The Power of the Dog Budget

What is known about the production of The Power of the Dog?

"The Power of the Dog," a drama released in 2021, was directed by Jane Campion and stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee. The production budget has not been publicly disclosed, though See-Saw Films, Max Films, Brightstar produced the film, making it a notable entry in the drama landscape whose financial details remain private.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a drama production like this include:

• Development: In May 2019 it was announced that Campion was to write and direct the film with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elisabeth Moss cast to star.
• Filming & Locations: Filming began in New Zealand in January 2020 in the Maniototo in Central Otago, and also took place in the coastal Otago city of Dunedin and the town of Oamaru.
• Music & Score: Campion recruited Jonny Greenwood to compose the film score.

What were the major cost factors in The Power of the Dog?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "The Power of the Dog."

• Development: Development is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
• Filming: Filming & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.
• Music: Music & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in drama productions of this scale.

The Power of the Dog Production History

In May 2019 it was announced that Campion was to write and direct the film with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elisabeth Moss cast to star. Paul Dano entered negotiations to join the film in September. He was confirmed to star the next month, with Kirsten Dunst cast to replace Moss.

Filming began in New Zealand in January 2020 in the Maniototo in Central Otago, and also took place in the coastal Otago city of Dunedin and the town of Oamaru. Production was halted in March by the COVID-19 pandemic. All the film's interior scenes were shot on sound stages in Auckland during the final weeks of filming.

Campion recruited Jonny Greenwood to compose the film score. Greenwood wanted to avoid the "sweeping strings" typical of Westerns, opting instead to use atonal brass sounds to emphasize the "alien, forbidding" quality of the landscape. As a result of the pandemic and the accompanying restrictions, Greenwood was unable to work with an orchestra and recorded many of the cello parts himself, layering them to achieve an orchestral texture.

Awards and Recognition

Won 1 Oscar. 287 wins & 316 nominations total

• Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film
• Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture: Drama
• Dorian Award for Film of the Year

Critical Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 351 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers." Metacritic assigned a weighted average score of 89 out of 100 based on 58 critics.