Regression Budget
HorrorMysteryThriller1h 46mUpdated
Synopsis
Minnesota, 1990. Detective Bruce Kenner investigates the case of young Angela, who accuses her father, John Gray, of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr. Raines is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.
What is the budget of Regression?
"Regression," a horror released in 2015, was directed by Alejandro Amenábar and stars Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson. The production budget was $20,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for horror productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a horror production like this include:
- Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup: Horror productions invest disproportionately in practical effects , prosthetic applications, animatronics, blood and gore effects, and creature suits. A single hero creature suit can cost $50,000 to 200,000.
- Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography: Creating dread through environment is essential. Abandoned locations must be secured and dressed, lighting rigs designed for shadow and tension, and sets built to enable specific camera movements and reveals.
- Sound Design & Score: Horror is arguably the most sound-dependent genre. Foley work, ambient textures, frequency manipulation, and jump-scare stingers require specialized sound designers working with unconventional techniques.
- Production: On October 31, 2013, it was announced that Ethan Hawke would star in the thriller film Regression.
What were the major cost factors in Regression?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Regression."
- Practical Effects: Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Atmospheric Production Design: Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Sound Design: Sound Design & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
How Does Regression's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Regression 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 horror films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Regression Box Office Performance
"Regression" earned $55,039 domestically and $17,671,101 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Regression," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $17,671,101, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $17,671,101
- Net Return: −$2,328,899
- ROI: approximately -11.6%
At -11.6%, "Regression" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Regression Production History
Principal photography began on April 15, 2014, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Emma Watson stated, "First day shooting Regression today , a very cool birthday present xx." On the day, which was her 24th birthday, she filmed a church scene at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Shooting was taking place in Tottenham on May 5.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 2 nominations total
Critical Reception
Regression received generally negative reviews from critics upon release, with criticism focused on the film's third act. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 14% rating, based on 42 reviews, leaving a rating average of 4.1/10. The site's consensus reads, "Regression boasts a pair of eminently likable leads , neither of whom are able to dislodge the movie from the mire of psychological thriller mediocrity." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 32 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Regression (2015)?
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 Regression (2015) earn at the box office?
Regression grossed $55,039 domestic, $17,616,062 international, totaling $17,671,101 worldwide.
Was Regression (2015) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $17,671,101 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Regression?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, David Thewlis); practical creature effects, atmospheric cinematography, and psychologically engineered sound design; international production across Canada, Spain, United States of America.
How does Regression's budget compare to similar horror films?
At $20,000,000, Regression is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release horror 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 Regression (2015) 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 Regression?
The theatrical ROI was -11.6%, calculated as ($17,671,101 − $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 Regression (2015) win?
1 win & 2 nominations total.
Who directed Regression and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, written by Alejandro Amenábar, shot by Daniel Aranyó, with music by Roque Baños, edited by Carolina Martínez Urbina, Geoff Ashenhurst.
Where was Regression filmed?
Regression was filmed in Canada, Spain, United States of America. Principal photography began on April 15, 2014, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Emma Watson stated, "First day shooting Regression today - a very cool birthday present xx." On the day, which was her 24th birthday, she filmed a church scene at the University of Toronto Mississauga. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Regression
Official Trailer
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