Restoration Budget
DramaRomance1h 57mUpdated
Synopsis
"Restoration" (1995) is a historical drama set in 17th-century England, exploring the tumultuous period following the English Civil War. The film follows the life of Robert Merivel, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., a young physician who becomes entangled in the lavish and often chaotic court of King Charles II. After being granted a position as the king's personal physician, Merivel experiences the opulence and decadence of royal life, but soon finds himself grappling with the moral complexities and personal sacrifices that come with it.
As Merivel navigates the intrigues of the court, he falls in love with the beautiful and spirited actress, but their romance is tested by the king's whims and the societal expectations of the time. The film delves into themes of love, ambition, and the quest for personal fulfillment against a backdrop of political upheaval. Ultimately, Merivel's journey leads him to confront his own values and the true meaning of restoration, both in his personal life and within the broader context of a nation in flux.
What is the budget of Restoration?
"Restoration," a drama released in 1995, was directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Robert Downey Jr., Meg Ryan. The production budget was $19,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for drama productions of the 1990s.
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.
- Music & Score: Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on the music from The Fairy-Queen by Henry Purcell.
What were the major cost factors in Restoration?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Restoration."
- 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 Restoration's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $19,000,000, Restoration sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Cinderella Story (2004): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $70,067,909
- A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $36,192,775
- Action Point (2018): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $5,059,608
- Arthur the King (2024): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $40,829,138
- Back to the Future (1985): Budget $19,000,000, Worldwide Gross $381,109,762
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Restoration Box Office Performance
"Restoration" earned $4,005,941 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $19,000,000, 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 "Restoration," that break-even threshold was roughly $38,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $4,005,941, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $19,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $4,005,941
- Net Return: −$14,994,059
- ROI: approximately -78.9%
At -78.9%, "Restoration" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Restoration Production History
Composer James Newton Howard's main theme is based on the music from The Fairy-Queen by Henry Purcell.
Awards and Recognition
Won 2 Oscars. 2 wins & 2 nominations total
- Academy Award for Best Production Design: Eugenio Zanetti (68th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design: James Acheson (68th Academy Awards)
Critical Reception
At the 68th Academy Awards, Restoration won for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Eugenio Zanetti and Best Costume Design for James Acheson. According to the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, of critics have given the film a positive review based on reviews, with an average rating of .
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Restoration (1995)?
The production budget was $19,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $9,500,000 - $15,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $28,500,000 - $34,200,000.
How much did Restoration (1995) earn at the box office?
Restoration grossed $4,005,941 domestic, totaling $4,005,941 worldwide.
Was Restoration (1995) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $4,005,941 against an estimated $47,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Restoration?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Robert Downey Jr., Meg Ryan, Sam Neill); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does Restoration's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $19,000,000, Restoration is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Cinderella Story (2004, $19,000,000); A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011, $19,000,000); Action Point (2018, $19,000,000).
Did Restoration (1995) 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 Restoration?
The theatrical ROI was -78.9%, calculated as ($4,005,941 − $19,000,000) ÷ $19,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Restoration (1995) win?
Won 2 Oscars. 2 wins & 2 nominations total.
Who directed Restoration and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Michael Hoffman, written by Rose Termain, Rupert Walters, shot by Oliver Stapleton, with music by James Newton Howard, edited by Garth Craven.
Where was Restoration filmed?
Restoration was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Restoration
Official Trailer
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