Waves Budget
RomanceDrama2h 16mUpdated
Synopsis
A controlling father’s attempts to ensure that his two children succeed in high school backfire after his son experiences a career-ending sports injury. Their familial bonds are eventually placed under severe strain by an unexpected tragedy.
What is the budget of Waves?
"Waves," a romance released in 2019, was directed by Trey Edward Shults and stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell. The production budget was $6,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for romance productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a romance production like this include:
- Lead Cast Compensation: Romantic films depend entirely on the chemistry and appeal of their leads, making star casting decisions the most consequential budget item.
- Location Filming: Picturesque, often international locations are central to the romantic genre's visual appeal.
- Music Supervision & Soundtrack: Iconic songs can cost $250,000 to 500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.
- Casting: In July 2018, it was announced that Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Taylor Russell had joined the cast of the film. In August 2018, Alexa Demie joined the cast.
What were the major cost factors in Waves?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Waves."
- Lead Cast Compensation: Lead Cast Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
- Music Supervision: Music Supervision & Soundtrack is one of the primary cost drivers in romance productions of this scale.
How Does Waves's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $6,000,000, Waves sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- The Godfather (1972): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $245,066,411
- Chinatown (1974): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $30,000,000
- The Father (2020): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $21,029,340
- I Swear (2025): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $8,682,832
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022): Budget $6,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,909,209
The median budget for wide-release romance films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Waves Box Office Performance
"Waves" earned $1,658,790 domestically and $2,576,990 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $6,000,000, 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 "Waves," that break-even threshold was roughly $12,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $2,576,990, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.
- Production Budget: $6,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $2,576,990
- Net Return: −$3,423,010
- ROI: approximately -57.1%
At -57.1%, "Waves" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.
Waves Production History
In July 2018, it was announced that Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Taylor Russell had joined the cast of the film. In August 2018, Alexa Demie joined the cast.
Principal photography began on July 9, 2018, in Broward County, Florida and Key Biscayne, Florida. Some filming was done in Hollywood, Florida. Demie suggested a scene where Alexis and Emily meet in a restroom, with the scene implying a change of focus from one woman to the other.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score, replacing Shults' frequent collaboration with Brian McOmber. In an interview, Shults stated, "I got one of the coolest e-mails of my life one day that Trent Reznor was a fan and wanted to meet. I got on a plane as soon as I could and went to L.A.
Awards and Recognition
14 wins & 42 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Critical Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The site's consensus reads: "An up-close look at one family's emotional ups and downs, Waves captures complicated dynamics with tenderness and grace." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Waves (2019)?
The production budget was $6,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $3,000,000 - $4,800,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $9,000,000 - $10,800,000.
How much did Waves (2019) earn at the box office?
Waves grossed $1,658,790 domestic, $918,200 international, totaling $2,576,990 worldwide.
Was Waves (2019) profitable?
The film did not break even theatrically, earning $2,576,990 against an estimated $15,000,000 needed. Ancillary revenue may have improved the picture.
What were the biggest costs in producing Waves?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Renée Elise Goldsberry); lead talent, aspirational location filming, and a carefully curated soundtrack; international production across Canada, United States of America.
How does Waves's budget compare to similar romance films?
At $6,000,000, Waves is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release romance films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: The Godfather (1972, $6,000,000); Chinatown (1974, $6,000,000); The Father (2020, $6,000,000).
Did Waves (2019) 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 Waves?
The theatrical ROI was -57.1%, calculated as ($2,576,990 − $6,000,000) ÷ $6,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Waves (2019) win?
14 wins & 42 nominations total.
Who directed Waves and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Trey Edward Shults, written by Trey Edward Shults, shot by Drew Daniels, with music by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, edited by Isaac Hagy, Trey Edward Shults.
Where was Waves filmed?
Waves was filmed in Canada, United States of America. Principal photography began on July 9, 2018, in Broward County, Florida and Key Biscayne, Florida. Some filming was done in Hollywood, Florida. Demie suggested a scene where Alexis and Emily meet in a restroom, with the scene implying a change of focus from one woman to the other. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Waves
Official Trailer
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