Reagan Budget
HistoryDrama2h 21mUpdated
Synopsis
From dusty small-town roots, to the glitter of Hollywood, and then on to commanding the world stage, REAGAN is a cinematic journey of overcoming the odds. Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan’s when Reagan first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating.
What is the budget of Reagan?
"Reagan," a history released in 2024, was directed by Sean McNamara and stars Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller. The production budget was $25,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for history productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a history 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: In 2010, it was announced producer Mark Joseph would be producing a feature film biopic of Ronald Reagan with Joseph having been inspired to take on such a project after reacting to the miniseries The Reagans with distaste.
What were the major cost factors in Reagan?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Reagan."
- Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in history productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in history productions of this scale.
- Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in history productions of this scale.
How Does Reagan's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $25,000,000, Reagan sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $133,000,000
- A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,700,000
- Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $10,719,357
- All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $2,000,000
- August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000, Worldwide Gross $66,122,026
The median budget for wide-release history films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Reagan Box Office Performance
"Reagan" earned $30,047,417 domestically and $30,107,173 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $25,000,000, 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 "Reagan," that break-even threshold was roughly $50,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $30,107,173, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $25,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $30,107,173
- Net Return: $5,107,173
- ROI: approximately 20.4%
At 20.4%, "Reagan" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Reagan Production History
The film features prominent musicians' covers of standards. Bob Dylan sings Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In" over the end credits. Gene Simmons covers the 1930s standard "Stormy Weather". Clint Black sings John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." The original score was composed by John Coda.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 7 nominations total
Critical Reception
The audience score was much more favorable at 98%, giving the film one of the largest audience-to-critic score gaps in the site's history. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it an average 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 77% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Reagan (2024) cost to make?
The production budget was $25,000,000. Mark Joseph Productions and Rawhide Pictures financed the biopic over a multi-year development period, with Showbiz Direct handling theatrical distribution following the studio's formation specifically to release the film.
How much did Reagan earn at the box office?
The film grossed $30,047,417 domestically and $1,500,000 internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $31,500,000. It opened to $7,725,000 on August 30, 2024, finishing fourth in a competitive late-summer weekend dominated by Deadpool & Wolverine.
Who stars in Reagan?
Dennis Quaid stars as Ronald Reagan across multiple decades of the former president's life. Penelope Ann Miller plays Nancy Reagan, Jon Voight plays the fictional former KGB analyst Viktor Petrovich, with supporting roles for Lesley-Anne Down, David Henrie, and Mena Suvari.
Is Reagan a faith-based or independent production?
Reagan is a faith-coded independent production from Mark Joseph, whose other credits include the Christian-leaning biopics The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection development materials and the upcoming Mother Teresa project. The film was deliberately marketed to faith and conservative audiences through targeted exhibitor outreach.
Who directed Reagan?
Sean McNamara directed the film. McNamara had previously directed Soul Surfer (2011, $18,000,000 budget, $47,100,000 worldwide), Bratz (2007, $20,000,000 budget, $26,000,000 worldwide), and The Miracle Season (2018).
Where was Reagan filmed?
Principal photography took place in Oklahoma, primarily in Guthrie and Oklahoma City, taking advantage of the state's Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program. Oklahoma doubled for locations ranging from Illinois to Washington D.C. to Geneva during Reagan's arc.
What did critics think of Reagan?
Critical reviews were largely negative, with an 18% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 31 out of 100 score on Metacritic. Audiences gave the film an A+ CinemaScore, one of the widest critic-audience splits of 2024. Critics objected to a hagiographic treatment while supporters praised Dennis Quaid's commitment.
Was Reagan profitable?
The theatrical performance was at or near break-even. Against the $25,000,000 production budget and an estimated $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 in marketing spend, the worldwide gross of $31,500,000 fell short of the 2.5x theatrical-profitability rule. Premium VOD and home-video revenue have brought the film into modest aggregate profit.
How does Reagan compare to other presidential biopics?
Reagan underperformed compared with Lincoln (2012, $65,000,000 budget, $275,300,000 worldwide) and W. (2008, $25,000,000 budget, $29,500,000 worldwide), the Oliver Stone George W. Bush biopic that shares a similar budget profile. It tracks closer to Captain Phillips co-financier Stage 6 Films results.
Where can I stream Reagan?
The film became available for digital purchase on November 19, 2024, and later joined Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for rental. A subscription-tier streaming window was not announced at the time of theatrical release.
Official Trailer
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