With the November 6th Netflix premiere of Pedro Páramo, the platform revealed that the film contributed over 375 million pesos (US$18.7 million) to the Mexican economy. This figure encompasses both direct production costs and indirect spending within the supply chain.
Based on Juan Rulfo’s iconic novel, Pedro Páramo marks Rodrigo Prieto’s directorial debut. The film was brought to life by a team of highly skilled and renowned Mexican artists and technicians. The production is notable for its meticulous attention to detail, with each sequence reflecting the efforts of numerous extras, artisans, decorators, costume designers, and set builders who transformed Comala into a tangible reality, capturing both its zenith and its subsequent decline.
The production crew comprised over 550 technicians and artists. In San Luis Potosí alone, the project employed over 2,500 workers. This resulted in over 14,900 hotel nights booked in the state and the participation of over 900 extras in the local filming.
The costume design department collaborated with artisans and tailors from various Mexican states. This included huarache makers from Comala, Colima; sarape weavers from Contla, Tlaxcala; charro tailors from Aguascalientes; and rebozo artisans from Tenancingo de Degollado, State of Mexico. In total, over 5,000 garments were designed and manufactured for the film.
Regarding the music, the soundtrack involved the participation of over 30 traditional musicians from various states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Chiapas, and Mexico City.
Discussing his adaptation of the book to the screen, Prieto highlighted: “For the 50-day shoot, which took place in Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, and Mexico City, we needed numerous exterior locations with specific characteristics: streets, plazas, fondas, and the Media Luna, a crucial location from the book.”
“There’s no clearer demonstration of Netflix’s commitment to Mexico, its audiovisual industry, and our members than this film. Cultural industries have a significant impact on society, not only through the work itself but also by generating thousands of high-skilled, high-paying jobs. Pedro Páramo‘s enduring value will be matched by this film adaptation,” highlighted Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s VP of Content for Latin America.