Nine Queens (2000) win?
22 wins & 8 nominations total.
Who directed Nine Queens and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Fabián Bielinsky, written by Fabián Bielinsky, shot by Marcelo Camorino, with music by César Lerner, edited by Sergio Zóttola.
Where was Nine Queens filmed?
Nine Queens was filmed in Argentina. Before filming was scheduled to begin, Bielinsky shot scenes for a week with Pauls, Darín, and a reduced crew as a "warm-up". They then had another week of pre-production before filming. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Nine Queens
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