The Hate U Give Budget
CrimeDrama2h 13mUpdated
Synopsis
Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. What Starr does-or does not-say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
What is the budget of The Hate U Give?
"The Hate U Give," a crime released in 2018, was directed by George Tillman Jr. and stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall. The production budget was $23,000,000, placing it in the mid-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.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography on the film began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. and wrapped on November 4, 2017. Reshoots were shot along with the KJ Apa's scenes in April 2018.
What were the major cost factors in The Hate U Give?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Hate U Give."
- 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 Hate U Give's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $23,000,000, The Hate U Give sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- The Secret World of Arrietty (2010): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $149,660,003
- Bad Santa (2003): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $76,500,000
- Chasing Liberty (2004): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,195,626
- Chéri (2009): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,400,000
- Eddie the Eagle (2016): Budget $23,000,000, Worldwide Gross $46,152,411
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Hate U Give Box Office Performance
"The Hate U Give" earned $34,934,009 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $23,000,000, 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 "The Hate U Give," that break-even threshold was roughly $46,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $34,934,009, the film fell short of that threshold but recouped its production costs in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $23,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $34,934,009
- Net Return: $11,934,009
- ROI: approximately 51.9%
At 51.9%, "The Hate U Give" returned its production investment but margin was tight after marketing and distribution costs.
The Hate U Give Production History
Principal photography on the film began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. and wrapped on November 4, 2017. Reshoots were shot along with the KJ Apa's scenes in April 2018. [Filming] Principal photography on the film began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. and wrapped on November 4, 2017. Reshoots were shot along with the KJ Apa's scenes in April 2018.
Critical Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, and an average rating of . The website's critical consensus reads, "Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting The Hate U Give emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Hate U Give (2018)?
The production budget was $23,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $11,500,000 - $18,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $34,500,000 - $41,400,000.
How much did The Hate U Give (2018) earn at the box office?
The Hate U Give grossed $34,934,009 worldwide.
Was The Hate U Give (2018) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $34,934,009 against an estimated $57,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Hate U Give?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does The Hate U Give's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $23,000,000, The Hate U Give 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: The Secret World of Arrietty (2010, $23,000,000); Bad Santa (2003, $23,000,000); Chasing Liberty (2004, $23,000,000).
Did The Hate U Give (2018) 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 Hate U Give?
The theatrical ROI was 51.9%, calculated as ($34,934,009 − $23,000,000) ÷ $23,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
Who directed The Hate U Give and who were the key crew members?
Directed by George Tillman Jr., written by Audrey Wells, shot by Mihai Malaimare Jr., with music by Dustin O'Halloran, edited by Craig Hayes, Alex Blatt.
Where was The Hate U Give filmed?
The Hate U Give was filmed in United States of America. Principal photography on the film began on September 12, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. and wrapped on November 4, 2017. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Hate U Give
Official Trailer
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
