The Dig Budget
DramaHistory1h 52mUpdated
Synopsis
As WWII looms, a wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain's past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.
What is the budget of The Dig?
"The Dig," a drama released in 2021, was directed by Simon Stone and stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes. The production budget was $15,000,000, 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.
- Production: The project began in 2006 when producer Ellie Wood read the manuscript of The Dig by John Preston, ahead of its 2007 publication, and optioned the novel in order to adapt it for the screen.
What were the major cost factors in The Dig?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Dig."
- 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 The Dig's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $15,000,000, The Dig sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Dangerous Method (2011): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $27,462,041
- Ben-Hur (1959): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $164,000,000
- Land of the Dead (2005): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $47,074,133
- Into the Wild (2007): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $56,255,142
- King's Ransom (2005): Budget $15,000,000, Worldwide Gross $4,139,856
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 5 BAFTA 3 wins & 11 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Dig (2021)?
The production budget was $15,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $7,500,000 - $12,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $22,500,000 - $27,000,000.
How much did The Dig (2021) earn at the box office?
Box office figures are not publicly available.
Was The Dig (2021) profitable?
Insufficient data for a profitability assessment.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Dig?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does The Dig's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $15,000,000, The Dig is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Dangerous Method (2011, $15,000,000); Ben-Hur (1959, $15,000,000); Land of the Dead (2005, $15,000,000).
Did The Dig (2021) 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 awards did The Dig (2021) win?
Nominated for 5 BAFTA 3 wins & 11 nominations total.
Who directed The Dig and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Simon Stone, written by Moira Buffini, shot by Mike Eley, with music by Stefan Gregory, edited by Jon Harris.
Where was The Dig filmed?
The Dig was filmed in United Kingdom. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Dig
Official Trailer
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