Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for The Burial?

Directed by Margaret Betts, with Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jurnee Smollett leading the cast, The Burial was produced by Double Nickel Entertainment with a confirmed budget of $32,500,000, placing it in the low-budget category for drama films.

With a $32,500,000 budget, The Burial sits in the mid-range of studio releases. Marketing costs for a wide release at this level typically add $30–60 million, putting the break-even point near $81,250,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• Bridesmaids (2011): Budget $32,500,000 | Gross $288,383,523 → ROI: 787% • Cocaine Bear (2023): Budget $32,500,000 | Gross $88,314,672 → ROI: 172% • Return of the Jedi (1983): Budget $32,350,000 | Gross $572,700,000 → ROI: 1670% • 21 Bridges (2019): Budget $33,000,000 | Gross $49,900,000 → ROI: 51% • A History of Violence (2005): Budget $32,000,000 | Gross $61,477,797 → ROI: 92%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Above-the-Line Talent Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances. Securing award-caliber actors and experienced directors represents the single largest budget line item, often consuming 30–40% of the total production budget.

▸ 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. Period dramas add the cost of era-accurate props, vehicles, and set decoration.

▸ Post-Production, Color Grading & Score The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone. Color grading, a nuanced musical score, and detailed sound mixing are critical to achieving the emotional resonance that defines the genre.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jurnee Smollett, Alan Ruck, Mamoudou Athie Key roles: Tommy Lee Jones as Jeremiah O'Keefe; Jamie Foxx as Willie E. Gary; Jurnee Smollett as Mame Downes; Alan Ruck as Mike Allred

DIRECTOR: Margaret Betts CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maryse Alberti MUSIC: Michael Abels EDITING: Lee Percy PRODUCTION: Double Nickel Entertainment, Bobby Shriver Productions, Foxxhole Productions, Maven Screen Media, Amazon MGM Studios, Big Indie Pictures FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

Theatrical box office data is not publicly available for The Burial (2023). This may indicate a limited release, direct-to-streaming, or a release predating modern box office tracking.

Profitability Assessment

Insufficient publicly available data to assess profitability.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Production

The film is an adaptation of Jonathan Harr's article "The Burial", published in 1999 by The New Yorker. Harr's article was originally optioned in 2001 by Warner Bros. Pictures, with producers Ed Saxon and Bobby Shriver attached to produce. That same year, Ron Howard attached to direct the movie, with his Imagine Entertainment joining as an additional producer. . At the time, Denzel Washington and Will Smith were approached about playing the lead role of lawyer Willie E. Gary, but passed, and eventually Warners put the project into turnaround. By 2008, it had been setup again at Sony's Screen Gems label, with Stephen Frears attached to direct. Bernie Mac and Kevin Hart were at various points attached to the Screen Gems version, but again the movie failed to enter production. In March 2018, Amazon Studios announced it was developing the film with Doug Wright writing the script and Alexander Payne in talks to direct. By November 2020, Maggie Betts came on board to direct with Jamie Foxx attached to star and produce. In October 2021, Tommy Lee Jones joined the cast in a role Harrison Ford was considered for. In November, Jurnee Smollett was added to the cast.