Queen & Slim Budget
CrimeDramaRomance2h 12mUpdated
Synopsis
While on a forgettable first date together in Ohio, a black man and a black woman, are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country. As they drive, these two unlikely fugitives will discover themselves and each other in the most dire and desperate of circumstances and will forge a deep and powerful love that will reveal their shared humanity and shape the rest of their lives.
What is the budget of Queen & Slim?
"Queen & Slim," a crime released in 2019, was directed by Melina Matsoukas and stars Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith. The production budget was $20,000,000, placing it in the mid-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.
What were the major cost factors in Queen & Slim?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Queen & Slim."
- 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 Queen & Slim's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Queen & Slim sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Queen & Slim Box Office Performance
"Queen & Slim" earned $43,808,310 domestically and $47,803,176 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Queen & Slim," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $47,803,176, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $47,803,176
- Net Return: $27,803,176
- ROI: approximately 139%
At 139%, "Queen & Slim" earned roughly $2.39 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
13 wins & 44 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Queen & Slim (2019)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Queen & Slim (2019) earn at the box office?
Queen & Slim grossed $43,808,310 domestic, $3,994,866 international, totaling $47,803,176 worldwide.
Was Queen & Slim (2019) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $47,803,176 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Queen & Slim?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bokeem Woodbine); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial; international production across United States of America, Canada.
How does Queen & Slim's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $20,000,000, Queen & Slim is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Queen & Slim (2019) 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 Queen & Slim?
The theatrical ROI was 139.0%, calculated as ($47,803,176 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Queen & Slim (2019) win?
13 wins & 44 nominations total.
Who directed Queen & Slim and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Melina Matsoukas, written by Lena Waithe, James Frey, shot by Tat Radcliffe, with music by Devonté Hynes, edited by Pete Beaudreau.
Where was Queen & Slim filmed?
Queen & Slim was filmed in United States of America, Canada. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Queen & Slim
Official Trailer
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