Portrait of a Lady on Fire Budget

What is the budget of Portrait of a Lady on Fire?

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire," a drama released in 2019, was directed by Céline Sciamma and stars Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel. The production budget was $5,740,000, placing it in the low-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: Principal photography began in October 2018 and was completed in 38 days.

What were the major cost factors in Portrait of a Lady on Fire?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Portrait of a Lady on Fire."

• 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 Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $5,740,000, Portrait of a Lady on Fire sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

• Akira (1988): Budget $5,700,000, Worldwide Gross $49,000,000
• Planet of the Apes (1968): Budget $5,800,000, Worldwide Gross $32,589,624
• The Sting (1973): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $159,616,327
• Show Dogs (2018): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $38,830,219
• 47 Meters Down (2017): Budget $5,500,000, Worldwide Gross $62,198,461

The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire Box Office Performance

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" earned $3,759,854 domestically and $9,923,127 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $5,740,000, the film showed modest profitability in theatrical release.

A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Portrait of a Lady on Fire," that break-even threshold was roughly $11,480,000. With worldwide earnings of $9,923,127, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.

• Production Budget: $5,740,000
• Worldwide Gross: $9,923,127
• Net Return: $4,183,127
• ROI: approximately 72.9%

At 72.9%, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire Production History

Sciamma decided to do without a conventional score. Instead, the soundtrack consists of an original single, ( 'The Young Lady on Fire'), by composers Para One and Arthur Simonini. The song,performed by Sequenza 9.3, with Catherine Simonpiétri conducting,is scored for female choir a cappella and rhythmic clapping.

Awards and Recognition

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award59 wins & 155 nominations total

• European University Film Award: Céline Sciamma (32nd European Film Awards)
• European University Film Award: Bénédicte Couvreur (32nd European Film Awards)
• European Film Award for Best Screenwriter: Céline Sciamma (32nd European Film Awards)
• Queer Palm
• Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year