Public Enemies Budget
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Synopsis
"Public Enemies" (2009) is a gripping crime drama directed by Michael Mann, set during the Great Depression. The film chronicles the cat-and-mouse game between legendary bank robber John Dillinger, portrayed by Johnny Depp, and FBI agent Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale. Dillinger, known for his charm and audacity, becomes a folk hero as he leads a gang that pulls off daring heists across the Midwest. Meanwhile, Purvis is tasked with bringing him to justice, employing innovative tactics and the latest technology of the time. As the story unfolds, themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between hero and villain emerge, culminating in a tense showdown that highlights the era's lawlessness and the relentless pursuit of fame and infamy.
What is the budget of Public Enemies?
"Public Enemies," a crime released in 2009, was directed by Michael Mann and stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale. The production budget was $100,000,000, placing it in the high-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.
- Development: Public Enemies is based on Bryan Burrough's 2004 non-fiction book, Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933 to 34.
What were the major cost factors in Public Enemies?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Public Enemies."
- 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 Public Enemies's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $100,000,000, Public Enemies sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1917 (2019): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $446,064,352
- American Gangster (2007): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $269,755,430
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024): Budget $100,000,000 , Gross $404,547,819
- Batman Forever (1995): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $336,529,144
- Bicentennial Man (1999): Budget $100,000,000, Worldwide Gross $87,423,861
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Public Enemies Box Office Performance
"Public Enemies" earned $97,104,620 domestically and $214,104,620 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $100,000,000, 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 "Public Enemies," that break-even threshold was roughly $200,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $214,104,620, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $100,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $214,104,620
- Net Return: $114,104,620
- ROI: approximately 114.1%
At 114.1%, "Public Enemies" earned roughly $2.14 for every $1 invested in production.
Public Enemies Production History
Public Enemies is based on Bryan Burrough's 2004 non-fiction book, Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933 to 34. Burrough had originally begun researching the subject with the aim of creating a miniseries. The idea was accepted by HBO and Burrough was made an executive producer, along with Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions, and was asked to write the screenplay.
Principal photography began in Columbus, Wisconsin on March 17, 2008 and continued in the Illinois cities of Chicago, Aurora, Joliet and Lockport; and the Wisconsin cities of Oshkosh, Beaver Dam, Columbus, Darlington, Milwaukee, Madison and several other places in Wisconsin; including the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, the actual location of a 1934 gun fight between Dillinger and the FBI. Some parts of the film were shot in Crown Point, Indiana, the town where Dillinger was imprisoned and escaped from jail. The actual 1932 Studebaker used by Dillinger during a robbery in Greencastle, Indiana was used during filming in Columbus, borrowed from the nearby Historic Auto Attractions museum.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 14 nominations total
Critical Reception
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Public Enemies (2009)?
The production budget was $100,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $50,000,000 - $80,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $150,000,000 - $180,000,000.
How much did Public Enemies (2009) earn at the box office?
Public Enemies grossed $97,104,620 domestic, $117,000,000 international, totaling $214,104,620 worldwide.
Was Public Enemies (2009) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $214,104,620 against an estimated $250,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Public Enemies?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial; international production across United States of America, Japan.
How does Public Enemies's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $100,000,000, Public Enemies is classified as a big-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: 1917 (2019, $100,000,000); American Gangster (2007, $100,000,000); Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024, $100,000,000).
Did Public Enemies (2009) 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 Public Enemies?
The theatrical ROI was 114.1%, calculated as ($214,104,620 − $100,000,000) ÷ $100,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Public Enemies (2009) win?
1 win & 14 nominations total.
Who directed Public Enemies and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Michael Mann, written by Ann Biderman, Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann, shot by Dante Spinotti, with music by Elliot Goldenthal, edited by Jeffrey Ford, Paul Rubell.
Where was Public Enemies filmed?
Public Enemies was filmed in United States of America, Japan. Principal photography began in Columbus, Wisconsin on March 17, 2008 and continued in the Illinois cities of Chicago, Aurora, Joliet and Lockport; and the Wisconsin cities of Oshkosh, Beaver Dam, Columbus, Darlington, Milwaukee, Madison and several other places in Wisconsin; including the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, the actual location of a 1934 gun fight between Dillinger and the FBI. Some parts of the film were shot in Crown Point, Indiana, the town where Dillinger was imprisoned and escaped from jail. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Public Enemies
Official Trailer
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