White Noise

Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for White Noise?

Directed by Noah Baumbach, with Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle leading the cast, White Noise was produced by Heyday Films with a confirmed budget of $100,000,000, placing it in the big-budget category for comedy films.

A budget of $100,000,000 represents a significant studio commitment. Including estimated P&A of $50–100 million, the total investment likely approached $170,000,000–$200,000,000, requiring approximately $250,000,000 in worldwide grosses to break even.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• 1917 (2019): Budget $100,000,000 | Gross $446,064,352 → ROI: 346% • American Gangster (2007): Budget $100,000,000 | Gross $269,755,430 → ROI: 170% • Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024): Budget $100,000,000 | Gross $404,547,819 → ROI: 305% • Batman Forever (1995): Budget $100,000,000 | Gross $336,529,144 → ROI: 237% • Bicentennial Man (1999): Budget $100,000,000 | Gross $87,423,861 → ROI: -13%

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Talent Salaries & Producing Deals Established comedic talent can command $15–20 million per film, with top-tier stars earning even more through producing credits and backend deals. Comedy ensembles multiply this cost across several well-known performers.

▸ Production & Location Filming While comedies generally avoid the VFX costs of action films, location shooting in recognizable cities or exotic locales adds meaningful production expense.

▸ Marketing & P&A (Prints & Advertising) Comedies rely heavily on marketing to build opening-weekend momentum. Studios typically spend 50–100% of the production budget on marketing, with comedy trailers and social media campaigns being particularly expensive.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola Key roles: Adam Driver as Jack Gladney; Greta Gerwig as Babette Gladney; Don Cheadle as Murray Siskind; Raffey Cassidy as Denise Gladney

DIRECTOR: Noah Baumbach MUSIC: Danny Elfman EDITING: Matthew Hannam PRODUCTION: Heyday Films, NB/GG Pictures, A24 FILMED IN: United Kingdom, United States of America

Box Office Performance

White Noise earned $71,476 in worldwide box office revenue.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), White Noise needed approximately $250,000,000 to break even. The film fell $249,928,524 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $71,476 Budget: $100,000,000 Net: $-99,928,524 ROI: -99.9%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Unprofitable (Theatrical)

White Noise earned $71,476 against a $100,000,000 budget (-100% ROI), falling short of theatrical profitability. Ancillary revenue may have reduced the deficit.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

The underperformance may have increased risk aversion around big-budget comedy productions.

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Casting

On December 22, 2020, Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig were cast in the film. In April 2021, Raffey Cassidy, May Nivola, and Sam Nivola joined the cast. In July, Jodie Turner-Smith joined the cast and it was confirmed that Don Cheadle would also star. In August, it was announced that André Benjamin had joined the cast.

▸ Filming & Locations

Principal photography began in June 2021, under the working title Wheat Germ. Filming took place in Ohio, including the University of Akron for about six weeks, Ashtabula Pine Lake Raceway and Trail Riding, Cleveland Heights, College of Wooster, Wellington, Oberlin, Dorset, Hiram College at Andrews Osborne Academy, Kent State University, and Lowell Klienfelter Stadium at Canton Central Catholic High School.

Filming took place in downtown Cleveland on November 4, 2021, with scenes shot on the Hope Memorial Bridge.

[Filming] Principal photography began in June 2021, under the working title Wheat Germ. Filming took place in Ohio, including the University of Akron for about six weeks, Ashtabula Pine Lake Raceway and Trail Riding, Cleveland Heights, College of Wooster, Wellington, Oberlin, Dorset, Hiram College at Andrews Osborne Academy, Kent State University, and Lowell Klienfelter Stadium at Canton Central Catholic High School.

Filming took place in downtown Cleveland on November 4, 2021, with scenes shot on the Hope Memorial Bridge.

▸ Music & Score

The film score is by Danny Elfman and was released as an album on November 18, 2022. LCD Soundsystem reunited to record its first new music in over five years for the film. The song, "New Body Rhumba", was released as a single on September 30.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: 2 wins & 25 nominations total

Additional Recognition: ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Venice Film Festival

! scope="row" | Mill Valley Film Festival

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Hollywood Music in Media Awards

! scope="row"|Phoenix Critics Circle

! scope="row" | St. Louis Film Critics Association

! rowspan="3" scope="row" |Indiana Film Journalists Association

! rowspan="3" scope="row" | North Carolina Film Critics Association

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Music City Film Critics Association

! scope="row"|Golden Globe Awards

! scope="row"|Critics' Choice Movie Awards

! scope="row" | North Dakota Film Society

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Portland Critics Association

! scope="row" | Seattle Film Critics Society

! scope="row"| Online Film Critics Society

! scope="row" | Chicago Indie Critics

! scope="row"| Set Decorators Society of America Awards

! scope="row"| Art Directors Guild Awards

! scope="row" | Artios Awards