Salt Budget
ActionMysteryThriller1h 40mUpdated
Synopsis
"Salt" (2010) is an action-packed thriller that follows the story of Evelyn Salt, portrayed by Angelina Jolie, a CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy. The film kicks off with a gripping premise when a defector from the Russian intelligence service claims that Salt is a sleeper agent, tasked with assassinating the President of the United States. As the allegations unfold, Salt goes on the run to clear her name, leading to a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
Throughout the film, viewers are taken on a whirlwind journey filled with intense action sequences, unexpected twists, and a deep exploration of loyalty and betrayal. Salt's determination to uncover the truth about her identity and the conspiracy surrounding her leads to a series of breathtaking chases and confrontations. The narrative keeps audiences on the edge of their seats as Salt navigates a world of espionage, ultimately revealing the complexities of her character and the moral dilemmas she faces.
What is the budget of Salt?
"Salt," an action released in 2010, was directed by Phillip Noyce and stars Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber. The production budget was $110,000,000, placing it in the high-budget range for action productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:
- Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
- Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.
- Development: The early development of the script began while Kurt Wimmer was doing interviews promoting Equilibrium.
What were the major cost factors in Salt?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Salt."
- Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
- Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
How Does Salt's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $110,000,000, Salt sits in the high-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 300: Rise of an Empire (2014): Budget $110,000,000 , Gross $337,580,051
- Ocean's Twelve (2004): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $362,744,280
- Deadpool 2 (2018): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $785,896,632
- Deepwater Horizon (2016): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $121,790,376
- Ender's Game (2013): Budget $110,000,000, Worldwide Gross $125,537,191
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Salt Box Office Performance
"Salt" earned $118,311,368 domestically and $293,329,073 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $110,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Salt," that break-even threshold was roughly $220,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $293,329,073, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $110,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $293,329,073
- Net Return: $183,329,073
- ROI: approximately 166.7%
At 166.7%, "Salt" earned roughly $2.67 for every $1 invested in production.
Salt Production History
The early development of the script began while Kurt Wimmer was doing interviews promoting Equilibrium. In a November 2002 interview, he discussed on which scripts he was working. He stated, "I have several scripts , foremost of which is one called The Far-Reaching Philosophy of Edwin A.
Initial discussions took place in 2008 between Cruise and Noyce about Cruise playing Edwin A. Salt. These discussions were going on for more than a year between the pair and their representatives.
On a budget of $130 million, principal photography took place mostly on location in New York City and Washington, D.C. from March to June 2009. Noyce decided to avoid "typical postcard views of Washington, D.C." to reflect "the more day-to-day environment of massive federal buildings inhabited by the typical bureaucrat".
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 4 wins & 16 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Salt (2010)?
The production budget was $110,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $55,000,000 - $88,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $165,000,000 - $198,000,000.
How much did Salt (2010) earn at the box office?
Salt grossed $118,311,368 domestic, $175,017,705 international, totaling $293,329,073 worldwide.
Was Salt (2010) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $110,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$275,000,000, the film earned $293,329,073 theatrically - a 167% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Salt?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation.
How does Salt's budget compare to similar action films?
At $110,000,000, Salt is classified as a big-budget production. The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 300: Rise of an Empire (2014, $110,000,000); Ocean's Twelve (2004, $110,000,000); Deadpool 2 (2018, $110,000,000).
Did Salt (2010) 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 Salt?
The theatrical ROI was 166.7%, calculated as ($293,329,073 − $110,000,000) ÷ $110,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Salt (2010) win?
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 4 wins & 16 nominations total.
Who directed Salt and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Phillip Noyce, written by Kurt Wimmer, shot by Robert Elswit, with music by James Newton Howard, edited by John Gilroy, Stuart Baird.
Where was Salt filmed?
Salt was filmed in United States of America. On a budget of $130 million, principal photography took place mostly on location in New York City and Washington, D.C. from March to June 2009. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Salt
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