There Will Be Blood
Synopsis
The intersecting life stories of Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday in early twentieth century California is presented. Miner turn oilman Daniel Plainview is a driven man who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He works hard but he also takes advantage of those around him at their expense if need be. His business partner is his son H.W., who in reality he "acquired" when H.W.'s biological single father, who worked on one of Daniel's rigs, got killed in a workplace accident. Daniel is deeply protective of H.W. if only for what H.W. brings to the partnership. Eli Sunday is one in a pair of twins, whose family farm Daniel purchases for the major oil deposit located on it. Eli, the local preacher and a self-proclaimed faith healer, wants the money from the sale of the property to finance his own church. The lives of the two competitive men often clash as Daniel pumps oil off the property and tries to acquire all the surrounding land at bargain prices to be able to build a pipeline to the coast, and as Eli tries to build his own religious empire.
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for There Will Be Blood?
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, with Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor leading the cast, There Will Be Blood was produced by Paramount Vantage with a confirmed budget of $25,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for drama films.
At $25,000,000, There Will Be Blood was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $62,500,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• 1408 (2007): Budget $25,000,000 | Gross $133,000,000 → ROI: 432% • A Journal for Jordan (2021): Budget $25,000,000 | Gross $6,700,000 → ROI: -73% • Abandon (2002): Budget $25,000,000 | Gross $10,719,357 → ROI: -57% • All My Life (2020): Budget $25,000,000 | Gross $2,000,000 → ROI: -92% • August Rush (2007): Budget $25,000,000 | Gross $66,122,026 → ROI: 164%
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ Above-the-Line Talent Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances. Securing award-caliber actors and experienced directors represents the single largest budget line item, often consuming 30–40% of the total production budget.
▸ 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. Period dramas add the cost of era-accurate props, vehicles, and set decoration.
▸ Post-Production, Color Grading & Score The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone. Color grading, a nuanced musical score, and detailed sound mixing are critical to achieving the emotional resonance that defines the genre.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds, Dillon Freasier Key roles: Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview; Paul Dano as Paul Sunday / Eli Sunday; Kevin J. O'Connor as Henry; Ciarán Hinds as Fletcher Hamilton
DIRECTOR: Paul Thomas Anderson CINEMATOGRAPHY: Robert Elswit MUSIC: Jonny Greenwood EDITING: Dylan Tichenor PRODUCTION: Paramount Vantage, Miramax, JoAnne Sellar Productions, Ghoulardi Film Company FILMED IN: United States of America
Box Office Performance
There Will Be Blood earned $40,222,514 domestically and $36,986,197 internationally, for a worldwide total of $77,208,711. Revenue was split 52% domestic / 48% international.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), There Will Be Blood needed approximately $62,500,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $14,708,711.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $77,208,711 Budget: $25,000,000 Net: $52,208,711 ROI: 208.8%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Profitable
There Will Be Blood delivered a solid return, earning $77,208,711 worldwide on a $25,000,000 budget (209% ROI). Combined with ancillary revenue, the film was a financial positive for Paramount Vantage.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
The outsized success of There Will Be Blood likely influenced studio greenlight decisions for similar drama projects.
PRODUCTION NOTES
▸ Filming & Locations
Principal photography began in June 2006 on a ranch in Marfa, Texas, Anderson tried to shoot the script in sequence with most of the sets on the ranch. and Day-Lewis stated, "I absolutely don't believe that it was because he was intimidated by me. I happen to believe that—and I hope I'm right." O'Neill ascribed his dismissal to a poor working relationship with Anderson and his diminished interest in acting. but he researched the time period that the film is set in as well as evangelical preachers. Anderson said it was "a particular situation, because it was so narrow that there could only be a very limited number of people at any given time, maybe five or six behind the camera and then the two boys."
Anderson dedicated the film to Robert Altman, who died during editing.
[Filming] Principal photography began in June 2006 on a ranch in Marfa, Texas, Anderson tried to shoot the script in sequence with most of the sets on the ranch. and Day-Lewis stated, "I absolutely don't believe that it was because he was intimidated by me. I happen to believe that—and I hope I'm right." O'Neill ascribed his dismissal to a poor working relationship with Anderson and his diminished interest in acting. but he researched the time period that the film is set in as well as evangelical preachers. Anderson said it was "a particular situation, because it was so narrow that there could only be a very limited number of people at any given time, maybe five or six behind the camera and then the two boys."
Anderson dedicated the film to Robert Altman, who died during editing.
▸ Music & Score
Anderson had been a fan of Radiohead's music and was impressed with Jonny Greenwood's scoring of the film Bodysong. While writing the script for There Will Be Blood, Anderson heard Greenwood's orchestral piece "Popcorn Superhet Receiver", which prompted him to ask Greenwood to work with him. After initially agreeing to score the film, Greenwood had doubts and thought about backing out, but Anderson's reassurance and enthusiasm for the film convinced him to continue. Anderson gave Greenwood a copy of the film and three weeks later he came back with two hours of music recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. It features classical music, such as the third movement ("Vivace Non Troppo") of Johannes Brahms's Violin Concerto in D Major and Arvo Pärt's "Fratres" for cello and piano.
Greenwood's score was awarded the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution (music) at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival in 2008.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: Won 2 Oscars. 114 wins & 138 nominations total
Awards Won: ★ Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Q279100 (80th Academy Awards) ★ Amanda Award for Best Foreign Feature Film ★ Academy Award for Best Actor — Daniel Day-Lewis (80th Academy Awards)
Nominations: ○ Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Cinematography (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Production Design (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Film Editing (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Director (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Picture (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Actor (80th Academy Awards) ○ Academy Award for Best Sound Editing (80th Academy Awards)
Additional Recognition: ! Award ! Date of ceremony ! Category ! Recipient(s) ! Result
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