Stationed in a lonely fire lookout tower in the heart of Montana's green wilderness, guilt-ridden Hannah Faber, a daredevil smoke-jumper having a death wish, is still struggling to cope with her emotional trauma after a disastrous failure of judgement. Then, as if that weren't enough, Hannah crosses paths with utterly unprepared Connor, the young son of the forensic accountant, Owen Casserly, and catches the attention of a highly trained pair of assassins bent on silencing the boy for good. Now, to prevent them from finishing the job, Hannah must put her sharp survival skills to good use and stop the killers, who would do everything in their power to cover their tracks--including setting the forest ablaze. Can Hannah and Connor escape from those who wish them dead?

Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Those Who Wish Me Dead?

Directed by Taylor Sheridan, with Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon Bernthal leading the cast, Those Who Wish Me Dead was produced by Bron Studios with a confirmed budget of $20,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for thriller films.

At $20,000,000, Those Who Wish Me Dead was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $50,000,000.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $187,000,000 → ROI: 835% • 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $60,427,839 → ROI: 202% • 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $11,798,854 → ROI: -41% • A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $17,400,000 → ROI: -13% • A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000 | Gross $12,007,070 → ROI: -40%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ 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.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Jon Bernthal, Nicholas Hoult, Aidan Gillen Key roles: Angelina Jolie as Hannah Faber; Finn Little as Connor Casserly; Jon Bernthal as Ethan Sawyer; Nicholas Hoult as Patrick Blackwell

DIRECTOR: Taylor Sheridan CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ben Richardson MUSIC: Brian Tyler EDITING: Chad Galster PRODUCTION: Bron Studios, New Line Cinema, Bosque Ranch Productions, Film Rites FILMED IN: Canada, United States of America

Box Office Performance

Those Who Wish Me Dead earned $7,407,200 domestically and $15,977,302 internationally, for a worldwide total of $23,384,502. International markets drove the majority of revenue (68%), indicating strong global appeal.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Those Who Wish Me Dead needed approximately $50,000,000 to break even. The film fell $26,615,498 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $23,384,502 Budget: $20,000,000 Net: $3,384,502 ROI: 16.9%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Modestly Profitable

Those Who Wish Me Dead earned $23,384,502 against a $20,000,000 budget (17% ROI). Full profitability was likely achieved through ancillary revenue streams.