Trap Budget
CrimeHorrorThriller1h 45mUpdated
Synopsis
A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event.
What is the budget of Trap?
"Trap," a crime released in 2024, was directed by M. Night Shyamalan and stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue. The production budget was $30,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget 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.
- Filming & Locations: Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in August 2023, where it would have received over $9 million in tax credits from the state to film there.
What were the major cost factors in Trap?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Trap."
- 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 Trap's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $30,000,000, Trap sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Hologram for the King (2016): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,169,507
- A Lot Like Love (2005): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $42,886,719
- Big Momma's House (2000): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $173,959,438
- Crazy Rich Asians (2018): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $238,539,198
- Doomsday (2008): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $22,472,631
The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Trap Box Office Performance
"Trap" earned $42,777,281 domestically and $83,677,281 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $30,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Trap," that break-even threshold was roughly $60,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $83,677,281, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $30,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $83,677,281
- Net Return: $53,677,281
- ROI: approximately 178.9%
At 178.9%, "Trap" earned roughly $2.79 for every $1 invested in production.
Trap Production History
Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in August 2023, where it would have received over $9 million in tax credits from the state to film there. Production relocated to Toronto, Ontario, and was granted an interim agreement on September 18, 2023, to film during the SAG-AFTRA strike. Under the working title Good Grades, filming was scheduled to occur from October 16 to December 8, 2023.
Herdís Stefánsdóttir composed the film's score independently from Saleka. The soundtrack album, Lady Raven, features Kid Cudi and Russ (both of whom star in the film) as well as Amaarae. It was released by Columbia Records on August 2, 2024. The songs "Release", "Save Me", and "Divine" were released as singles.
Awards and Recognition
3 wins & 6 nominations total
Critical Reception
According to the website, critics thought the film was "another divisive work" from Shyamalan, "but its dark humor, tense atmosphere and a strong central performance may just be enough for fans of his work." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it an overall positive score of 66%, with an average rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Trap (2024)?
The production budget was $30,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $15,000,000 - $24,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $45,000,000 - $54,000,000.
How much did Trap (2024) earn at the box office?
Trap grossed $42,777,281 domestic, $40,900,000 international, totaling $83,677,281 worldwide.
Was Trap (2024) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $30,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$75,000,000, the film earned $83,677,281 theatrically - a 179% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Trap?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Night Shyamalan); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does Trap's budget compare to similar crime films?
At $30,000,000, Trap is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2020s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Hologram for the King (2016, $30,000,000); A Lot Like Love (2005, $30,000,000); Big Momma's House (2000, $30,000,000).
Did Trap (2024) 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 Trap?
The theatrical ROI was 178.9%, calculated as ($83,677,281 − $30,000,000) ÷ $30,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Trap (2024) win?
3 wins & 6 nominations total.
Who directed Trap and who were the key crew members?
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, written by M. Night Shyamalan, shot by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, with music by Herdís Stefánsdóttir, edited by Noemi Preiswerk.
Where was Trap filmed?
Trap was filmed in United States of America. Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in August 2023, where it would have received over $9 million in tax credits from the state to film there. Production relocated to Toronto, Ontario, and was granted an interim agreement on September 18, 2023, to film during the SAG-AFTRA strike. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Trap
Official Trailer
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