Moulin Rouge! Budget
DramaRomanceMusic2h 8mUpdated
Synopsis
The year is 1899, and Christian, a young English writer, has come to Paris to follow the Bohemian revolution taking hold of the city's drug and prostitute infested underworld. And nowhere is the thrill of the underworld more alive than at the Moulin Rouge, a night club where the rich and poor men alike come to be entertained by the dancers, but things take a wicked turn for Christian as he starts a deadly love affair with the star courtesan of the club, Satine. But her affections are also coveted by the club's patron: the Duke. A dangerous love triangle ensues as Satine and Christian attempt to fight all odds to stay together but a force that not even love can conquer is taking its toll on Satine...
What is the budget of Moulin Rouge!?
"Moulin Rouge!," a drama released in 2001, was directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman. The production budget was $52,500,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for drama productions of its era.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a drama production like this include:
- Above-the-Line Talent: Drama films live or die on the strength of their performances.
- Location Filming & Period Production Design: Authentic locations , whether contemporary or historical , require scouting, permits, travel, lodging, and often significant dressing to match the story's time period.
- Post-Production, Color Grading & Score: The editorial process for dramas is typically longer than genre films, with careful attention to pacing and tone.
What were the major cost factors in Moulin Rouge!?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Moulin Rouge!."
- Above-the-Line Talent: Above-the-Line Talent is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Location Filming: Location Filming & Period Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
- Post-Production: Post-Production, Color Grading & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
How Does Moulin Rouge!'s Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $52,500,000, Moulin Rouge! sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Blades of Glory (2007): Budget $53,000,000, Worldwide Gross $118,200,000
- Mamma Mia! (2008): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $609,841,637
- Catch Me If You Can (2002): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $352,114,312
- Bohemian Rhapsody (2018): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $910,813,521
- Apollo 13 (1995): Budget $52,000,000, Worldwide Gross $355,237,933
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Moulin Rouge! Box Office Performance
"Moulin Rouge!" earned $57,386,607 domestically and $179,213,434 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $52,500,000, 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 "Moulin Rouge!," that break-even threshold was roughly $105,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $179,213,434, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $52,500,000
- Worldwide Gross: $179,213,434
- Net Return: $126,713,434
- ROI: approximately 241.4%
At 241.4%, "Moulin Rouge!" earned roughly $3.41 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
Won 2 Oscars. 89 wins & 133 nominations total
- AACTA Award for Best Sound: Roger Savage
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin (74th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design: Angus Strathie (74th Academy Awards)
- European Film Award for Best Non-European Film: Baz Luhrmann (14th European Film Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Production Design: Catherine Martin (74th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Production Design: Brigitte Broch (74th Academy Awards)
- AACTA Award for Best Editing: Jill Bilcock
- AACTA Award for Best Production Design: Catherine Martin
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Moulin Rouge! (2001)?
The production budget was $52,500,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $26,250,000 - $42,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $78,750,000 - $94,500,000.
How much did Moulin Rouge! (2001) earn at the box office?
Moulin Rouge! grossed $57,386,607 domestic, $121,826,827 international, totaling $179,213,434 worldwide.
Was Moulin Rouge! (2001) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $52,500,000 and estimated total costs of ~$131,250,000, the film earned $179,213,434 theatrically - a 241% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Moulin Rouge!?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across Australia, United States of America.
How does Moulin Rouge!'s budget compare to similar drama films?
At $52,500,000, Moulin Rouge! is classified as a mid-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2000s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Blades of Glory (2007, $53,000,000); Mamma Mia! (2008, $52,000,000); Catch Me If You Can (2002, $52,000,000).
Did Moulin Rouge! (2001) 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 Moulin Rouge!?
The theatrical ROI was 241.4%, calculated as ($179,213,434 − $52,500,000) ÷ $52,500,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Moulin Rouge! (2001) win?
Won 2 Oscars. 89 wins & 133 nominations total.
Who directed Moulin Rouge! and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, written by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, shot by Donald McAlpine, with music by Craig Armstrong, edited by Jill Bilcock.
Where was Moulin Rouge! filmed?
Moulin Rouge! was filmed in Australia, United States of America.
Filmmakers
Moulin Rouge!
Official Trailer
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
