Shame Budget

What is the budget of Shame?

"Shame," a drama released in 2011, was directed by Steve McQueen and stars Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan. The production budget was $6,500,000, placing it in the low-budget range for drama productions of its era.

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.
• Filming & Locations: Production was scheduled to begin on location in New York in January 2011.

What were the major cost factors in Shame?

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

• 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 Shame's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $6,500,000, Shame sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

• Do the Right Thing (1989): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $37,300,000
• Men (2022): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $11,152,071
• Sentinelle (2021): Budget $6,500,000
• Crash (2005): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $98,400,000
• The Terminator (1984): Budget $6,400,000, Worldwide Gross $78,371,200

The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Shame Box Office Performance

"Shame" earned $3,909,002 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $6,500,000, 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 "Shame," that break-even threshold was roughly $13,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $3,909,002, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

• Production Budget: $6,500,000
• Worldwide Gross: $3,909,002
• Net Return: −$2,590,998
• ROI: approximately -39.9%

At -39.9%, "Shame" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.

Shame Production History

Production was scheduled to begin on location in New York in January 2011. A majority of the film was shot in and around Chelsea. The office scenes were filmed in the Citigroup Center and the hotel scenes and nightclub scene were shot at the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District.

A soundtrack was released via Sony Classical Records on 6 December 2011. * "New York, New York" Theme arrangement and production by Stephen Oremus and piano by Liz Caplan.

Awards and Recognition

Nominated for 2 BAFTA 51 wins & 94 nominations total

• European Film Award for Best Cinematographer: Sean Bobbitt (25th European Film Awards)
• European Film Award for Best Editor: Joe Walker (25th European Film Awards)