The Irishman Budget
CrimeDramaHistory3h 29mUpdated
Synopsis
Hit man Frank Sheeran looks back at the secrets he kept as a loyal member of the Bufalinio crime family in a story that spans more than 50 years.
What is the budget of The Irishman?
"The Irishman," a crime released in 2019, was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino. The production budget was $159,000,000, placing it in the blockbuster 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 Irishman?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Irishman."
- 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 Irishman's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $159,000,000, The Irishman sits in the blockbuster range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Aquaman (2018): Budget $160,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,152,028,393
- Beauty and the Beast (2017): Budget $160,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,266,115,964
- Fast & Furious 6 (2013): Budget $160,000,000, Worldwide Gross $788,700,000
- Godzilla (2014): Budget $160,000,000, Worldwide Gross $524,978,362
- Inception (2010): Budget $160,000,000, Worldwide Gross $839,030,630
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Irishman Box Office Performance
"The Irishman" earned $968,853 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $159,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "The Irishman," that break-even threshold was roughly $318,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $968,853, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $159,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $968,853
- Net Return: −$158,031,147
- ROI: approximately -99.4%
At -99.4%, "The Irishman" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 10 Oscars. 72 wins & 354 nominations total
- National Board of Review Award for Best Film
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- APRECI Award for Best International Premiere
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Irishman (2019)?
The production budget was $159,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $79,500,000 - $127,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $238,500,000 - $286,200,000.
How much did The Irishman (2019) earn at the box office?
The Irishman grossed $968,853 worldwide.
Was The Irishman (2019) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $968,853 against an estimated $397,500,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Irishman?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does The Irishman's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $159,000,000, The Irishman is classified as a big-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: Aquaman (2018, $160,000,000); Beauty and the Beast (2017, $160,000,000); Fast & Furious 6 (2013, $160,000,000).
Did The Irishman (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 Irishman?
The theatrical ROI was -99.4%, calculated as ($968,853 − $159,000,000) ÷ $159,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did The Irishman (2019) win?
Nominated for 10 Oscars. 72 wins & 354 nominations total.
Who directed The Irishman and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Steven Zaillian, shot by Rodrigo Prieto, with music by Robbie Robertson, edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.
Where was The Irishman filmed?
The Irishman was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Irishman
Official Trailer
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