Trivia

The film was shot entirely in VistaVision, a widescreen format that runs 35mm film horizontally through the camera to create eight perforation film frames, twice the size and resolution of standard four perforation 35mm. The film was then released in theaters with 70mm film prints. This is the first American film in 61 years to be entirely shot in the format, the last being My Six Loves (1963). Director Brady Corbet explained: "It just seemed like the best way to access that period (1950s) was to shoot on something that was engineered in that same decade." Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) reintroduced VistaVision to create high resolution plates for visual effect shots.

This movie has an intermission built into the actual 70mm film reel that counts down from fifteen minutes. It's the first American movie to have an intermission since the 70mm roadshow release of The Hateful Eight (2015).

Filming took place for a total of 34 days between March 16 and May 5, 2023. It was shot in Budapest, Hungary and in Carrara, Italy.

Despite her prominence in the billings, Felicity Jones is not introduced in the movie until 1h 57 minutes.

At 3 hours and 34 minutes, this is the fifth-longest film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, after:

• Cleopatra (1963): 4 hours and 8 minutes.
• Gone with the Wind (1939): 3 hours and 46 minutes.
• Lawrence of Arabia (1962): 3 hours and 42 minutes.
• The Ten Commandments (1956): 3 hours and 40 minutes.