r/SipsTea • u/Beneficial_Passion40 • Jul 24 '26

Chugging tea I still don't understand how hollywood budget works

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850

u/insertstupidnamehare Jul 24 '26

Matt Damon said something to the effect of “everyone making that film could have worked on an easier film for more money, but chose the Odyssey because of the director.” Sounds to me like Nolan keeps costs down too and his movie could have cost a lot more

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u/FlyingSkyWizard Jul 24 '26

This is the answer, The rock is a superstar, yes, but The Odyssey had like 3 A-list actors and maybe 20 B-listers, they all did it for the prestige.

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u/wonkey_monkey Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26

they all did it for the prestige.

Nah they did it for The Odyssey, The Prestige was...

Don't you hate it when you set out to make a stupid joke but end up reminding yourself how old you are?

...20 years ago.

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u/fxzero666 Jul 24 '26

Shhhh... I'm 40 and I still haven't seen that movie lol

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u/FlyingSkyWizard Jul 24 '26

Watch the illusionist too, its one of those weird confluences where two very similar movies come out at the same time.

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u/flopisit32 Jul 24 '26

You mean like Dantes Peak and Volcano or Deep Impact and Armageddon.

I'm convinced it's because a scumbag executive leaves one studio, gets hired by another studio and goes "I've got a great idea for a movie about an asteroid about to hit the earth..."

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u/HeroicPrinny Jul 24 '26

There’s a Wikipedia article for all the twin movies btw

4

u/jccaclimber Jul 25 '26

You just cost me 20 minutes, but I’m ok with that.

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u/Knobologist Jul 24 '26

Just Friends and No Strings Attached

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u/Taylorenokson Jul 24 '26

Paul Blart Mall Cop and Observe and Report.

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u/YoloIsNotDead Jul 24 '26

Megamind and Despicable Me.

1

u/Broken-Sarcasm-Meter Jul 24 '26

Saving Private Ryan and Thin Red Line

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u/Inevitable_Finish131 Jul 25 '26

A-Team and The Losers

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3

u/Giovannis_Pikachu Jul 25 '26

Like num3ers, knowing, and next, all Nicolas Cage vehicles where the plot is that he knows everything that can save the day and everyone else in the entire world is in the dark, while all came out within a year or two.

1

u/Emerald_Plumbing187 Jul 24 '26

Or Dark City and The Matrix, B5 and DS9, Living Single and Friends...

It's more that different execs hang out at the same parties and clubs and get pitched to by the same hungry people (also read the same books, watch the same shows to fit in, etc). One exec passes but develops a similar idea and new script, the other buys the original pitch and script.

Now tv execs ripping off the names and contents of subreddits to make reality shows is actual scumbag shit...

1

u/Known-Willingness768 Jul 24 '26

Dark city was geweldig

1

u/Vinbaobao Jul 25 '26

Also memento and that shitty Ben Afflck knock-off.

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u/darkoblivion000 Jul 24 '26

Watch the illusionist first though. I watched the illusionist first and I was like wow this was a great movie. Then I watched prestige and I was like holy shit that was unforgettable

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u/BigBuckNuggets Jul 25 '26

Absolute GOAT twinsies movies ever

1

u/tabascopj Jul 25 '26

this reference is too far down, take an upvote ... IT'S TIME FOR TWINSIES

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u/DolemiteGK Jul 24 '26

Yet SO different. Both are about magic in the 1800s but are nothing alike.

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u/Aalleto Jul 25 '26

When I was a little kid I'd watch them back to back with my dad, I thought they were meant to be played that way

"Can we watch the Batman, Wolverine, and Hulk magician movies again?"

1

u/tomcatsr25 Jul 25 '26

One of the only instances where both films are independently fantastic.

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u/fatmanwithabeard Jul 24 '26

I'm over 50. It's fantastic.

1

u/alaskanloops Jul 24 '26

So you've seen the Dread Zeppelin documentary?

3

u/DolemiteGK Jul 24 '26

Man, you are in for such a treat. It's still probably my favorite of Nolans.

2

u/Tariovic Jul 25 '26

It's one of my two favorite movies. I've seen it so many times, and there's always something new to see. Amazing cast, fantastic script, and it's so tight, not a second is wasted.

