North by Northwest Budget
ThrillerAdventure2h 17mUpdated
Synopsis
Madison Avenue advertising man Roger Thornhill finds himself thrust into the world of spies when he is mistaken for a man by the name of George Kaplan. Foreign spy Philip Vandamm and his henchman Leonard try to eliminate him but when Thornhill tries to make sense of the case, he is framed for murder. Now on the run from the police, he manages to board the 20th Century Limited bound for Chicago where he meets a beautiful blond, Eve Kendall, who helps him to evade the authorities. His world is turned upside down yet again when he learns that Eve isn't the innocent bystander he thought she was. Not all is as it seems however, leading to a dramatic rescue and escape at the top of Mt. Rushmore.
What is the budget of North by Northwest?
"North by Northwest," a thriller released in 1959, was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint. The production budget was $4,000,000, placing it in the micro-budget range for thriller productions of the 1950s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a thriller 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.
- Casting: Eva Marie Saint's agent had told her that she had received an invitation to a dinner with Alfred Hitchcock and his family, the first time she and Hitchcock met.
What were the major cost factors in North by Northwest?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "North by Northwest."
- Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
- Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
- Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in thriller productions of this scale.
How Does North by Northwest's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $4,000,000, North by Northwest sits in the micro-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- Peter Pan (1953): Budget $4,000,000, Worldwide Gross $87,400,000
- Farewell My Concubine (1993): Budget $4,000,000, Worldwide Gross $6,400,000
- Dersu Uzala (1975): Budget $4,000,000
- Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003): Budget $4,000,000 , Gross $6,664,789
- Trainspotting (1996): Budget $4,000,000, Worldwide Gross $71,981,823
The median budget for wide-release thriller films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
North by Northwest Box Office Performance
"North by Northwest" earned $5,740,000 domestically and $13,275,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $4,000,000, 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 "North by Northwest," that break-even threshold was roughly $8,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $13,275,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $4,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $13,275,000
- Net Return: $9,275,000
- ROI: approximately 231.9%
At 231.9%, "North by Northwest" earned roughly $3.32 for every $1 invested in production.
North by Northwest Production History
Eva Marie Saint's agent had told her that she had received an invitation to a dinner with Alfred Hitchcock and his family, the first time she and Hitchcock met. Days after the dinner, Saint's mother called her and reminded her that Hitchcock loved casting women wearing beige clothing and white gloves. Following her mother's advice, she met with Hitchcock again, wearing that combination.
At Hitchcock's insistence, the film was made in Paramount's VistaVision widescreen process. The only other VistaVision film made at MGM was High Society. The opening title sequence was created by graphic designer Saul Bass.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 9 wins & 7 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Critical Reception
A contemporary in Time called the film "smoothly troweled and thoroughly entertaining". A. H. Weiler of The New York Times made it a "Critic's Pick" and said it was the "year's most scenic, intriguing and merriest chase"; he also complimented the two leads:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make North by Northwest (1959)?
The production budget was $4,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $2,000,000 - $3,200,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $6,000,000 - $7,200,000.
How much did North by Northwest (1959) earn at the box office?
North by Northwest grossed $5,740,000 domestic, $7,535,000 international, totaling $13,275,000 worldwide.
Was North by Northwest (1959) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $4,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$10,000,000, the film earned $13,275,000 theatrically - a 232% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing North by Northwest?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason); talent compensation, location cinematography, and tension-driven editorial.
How does North by Northwest's budget compare to similar thriller films?
At $4,000,000, North by Northwest is classified as a micro-budget production. The median budget for wide-release thriller films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: Peter Pan (1953, $4,000,000); Farewell My Concubine (1993, $4,000,000); Dersu Uzala (1975, $4,000,000).
Did North by Northwest (1959) 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 North by Northwest?
The theatrical ROI was 231.9%, calculated as ($13,275,000 − $4,000,000) ÷ $4,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did North by Northwest (1959) win?
Nominated for 3 Oscars. 9 wins & 7 nominations total.
Who directed North by Northwest and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by Ernest Lehman, shot by Robert Burks, with music by Bernard Herrmann, edited by George Tomasini.
Where was North by Northwest filmed?
North by Northwest was filmed in United States of America. At Hitchcock's insistence, the film was made in Paramount's VistaVision widescreen process. The only other VistaVision film made at MGM was High Society. The opening title sequence was created by graphic designer Saul Bass.
Filmmakers
North by Northwest
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