Sisu Budget
ActionWarThriller1h 31mUpdated
Synopsis
When an ex-soldier who discovers gold in the Lapland wilderness tries to take the loot into the city, German soldiers led by a brutal SS officer battle him.
What is the budget of Sisu?
"Sisu," an action released in 2022, was directed by Jalmari Helander and stars Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie. The production budget was $6,600,000, placing it in the low-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.
What were the major cost factors in Sisu?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Sisu."
- 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 Sisu's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $6,600,000, Sisu sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Titane (2021): Budget $6,600,000, Worldwide Gross $4,982,335
- Do the Right Thing (1989): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $37,300,000
- Shame (2011): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $3,909,002
- Anatomy of a Fall (2023): Budget $6,700,000, Worldwide Gross $35,634,133
- Men (2022): Budget $6,500,000, Worldwide Gross $11,152,071
The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Sisu Box Office Performance
"Sisu" earned $7,265,622 domestically and $14,281,199 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $6,600,000, 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 "Sisu," that break-even threshold was roughly $13,200,000. With worldwide earnings of $14,281,199, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $6,600,000
- Worldwide Gross: $14,281,199
- Net Return: $7,681,199
- ROI: approximately 116.4%
At 116.4%, "Sisu" earned roughly $2.16 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
10 wins & 10 nominations total
- Sitges Film Festival Best Feature-Length Film award
Critical Reception
Audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film an 80% positive score, with 60% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Sisu (2022)?
The production budget was $6,600,000, 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 $3,300,000 - $5,280,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $9,900,000 - $11,880,000.
How much did Sisu (2022) earn at the box office?
Sisu grossed $7,265,622 domestic, $7,015,577 international, totaling $14,281,199 worldwide.
Was Sisu (2022) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $14,281,199 against an estimated $16,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Sisu?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan); visual effects, practical stunts, and A-list talent compensation; international production across Finland, United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does Sisu's budget compare to similar action films?
At $6,600,000, Sisu is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Titane (2021, $6,600,000); Do the Right Thing (1989, $6,500,000); Shame (2011, $6,500,000).
Did Sisu (2022) 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 Sisu?
The theatrical ROI was 116.4%, calculated as ($14,281,199 − $6,600,000) ÷ $6,600,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Sisu (2022) win?
10 wins & 10 nominations total.
Who directed Sisu and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Jalmari Helander, written by Jalmari Helander, shot by Kjell Lagerroos, with music by Juri Seppä, Tuomas Wäinölä, edited by Juho Virolainen.
Where was Sisu filmed?
Sisu was filmed in Finland, United Kingdom, United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Sisu
Official Trailer
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