The Farewell Budget
ComedyDrama1h 40mUpdated
Synopsis
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
What is the budget of The Farewell?
"The Farewell," a comedy released in 2019, was directed by Lulu Wang and stars Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen. The production budget was $250,300, placing it in the micro-budget range for comedy productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a comedy production like this include:
- Talent Salaries & Producing Deals: Established comedic talent can command $15 to 20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals.
- Production & Location Filming: While comedies generally avoid the VFX costs of action films, location shooting in recognizable cities or exotic locales adds meaningful production expense.
- Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising): Comedies rely heavily on marketing to build opening-weekend momentum.
What were the major cost factors in The Farewell?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Farewell."
- Talent Salaries: Talent Salaries & Producing Deals is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Production: Production & Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
- Marketing: Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) is one of the primary cost drivers in comedy productions of this scale.
How Does The Farewell's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $250,300, The Farewell sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- High and Low (1963): Budget $250,000
- The Kid (1921): Budget $250,000, Worldwide Gross $5,450,000
- Rashomon (1950): Budget $250,000, Worldwide Gross $117,668
- Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare (2025): Budget $250,000, Worldwide Gross $1,561,361
- Terrifier 2 (2022): Budget $250,000, Worldwide Gross $15,741,780
The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Farewell Box Office Performance
"The Farewell" earned $17,695,781 domestically and $23,076,657 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $250,300, 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 Farewell," that break-even threshold was roughly $500,600. With worldwide earnings of $23,076,657, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
Box Office Breakdown
The Farewell
At 9119.6%, "The Farewell" earned roughly $92.2 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award37 wins & 194 nominations total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Farewell (2019)?
The production budget was $250,300, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $125,150 - $200,240, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $375,450 - $450,540.
How much did The Farewell (2019) earn at the box office?
The Farewell grossed $17,695,781 domestic, $5,380,876 international, totaling $23,076,657 worldwide.
Was The Farewell (2019) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $250,300 and estimated total costs of ~$625,750, the film earned $23,076,657 theatrically - a 9120% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Farewell?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Hong Lu); star comedian salaries, location filming, and aggressive marketing campaigns; international production across China, United States of America.
How does The Farewell's budget compare to similar comedy films?
At $250,300, The Farewell is classified as a ultra-low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release comedy films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: High and Low (1963, $250,000); The Kid (1921, $250,000); Rashomon (1950, $250,000).
Did The Farewell (2019) 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 Farewell?
The theatrical ROI was 9119.6%, calculated as ($23,076,657 − $250,300) ÷ $250,300 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did The Farewell (2019) win?
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award37 wins & 194 nominations total.
Who directed The Farewell and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Lulu Wang, written by Lulu Wang, shot by Anna Franquesa Solano, with music by Alex Weston, edited by Matthew Friedman, Michael Taylor.
Where was The Farewell filmed?
The Farewell was filmed in China, United States of America.
Filmmakers
The Farewell
Official Trailer
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