The Call Budget
CrimeThriller1h 36mUpdated
Synopsis
Jordan Turner is an experienced 911 operator but when she makes an error in judgment and a call ends badly, Jordan is rattled and unsure if she can continue. But when teenager Casey Welson is abducted in the back of a man's car and calls 911, Jordan is the one called upon to use all of her experience, insights and quick thinking to help Casey escape, and not just to save her, but to make sure the man is brought to justice.
What is the budget of The Call?
"The Call," a crime released in 2013, was directed by Brad Anderson and stars Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin. The production budget was $13,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for crime productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a crime 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.
What were the major cost factors in The Call?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Call."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
How Does The Call's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $13,000,000, The Call sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Miss Sloane (2016): Budget $13,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,101,546
- RoboCop (1987): Budget $13,000,000, Worldwide Gross $53,424,681
- The Godfather Part II (1974): Budget $13,000,000, Worldwide Gross $102,600,000
- The Holdovers (2023): Budget $13,000,000, Worldwide Gross $42,513,270
- In the Name of the Father (1993): Budget $13,000,000, Worldwide Gross $65,796,862
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Call Box Office Performance
"The Call" earned $51,872,378 domestically and $68,572,378 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $13,000,000, 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 "The Call," that break-even threshold was roughly $26,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $68,572,378, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $13,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $68,572,378
- Net Return: $55,572,378
- ROI: approximately 427.5%
At 427.5%, "The Call" earned roughly $5.27 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 11 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Call (2013)?
The production budget was $13,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $6,500,000 - $10,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $19,500,000 - $23,400,000.
How much did The Call (2013) earn at the box office?
The Call grossed $51,872,378 domestic, $16,700,000 international, totaling $68,572,378 worldwide.
Was The Call (2013) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $13,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$32,500,000, the film earned $68,572,378 theatrically - a 427% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Call?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does The Call's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $13,000,000, The Call is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Miss Sloane (2016, $13,000,000); RoboCop (1987, $13,000,000); The Godfather Part II (1974, $13,000,000).
Did The Call (2013) 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 The Call?
The theatrical ROI was 427.5%, calculated as ($68,572,378 − $13,000,000) ÷ $13,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did The Call (2013) win?
1 win & 11 nominations total.
Who directed The Call and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Brad Anderson, written by Richard D'Ovidio, Nicole D'Ovidio, Jon Bokenkamp, shot by Thomas Yatsko, with music by John Debney, edited by Avi Youabian.
Where was The Call filmed?
The Call was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Call
Official Trailer
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