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THE TRUE COST OF MAKING A MOVIE
Posted on July 10, 2017 by: Robert Gillings
The cost of making a movie in this day and age will cost a fortune. Given all of the
pieces required to make a film, it makes sense where all of the money goes. Not many
people realize it from a two hour movie playing on the screen but paying actors,
actresses, marketing the movie, getting equipment, purchasing permits and paying
extras can all rack up a hefty bill.
A budget for a film can be easily broken down into the following average percentages.
For example, the cost of production which includes the salaries of those working in the
film (actors, producers, directors, stage hands, etc.), can easily take up 50% of the
budget of the film. 30% of the film’s budget alone can be used to distribute and market
the film. And the remaining 20% are used for remaining costs such as music
composition, props, and permits. Depending on the movie, the budget can be allocated
differently. A movie with big name stars can put most of its budget into paying off their
actors and actresses. Or a sci-fi film might spend most of its money on getting the best
CGI and computer graphics to make the film possible.

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Not all movies are made the same. Big budget blockbusters have more money and
resources to get what they need done for the film. These films often have a budget of
upwards 100 million dollars. On the other hand, smaller independent films tend to have
smaller budgets. Independent films are funded by sources other than large studios like
MGM, Disney or Lionsgate. To be creative in cutting costs, these independent films
often have smaller casts and limited productions.
Regardless of what kind of movie it is or what it costs, making a movie often pays off in
the end. Summer blockbusters can cost hundreds of millions of dollars to make but can
end up generating over a billion dollars in profits. This is easily the case with movies like
the Star Wars franchise or any of the Marvel superhero movies which make hundreds of
millions of dollars globally. And although independent films do not have as much money
as the bigger movies, they tend to have stronger writing and are well received by those
who watch them. The true cost of making a movie can be quite expensive but no matter
what the budget is, it can be made possible.
Robert Gillings is an award winning writer, producer, actor architectural designer,
philosopher and financial consultant.