Selma Budget

What is the budget of Selma?

"Selma," a history released in 2015, was directed by Ava DuVernay and stars David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo. The production budget was $20,000,000, 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.
• Development: On June 18, 2008, Variety reported that screenwriter Paul Webb had written an original story about Martin Luther King Jr.

What were the major cost factors in Selma?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Selma."

• 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 Selma's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $20,000,000, Selma 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 history films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Selma Box Office Performance

"Selma" earned $52,076,908 domestically and $66,787,908 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 "Selma," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $66,787,908, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.

• Production Budget: $20,000,000
• Worldwide Gross: $66,787,908
• Net Return: $46,787,908
• ROI: approximately 233.9%

At 233.9%, "Selma" earned roughly $3.34 for every $1 invested in production.

Selma Production History

On June 18, 2008, Variety reported that screenwriter Paul Webb had written an original story about Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson for Celador's Christian Colson, which would be co-produced with Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment.

In 2010, Daniels (who was the attached director at the time) confirmed that the lead role of King would be played by British actor David Oyelowo. King was one of four main roles played by British actors (the other roles being those of King's wife, President Johnson, and Alabama Governor Wallace). On March 26, 2014, British actor Tom Wilkinson was added to the cast to play US President Lyndon B.

200px|Principal photography began May 20, 2014, around Atlanta, Georgia. Filming took place around Marietta Square and Rockdale County Courthouse in Conyers. The Conyers scene involved a portrayal of federal judge Frank Minis Johnson, who ruled that the third and final march could go forward.

Awards and Recognition

Won 1 Oscar. 58 wins & 91 nominations total

Critical Reception

Selma received critical acclaim, with particular praise given to DuVernay's direction and Oyelowo's performance, though it was met with some criticism for its historical inaccuracies, which largely centered on the perceived vilification of Johnson and the omission of several prominent Jewish civil rights leaders.