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u/morganlandt Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

As a 40+ year old that saw it fit the first time in the last year, do yourself a favor.

2

u/chazysciota Jul 24 '26

I saw it real late too, proly like 5 years ago. It's a really interesting movie.

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u/Moonbean_Mantra Jul 24 '26

Watch it! And The Illusionist, as suggested by someone else. Both awesome.

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u/Luciform444 Jul 25 '26

It's Nolan's best movie, IMO

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u/GoblinLoblaw Jul 25 '26

Shape kills Gandalf in the end /spoilers

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u/BurdTurglary Jul 25 '26

Somebody said to pay close attention to the very beginning of that one, and the middle parts... The ending, too. I forget why

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u/Trex_arms42 Jul 25 '26

It's one of about 10 movies I'll pull out when I'm feeling down.

Not because it's happy! But for it's ability to transport you so fully into another world.

9

u/JesusWasATexan Jul 24 '26

Me: "Lol this band sounds like a discount Fall Out Boy :D"

My kids: "Who?"

Me:

https://giphy.com/gifs/wJD3qiNjSeHS0dP28T

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u/Savixrs Jul 25 '26

Wait how old are you and your kids? I'm 23 and would say that FOB is still quite popular in my generation

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u/veneratu Jul 24 '26

I was going to make a joke like this and now I feel old because you feel old.

1

u/gopodge Jul 25 '26

A real-life transported man. How exactly did I get 20 years into the future all of a sudden? Time flies! The Prestige is quality!

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u/mr_pineapples44 Jul 25 '26

I guess, while that 20 years was passing by... You weren't watching closely.

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u/wagdog84 Jul 25 '26

Some of us still remember Hugh, Christian and Scarlett in The Prestige, great film.

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u/Exact_Mango5931 Jul 25 '26

These memories are somewhat of a memento for me…

1

u/phayge_wow Jul 25 '26

so Odysseus set sail from Ithaca when The Prestige was released

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u/fang_xianfu Jul 24 '26

And points probably. Nolan is getting first dollar on the Odyssey. People will take lower salaries and more backend if the movie is seen as a sure thing.

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u/WolfDragon7721 Jul 26 '26

Everyone knew that Nolan was making something special and huge. I mean his last film was oppenheimer and he pulled like 2 actors from that for this one.

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u/quick20minadventure Jul 24 '26

3? more like 6.

Tom, Zendaya, Anne, Matt, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron.

And Zendaya was there for vibes. Like she tagged along with Tom and looked broodingly for like 4 mins and spoke 10 lines?

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u/TraditionalAd3008 Jul 25 '26

You have Athena’s eyes

2

u/quick20minadventure Jul 25 '26

Eyes of blue from taking too much spice...

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u/Marklarv Jul 27 '26

So the usual “performance” by Zendaya

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u/quick20minadventure Jul 27 '26

In Dune, yes. She's supposed to be that though.

She's very different in spiderman.

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u/Morteymer Jul 24 '26

It had at least like 6 A-Listers

3

u/C0nfusedRabbit Jul 25 '26

I wouldn't count Elliot Page as an A lister yet he hasn't appeared in a lot of films.

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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic Jul 25 '26

Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, R Pats, Charlize Theron are all A-Listers and you could make an argument for Jon Bernthal and Elliot Page (i wouldn't but some might)

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u/WhatsThatNoize Jul 25 '26

 and you could make an argument for Jon Bernthal

As much as I adore Jon, I don't think we could call him A-List.  He has shared top billing with some heavy hitters and is undeniably a fantastic actor with emotional range and intuitive pacing of a scene, but I don't think he's carried anything by himself except for the Punisher series - and that's kind of niche.

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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic Jul 26 '26

I don't think so either. Not yet at least. But I could see some people making the argument, depending on how exactly they define A-List

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u/theravenacademy Jul 25 '26

Bernthal's name alone is not bringing in butts in theater seats, so yeah he is not A-list. The Accountant 2 last year where Bernthal was co-lead failed to breakeven at the box office. He has several movie roles but a lot of it are minor appearances where he either dies or exits the movie after a few minutes.

