Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for We Live in Time?

Directed by John Crowley, with Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney leading the cast, We Live in Time was produced by Film4 Productions with a confirmed budget of $20,000,000, placing it in the low-budget category for romance films.

At $20,000,000, We Live in Time 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

▸ 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 $250,000–500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney, Lee Braithwaite, Aoife Hinds Key roles: Andrew Garfield as Tobias Durand; Florence Pugh as Almut Brühl; Grace Delaney as Ella; Lee Braithwaite as Jade

DIRECTOR: John Crowley CINEMATOGRAPHY: Stuart Bentley MUSIC: Bryce Dessner EDITING: Justine Wright PRODUCTION: Film4 Productions, SunnyMarch, Shoebox Films, StudioCanal UK FILMED IN: United Kingdom

Box Office Performance

We Live in Time earned $24,692,924 domestically and $12,489,890 internationally, for a worldwide total of $37,182,814. The film skewed heavily domestic (66%), suggesting strong North American appeal.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), We Live in Time needed approximately $50,000,000 to break even. The film fell $12,817,186 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $37,182,814 Budget: $20,000,000 Net: $17,182,814 ROI: 85.9%