

The Last Full Measure Budget
Updated
Synopsis
The true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen medic. During a mission on April 11, 1966, he was offered the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone, but he stayed behind to save and defend the lives of his fellow soldiers, before making the ultimate sacrifice in the bloodiest battle of the war. Thirty-two years later, respected Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman is tasked with investigating a Congressional Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger. But as Huffman learns more about Pitsenbarger’s courageous acts, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting him to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.
What is the budget of The Last Full Measure?
"The Last Full Measure," a drama released in 2020, was directed by Todd Robinson and stars Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer. The production budget was $20,000,000, placing it in the mid-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.
What were the major cost factors in The Last Full Measure?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Last Full Measure."
- 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 Last Full Measure's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, The Last Full Measure sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
The Last Full Measure Box Office Performance
"The Last Full Measure" earned $2,949,212 domestically and $3,364,426 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, 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 Last Full Measure," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $3,364,426, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $3,364,426
- Net Return: −$16,635,574
- ROI: approximately -83.2%
At -83.2%, "The Last Full Measure" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Awards and Recognition
1 nomination total
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make The Last Full Measure (2020)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did The Last Full Measure (2020) earn at the box office?
The Last Full Measure grossed $2,949,212 domestic, $415,214 international, totaling $3,364,426 worldwide.
Was The Last Full Measure (2020) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $3,364,426 against an estimated $50,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing The Last Full Measure?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production.
How does The Last Full Measure's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $20,000,000, The Last Full Measure 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: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did The Last Full Measure (2020) 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 Last Full Measure?
The theatrical ROI was -83.2%, calculated as ($3,364,426 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did The Last Full Measure (2020) win?
1 nomination total.
Who directed The Last Full Measure and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Todd Robinson, written by Todd Robinson, shot by Byron Werner, with music by Philip Klein, edited by Terel Gibson, Claudia Castello.
Where was The Last Full Measure filmed?
The Last Full Measure was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
The Last Full Measure
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