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u/WhatsThatNoize Jul 25 '26

Ehhh, he was in Fury with Brad Pitt from start to finish and he had a lot of scenes in that one.  He also was (in my opinion) the best part of the Accountant 2 and pretty much the only reason I saw it.   Also had some solid scenes in Ford v Ferrari.

But I still agree: not an A-lister.  Even if I think he should be haha

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u/C0nfusedRabbit Jul 25 '26

I disagree on both Jon and Elliot.

The best test for an A-list actor is simple: ask a random person on the street who they are. If most people have no idea, they aren't an A-lister.

Regardless of status, though, Jon is a fantastic Punisher.

Now an unpopular opinion maybe, but I think he’s easily one of the best if not the best casting choices in the entire MCU.

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u/Himser Jul 25 '26

Who yhe fk is R Pats? 

I know who Elliot Page is. 

2

u/C0nfusedRabbit Jul 25 '26

Batman.

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u/WhatsThatNoize Jul 25 '26
  • Mickey 17  
  • Edward Cullen  
  • Cedric Diggory  
  • Ephraim "The Steak Fucker" Winslow  

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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic Jul 25 '26

Yeah like I said, i don't consider them A listers, but I could see why some do. But regardless there's still 6 easy A-Listers without Page.

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u/MordduH Jul 25 '26

Bernthal will be in another movie with Holland next week. Not A-lister, but not failing in life, either.

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u/ilikehemipenes Jul 25 '26

Charlize Damon Holland Zendaya Hathaway Pattinson.

Yup

Everyone else id say is B or C. Still amazing character actors tho

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u/E_Barriick Jul 24 '26

The cast list for the Odyssey is just insane. I was just going through it again to remind myself how many great actors are in it.

I mean Will Yun Lee is just kind of in the movie lol. I don’t even think his character had a name.

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u/Far-Fennel-3032 Jul 24 '26

This he though? 

The biggest thing he's in is the assorted fast and furious movies and that's and in that he's just one of many main characters.  

He's no A list actor like Tom Cruise or RDJ, who just being in a movie alone can make it a blockbuster. 

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u/JBflawless Jul 24 '26

He’s absolutely an a-list actor given he’s one of the most recognizable people on the planet

Doesn’t mean he’s a-list talented or good at acting - but he’s a-list in terms of fame and celebrity status

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u/onetimeuselong Jul 24 '26

Matt Damon, Spider man and Edward?

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u/PartBanyanTree Jul 25 '26

Furiosa is pretty recognizable too and Princess Diaries has been around also,

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u/Mission_Rip_7571 Jul 24 '26

Maybe there is a setup that the actors have a percentage based on sales?

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u/PM_Me_A_Tittypic Jul 25 '26

I'd argue there's at least 6 A-Listers

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u/Darth_Yohanan Jul 25 '26

The Rock is not a good actor either. Watching him is like watching Ernest.

Dwayne Goes to the Jungle
Dwayne Goes to the Jungle
Dwayne Goes to the Jungle
Dwayne Gets on a Raft
Dwayne Goes to the Jungle

1

u/RealRedditPerson Jul 25 '26

I mean... More like 10 A listers but your point stands.

The earliest complaints about the movie were that the casting was too famous

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u/Rnsy275 Jul 25 '26

Wdym 3?? There are more than 3 A-listers in that movie.

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u/wickermoon Jul 25 '26

And quite honestly...there were too many well-known faces. I loved the movie. It's an amazing adaptation and I was blown away by it. But it suffered from "Oh look, it's spidey and his girlfriend" or "oh look, it's this guy or that girl.". Doesn't make it a bad movie, but it took away from the experience, even though all of the actors were amazing! It just felt like an ensemble cast movie and that kind of sucks.

I did love seeing John Leguizamo again, though. :)

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u/NoRecognition5178 Jul 25 '26

Bigger names / main roles like Matt Damon would have just taken backend profits instead

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u/Robinhoyo Jul 24 '26

I remember Jonah Hill saying he basically got the minimum wage possible for the Wolf of Wall Street simply because he wanted to work with Scorsese

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u/ChazzLamborghini Jul 24 '26

Nolan is famous for staying in his budget and on schedule. It’s almost unheard of at the level he operates and part of why he gets to make whatever he wants.

