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'I'm Still Here' - Profit: $26.01 million -

The first-ever Best Picture nominee from Brazil also has the lowest estimated production budget, at just US$1.39 million. The film has also been nominated for Best International Feature Film, with acclaimed Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres up for Best Actress.

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'I'm Still Here' - Profit: $26.01 million -

Directed by Walter Salles, the movie has drawn large crowds, especially in Latin American countries, and has earned an estimated of almost $27.4 million worldwide at the box office.

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'Anora' - Profit: $32.1 million -

Palme d'Or winner 'Anora' mirrors its scrappy lead character in both spirit and production. With an estimated budget of just $6 million, director Sean Baker reportedly did whatever it took to bring the project to life.

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'Anora' - Profit: $32.1 million -

This included casting non-professional actors in key roles, filming in the diners of Coney Island, and capturing guerrilla-style footage of New Yorkers in their natural environment.

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'Anora' - Profit: $32.1 million -

The film has become Baker’s highest-grossing film, raking in $38.1 million worldwide. This success underscores the director's career-long commitment to proving that low-budget filmmaking can still be powerfully creative and impactful, as seen in his acclaimed earlier works like 'The Florida Project' (2017).

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'The Brutalist' - Profit: $26.6 million -

A Hungarian architect's sweeping story has been brought to life in an ambitious, impressively affordable epic. Clocking in at over three hours, the film was made for a mere $10 million.

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'The Brutalist' - Profit: $26.6 million -

Director Brady Corbet explained to Variety that production costs were kept low by filming in Hungary instead of the US. The movie is set in 1940s Philadelphia, so Corbet needed a location that could stand in for the Kensington neighborhood, known for its smokestacks and warehouses.

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'The Brutalist' - Profit: $26.6 million -

'The Brutalist' reportedly earned a global gross of $36.6 million.

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'The Substance' - Profit: $59.6 million -

Made on a budget of $17.5 million, the feature film remained relatively low-budget by Hollywood standards, especially given the extensive use of prosthetics, makeup, and special effects.

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'The Substance' - Profit: $59.6 million -

Coralie Fargeat’s daring body horror film has become Mubi’s highest-grossing release, raking in an estimated $77.1 million worldwide. This success has helped the company position itself alongside other prominent arthouse distributors like A24 and Neon.

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'The Substance' - Profit: $59.6 million -

The film gained momentum through word-of-mouth and social media, with audiences sharing reactions to the body horror scenes and urging others to avoid spoilers. Additionally, Demi Moore’s own publicity push, alongside co-star Margaret Qualley, has played a key role in promoting the film across both the UK and US.

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'Nickel Boys' - Loss: $17.2 million -

Produced on a reported budget of over $20 million, the movie was filmed from a first-person perspective, a choice that boosted costs due to the added complexity of shooting each scene.

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'Nickel Boys' - Loss: $17.2 million -

Based on Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Nickel Boys,' production costs were likely driven by expenses related to securing the rights for the film adaptation, as well as the period costumes, sets, and vehicles required to authentically depict life in 1960s Florida.

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'Nickel Boys' - Loss: $17.2 million -

Director RaMell Ross’s bold, stylistic approach was widely praised for immersing audiences in a way that delivers the powerful experience of "walking in someone else's shoes." However, the box office results, as of writing, didn’t quite match the critical acclaim, with a worldwide gross of $2.8 million.

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'Emilia Pérez' - Loss: $9.7 million -

With an estimated budget of $25 million, the film—set in Mexico but filmed entirely in France, mostly in Paris studios—achieved unexpected success, grossing a reported $15.3 million worldwide, despite facing criticism over its cultural authenticity.

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'Emilia Pérez' - Loss: $9.7 million -

Amid significant backlash, particularly from Latin American audiences, for portraying Mexican culture through a European lens, director Jacques Audiard defended his decision, arguing that it was a creative choice, as he wanted to work with his regular crew and have greater control over the space and lighting.

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'Emilia Pérez' - Loss: $9.7 million -

While exact figures are not widely disclosed, marketing budgets are believed to have played a key role in the film's success, ultimately securing Oscar nominations. This came despite criticism for its portrayal of transgender and Latino characters, which many deemed out of touch.

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'Conclave' - Profit: $78.8 million -

Based on Richard Harris’s 2016 novel, the film was produced on a reported budget of $20 million—a surprisingly low figure considering the star-studded cast and the elaborate recreation of the Vatican grounds and Sistine Chapel, where the conclave takes place.

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'Conclave' - Profit: $78.8 million -

The film captivated critics and audiences with its striking shots of cardinals in ceremonial robes and rituals, offering a glimpse into one of the world’s most secretive institutions. It went on to achieve an estimated worldwide box office gross of $98.8 million.

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'Conclave' - Profit: $78.8 million -

For the re-creation of the Sistine Chapel, production designer Suzie Davies was fortunate to find a replica of the chapel’s walls at the famed Cinecittà Studios. She only had to repair some mouse damage and use CGI to re-create the iconic ceiling.

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'A Complete Unknown' - Profit: $40.5 million -

Coming in third is the Bob Dylan biopic, which portrays the legendary musician’s early years as a 19-year-old unknown arriving in 1960s New York. The film was produced on an estimated budget of $70 million.

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'A Complete Unknown' - Profit: $40.5 million -

Experts argue that much of the budget went toward the star-studded cast, including Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, as well as purchasing the rights to Dylan’s songs and capturing an authentic '60s vibe through real sets and locations.

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'A Complete Unknown' - Profit: $40.5 million -

Fans praised the film for choosing a more authentic approach rather than relying on artificial intelligence to recreate these elements. The film reportedly earned a worldwide box office gross of $110.5 million.

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'Wicked' - Profit: $578.1 million -

Recreating the magical land of Oz doesn't come cheap. The first installment of 'Wicked' had an estimated production cost of $150 million. Universal is said to have spent a total of $350 million on both films, with the second installment set to be released in November 2025.

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'Wicked' - Profit: $578.1 million -

With elaborate sets, special effects, and a star-studded cast, the film has achieved impressive milestones. It has reportedly grossed $728.1 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Oz film, the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time, and the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

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'Wicked' - Profit: $578.1 million -

In November 2024, online reports claimed that Ariana Grande was paid $15 million to play Glinda the Good Witch in the two-part movie musical, while Cynthia Erivo earned $1 million for her role as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. However, a spokesperson for Universal Pictures denied these claims, asserting that there was no pay disparity between the two leads.

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'Dune: Part Two' - Profit: $524.6 million -

The second part of the sci-fi epic takes the top spot as this year’s most expensive Best Picture nominee, with an estimated production budget of $190 million. Reports suggest that 'Dune: Part Two' had an even higher budget than its predecessor, 'Dune' (2021), which was made for $165 million.

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'Dune: Part Two' - Profit: $524.6 million -

The saga expands its star-studded cast with the addition of Austin Butler and Florence Pugh alongside Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. With a worldwide gross of $714.6 million, critics have compared the film’s success to that of certain Marvel movies. According to Forbes, films like 'The Marvels' (2023) had a net budget of $219.8 million and a gross return of $274.8 million.

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'Dune: Part Two' - Profit: $524.6 million -

The film garnered rave reviews from critics and was described as "the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation." Viewers were equally impressed by the world-building in 'Dune: Part Two,' noting that the attention to detail made it clear where every dollar of the budget was spent.

Sources: (IMDb) (Variety) (BBC) (Collider) (The Hollywood Reporter) (ScreenRant) (The New York Post)

See also: The most wins and nominations achieved at the Oscars

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