Darkest Hour Budget
DramaHistory2h 5mUpdated
Synopsis
In May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.
What is the budget of Darkest Hour?
"Darkest Hour," a drama released in 2017, was directed by Joe Wright and stars Gary Oldman, Stephen Dillane. The production budget was $30,000,000, 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.
- Filming & Locations: By November 2016, Darkest Hour had begun principal photography, and it was reported that Dario Marianelli would score the film.
What were the major cost factors in Darkest Hour?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Darkest Hour."
- 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 Darkest Hour's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $30,000,000, Darkest Hour sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- A Hologram for the King (2016): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $9,169,507
- A Lot Like Love (2005): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $42,886,719
- Big Momma's House (2000): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $173,959,438
- Crazy Rich Asians (2018): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $238,539,198
- Doomsday (2008): Budget $30,000,000, Worldwide Gross $22,472,631
The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Darkest Hour Box Office Performance
"Darkest Hour" earned $56,468,410 domestically and $150,847,207 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $30,000,000, 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 "Darkest Hour," that break-even threshold was roughly $60,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $150,847,207, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $30,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $150,847,207
- Net Return: $120,847,207
- ROI: approximately 402.8%
At 402.8%, "Darkest Hour" earned roughly $5.03 for every $1 invested in production.
Darkest Hour Production History
By November 2016, Darkest Hour had begun principal photography, and it was reported that Dario Marianelli would score the film. For his role as Churchill, Oldman spent over 200 hours having make-up applied, and smoked over 400 cigars (worth about $20,000) during filming. For locations, the exterior of Chartwell House near Westerham, Kent (Churchill's actual country home), was used for the sequence that sees Churchill's secretary Elizabeth Layton receive a telegram from Buckingham Palace.
Awards and Recognition
- Academy Award for Best Actor: Gary Oldman (90th Academy Awards)
- AACTA International Award for Best Actor: Gary Oldman (7th AACTA International Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Kazu Hiro (90th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: David Malinowski (90th Academy Awards)
- Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Lucy Sibbick (90th Academy Awards)
Critical Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 84% based on 317 reviews, with an average score of 7.3/10; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "Darkest Hour is held together by Gary Oldman's electrifying performance, which brings Winston Churchill to life even when the movie's narrative falters." On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating to reviews, the film has a score of 75 out of 100, based on 50 critics. PostTrak reported that over 90% of audience members gave a rating of either "excellent" or "very good".
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Darkest Hour (2017)?
The production budget was $30,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $15,000,000 - $24,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $45,000,000 - $54,000,000.
How much did Darkest Hour (2017) earn at the box office?
Darkest Hour grossed $56,468,410 domestic, $94,378,797 international, totaling $150,847,207 worldwide.
Was Darkest Hour (2017) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $30,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$75,000,000, the film earned $150,847,207 theatrically - a 403% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Darkest Hour?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Gary Oldman, Stephen Dillane, Lily James); talent compensation, authentic period production design, and meticulous post-production; international production across United Kingdom, United States of America.
How does Darkest Hour's budget compare to similar drama films?
At $30,000,000, Darkest Hour is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release drama films in the 2010s ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: A Hologram for the King (2016, $30,000,000); A Lot Like Love (2005, $30,000,000); Big Momma's House (2000, $30,000,000).
Did Darkest Hour (2017) 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 Darkest Hour?
The theatrical ROI was 402.8%, calculated as ($150,847,207 − $30,000,000) ÷ $30,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
Who directed Darkest Hour and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Joe Wright, written by Anthony McCarten, shot by Bruno Delbonnel, with music by Dario Marianelli, edited by Valerio Bonelli.
Where was Darkest Hour filmed?
Darkest Hour was filmed in United Kingdom, United States of America. By November 2016, Darkest Hour had begun principal photography, and it was reported that Dario Marianelli would score the film. For his role as Churchill, Oldman spent over 200 hours having make-up applied, and smoked over 400 cigars (worth about $20,000) during filming. For locations, the exterior of Chartwell House near Westerham, Kent (Churchill's actual country home), was used for the sequence that sees Churchill's secretary Elizabeth Layton receive a telegram from Buckingham Palace. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Darkest Hour
Official Trailer
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