The four films that make up our case studies - Skyfall, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Weekend and Pride - all differ in their production values, with differing budgets and led by different production companies (Skyfall, MGM; Weekend, UK Film Council; Kingsman: A Secret Service, Marv Films; Pride, Canal and BBC Films). 

Most of the time, this is reflected in the outcome of the film. For example, the film Weekend was made on a budget of £120,000 opposed to Skyfall which was made on a budget of $200 million. This can be seen in the final film through the way the film was produced: Skyfall uses many more elaborate scenes, using special effects and locations that Weekend would not be able to afford. Weekend, however, opted not to use numerous sets and rather created a realistic narrative to suit the limitations of the budget.

Kingsman: The Secret Service had a budget of between $81-$94 million and, similarly to Skyfall, the expense is evident in the special effects, locations and also the cast of the film. The cast includes high profile actors such as Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson and Michael Caine, for example.

The issues and themes that are discussed in Weekend, focusing primarily on sexuality, and the way in which they are portrayed and presented - for example, the more graphic scenes - are also evidence of the smaller production values. As a film of less of a high status, with lesser known actors, there is not the same need to appeal to a mass audience, especially in order to return the capital of the film, and therefore there is more freedom in the narrative and themes of the film. This is common amongst a lot of independent films in contrast to popular, high profile films.

For example, in the film Weekend, themes of sexuality are discussions more realistically and intimately: expressing in depth emotions and explorations of relationships and people's behaviour. However, in Pride, a film that also explores sexuality, whilst themes such as sexually transmitted themes are touched on and homophobia is explored widely, the story focuses moreso on the wider picture: the fight for equality, rather than the independent relationships.