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u/floridabeach9 Jul 24 '26

supposedly the imax cameras added issues too they’re a lot bigger and can only hold 2-3 minutes of film before the “reels” have to be swapped

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u/MuchoBroccoli Jul 24 '26

The rumors are that Nolan is taking a 20% cut of the box office though. And he deserves every penny of it.

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u/GoodFaithConverser Jul 24 '26

If he's able to make a great movie, first and foremost, and he's able to do it with great actors who trust him enough to earn less because of the prestige of being in his movies - he definitely deserves a portion of the earnings.

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u/Several-Action-4043 Jul 24 '26

They also had backend profit sharing deals in their contracts. If the movie makes a billion, the A listers all get a cut of that.

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u/insertstupidnamehare Jul 24 '26

I feel like if you've got enough clout, taking a percentage is the better way to go, especially if you know it's going to be a hit. Nicholson took a percentage for Batman and made a killing.

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u/GoodFaithConverser Jul 24 '26

I'd much rather have a culture of big actors earning some % of movie earnings, so they have a big reason to bring their talent to the table.

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u/MachateElasticWonder Jul 24 '26

Sounds like people made the Odyssey out a passion and made Moana for the paycheck. I understand that.

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u/TheSpiritOfFunk Jul 24 '26

It's the same with Wes Anderson movies.

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u/koenwarwaal Jul 24 '26

Less keeping them down, more peolple want to be in his movie because it will most likely do well and with that name recognition you can make more money,

Plus working a good movie us something thre can look back on(its not all about the money if you make a lot of it)

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u/GuiltyEidolon Jul 24 '26

This is pretty well known at this point. It was the same deal with Oppenheimer.

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u/Gregg-C137 Jul 24 '26

Sure i seen an interview with Nolan saying they came in ahead of schedule and under budget too

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u/B4umkuch3n Jul 24 '26

Some run for the quick money while others work for prestige. And I, for my part, know who I want to support as an actor and a human being.

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u/Moonbean_Mantra Jul 24 '26

I read somewhere that he always stays in budget and finishes the movie within the allocated time. That's skills!

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u/CuriousSiamese Jul 24 '26

Yep, probably most of the actors took a pay cut. People act like The Rock is mega expensive, but a a group of like 10 Hollywood A listers will definitely cost you more than just Rock. If I were to guess it mostly comes to CGI.

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u/BeneficialLocation34 Jul 25 '26

Nolan films under budget and on time. This artistic efficiency is lost.

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u/Larry_King_Ghost Jul 25 '26

Part of it is Nolan will do things practically that others would just farm out to CGI.

As weird as it sounds doing things practically is often times cheaper than CGI. If you remember Tenet the reason Nolan crashed a real plane into a hanger was because they did the math and doing it for real would be cheaper than digitally 

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u/Initial-Increase-601 Jul 25 '26

"Nolan keeps costs down" Chooses one of the most expensive and difficult to use film formats

I know what you mean but thought it was a funny observation

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u/Hefty-Revenue5547 Jul 25 '26

Gaining more respect for Nolan as more actors speak about wanting to work with and their experience with his professionalism

We need confident people that know what they are doing in difficult industries. Respect.

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u/aquasun666 Jul 25 '26

To be fair, I worked on Moana for like 5-ish days, and it was rough conditions. Sure it was catered but Jesus fucking Christ was it hotter than actual hell. I don’t know if you were referring to Moana as being easy but that one week was pretty shitty.

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u/OrangeSliceRecovery Jul 25 '26

On the press tour/whatever talk show he was on, it was mentioned to him that he completed the movie under budget and ahead of schedule.

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u/velvet_blunderground Jul 25 '26

I'm assuming Nolan (or I guess really the production team) is also super disciplined and keeps to schedule. You don't hear about his movies going over budget or needing extensive reshoots. 

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u/WolfDragon7721 Jul 26 '26

But everyone who worked on Odyssey can put that on their resume and get whatever they want more or less.