The Rescue Budget
Updated
Synopsis
A documentary account of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, in which a junior soccer team and their coach became trapped deep inside a flooded cave system as the monsoon rains rose. With the world watching, an international team of cave divers attempted the most dangerous underwater rescue mission ever undertaken.
What is known about the production of The Rescue?
"The Rescue," a drama released in 2020, was directed by Dante Lam Chiu-Yin and stars Eddie Peng Yu-Yan, Wang Yanlin. The production budget has not been publicly disclosed, though China Modern Film and Television Development, Film Fireworks Production, Mokexing Film produced the film, making it a notable entry in the drama landscape whose financial details remain private.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a drama production like this include:
- Music & Score: Elliot Leung was invited to return after composing the score to Operation Red Sea.
The Rescue Box Office Performance
"The Rescue" earned $18,797 domestically.
The Rescue Production History
Elliot Leung was invited to return after composing the score to Operation Red Sea. The score was recorded in Synchron Stage. On 18 December, Sony Classical and Milan Records released a soundtrack album consisting of 27 tracks.
Awards and Recognition
1 win & 1 nomination total
Critical Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of .
How Does The Rescue's Budget Compare to Similar Documentaries?
- Free Solo (2018): Budget $1,500,000 | Worldwide $28,400,000. Vasarhelyi and Chin's previous Oscar-winning documentary at a comparable indie budget with dramatically stronger box office.
- Meru (2015): Budget $500,000 | Worldwide $2,400,000. Vasarhelyi and Chin's earlier mountaineering documentary at a smaller scale with comparable theatrical performance.
- The Cave (2019): Budget $1,000,000 | Worldwide $250,000. A National Geographic documentary on the Syrian war with similar production scope and significantly weaker theatrical returns.
- Thirteen Lives (2022): Budget $60,000,000 | Worldwide $7,200,000. Ron Howard's dramatic adaptation of the same Thai cave rescue at thirty times the budget with marginally stronger gross.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the budget of The Rescue (2021)?
The production budget was not publicly disclosed but is estimated at approximately $1 to $2 million, typical for a National Geographic Documentary Films project of this scope.
How much did The Rescue gross worldwide?
The Rescue grossed $3,711,432 worldwide, primarily from its arthouse and Imax theatrical run before its National Geographic and Disney+ premiere.
Who directed The Rescue?
Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin co-directed The Rescue, their follow-up to the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo (2018).
When was the Thai cave rescue?
The Tham Luang cave rescue took place from June 23 to July 10, 2018, when twelve members of the Wild Boars junior soccer team and their coach were trapped by rising floodwaters in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in northern Thailand.
How did they get the rescue footage?
The film combines official Thai military and rescue diver footage, including helmet-cam recordings from the actual rescue, with extensive original interviews and dramatic reconstructions of key dive segments.
Who are the British divers featured in The Rescue?
The documentary centers on British cave divers Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Jason Mallinson, and Chris Jewell, along with Australian doctor and diver Richard Harris, who performed the sedation that made the rescue possible.
Did The Rescue win any awards?
Yes. The Rescue won the People's Choice Award for Documentaries at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and received nominations from the BAFTAs, Producers Guild, and Directors Guild documentary categories.
How long is The Rescue?
The Rescue runs 107 minutes.
How does The Rescue differ from Thirteen Lives?
The Rescue (2021) is a documentary from Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin built on actual rescue footage. Thirteen Lives (2022) is a dramatic feature directed by Ron Howard with Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell.
Where can you watch The Rescue?
The Rescue is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu in territories where National Geographic content has been licensed.
Filmmakers
The Rescue
Official Trailer
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