Alexey Balabanov: The Cult Russian Director Whose Films Struggled Financially

The director’s works can hardly be called commercially successful.

Alexey Balabanov is rightfully considered one of the cult Russian directors. His films are recognized by the public all over the world, but, as it turned out, not all of them paid off at the box office.

Thus, the master’s main hit, the “Brother” duology, turned out to be a failure from a financial point of view. The first part of the story of Danila Bagrov, with a budget of 100 thousand dollars, earned only 40, and the second – one million dollars, although it cost the creators one and a half million.

Balabanov’s most controversial film, “Cargo 200,” also failed. The drama earned only $590 thousand at the box office. But it made the director famous all over the world, because after the premiere of the film it was discussed both in Europe and in the USA.

Balabanov’s last film, “I Want It Too,” did not pay off at the box office. At that time, the director was already a recognized legend of the screen, but the public still did not go to see his work in theaters. And the film with Oleg Garkusha in the title role brought its creators only 226 thousand dollars.