Secret in Their Eyes Budget
ThrillerMysteryCrime1h 51mUpdated
Synopsis
A tight-knit team of rising investigators—Ray and Jess, along with their supervisor Claire—is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess’s teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered. Now, thirteen years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he’s certain can permanently resolve the case, nail the vicious murderer, and bring long-desired closure to his team. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking and unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul.
What is the budget of Secret in Their Eyes?
"Secret in Their Eyes," a thriller released in 2015, was directed by Billy Ray and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman. The production budget was $19,500,000, placing it in the low-budget range for thriller productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a thriller 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.
- Production: On January 20, 2015, STX Entertainment acquired the US rights to the film. STX also produced the film.
What were the major cost factors in Secret in Their Eyes?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Secret in Their Eyes."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
How Does Secret in Their Eyes's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $19,500,000, Secret in Their Eyes sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Dhoom 3 (2013): Budget $19,500,000, Worldwide Gross $91,000,000
- The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008): Budget $19,700,000, Worldwide Gross $26,937,355
- Bird Box (2018): Budget $19,800,000
- Gosford Park (2001): Budget $19,800,000, Worldwide Gross $87,754,044
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
The median budget for wide-release thriller films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Secret in Their Eyes Box Office Performance
"Secret in Their Eyes" earned $20,180,155 domestically and $34,854,990 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $19,500,000, 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 "Secret in Their Eyes," that break-even threshold was roughly $39,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $34,854,990, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $19,500,000
- Worldwide Gross: $34,854,990
- Net Return: $15,354,990
- ROI: approximately 78.7%
At 78.7%, "Secret in Their Eyes" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
Secret in Their Eyes Production History
Principal photography began on January 26, 2015, in Los Angeles. On January 27, filming took place at Santa Anita Park. [Filming] Principal photography began on January 26, 2015, in Los Angeles. On January 27, filming took place at Santa Anita Park.
Awards and Recognition
2 wins & 3 nominations total
Critical Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The site's critical consensus reads, "Secret in Their Eyes wastes its incredible cast on a remake that fails to improve upon,or even make a compelling case for its own existence in addition to,the remarkable original." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". On CinemaScore, audiences gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Secret in Their Eyes (2015)?
The production budget was $19,500,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $9,750,000 - $15,600,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $29,250,000 - $35,100,000.
How much did Secret in Their Eyes (2015) earn at the box office?
Secret in Their Eyes grossed $20,180,155 domestic, $14,674,835 international, totaling $34,854,990 worldwide.
Was Secret in Their Eyes (2015) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $34,854,990 against an estimated $48,750,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Secret in Their Eyes?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial; international production across South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does Secret in Their Eyes's budget compare to similar thriller films?
At $19,500,000, Secret in Their Eyes is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release thriller films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Dhoom 3 (2013, $19,500,000); The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008, $19,700,000); Bird Box (2018, $19,800,000).
Did Secret in Their Eyes (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 Secret in Their Eyes?
The theatrical ROI was 78.7%, calculated as ($34,854,990 − $19,500,000) ÷ $19,500,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Secret in Their Eyes (2015) win?
2 wins & 3 nominations total.
Who directed Secret in Their Eyes and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Billy Ray, written by Billy Ray, Eduardo Sacheri, Juan José Campanella, shot by Daniel Moder, with music by Emilio Kauderer, edited by Jim Page.
Where was Secret in Their Eyes filmed?
Secret in Their Eyes was filmed in South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States of America. Principal photography began on January 26, 2015, in Los Angeles. On January 27, filming took place at Santa Anita Park. [Filming] Principal photography began on January 26, 2015, in Los Angeles. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Secret in Their Eyes
Official Trailer
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