[Your film budget estimate and the studio’s estimate] are going to be far apart, and there is a negotiation to find your way in the middle, unless you’re David Fincher, OK, who comes in and says $41 million. And the studio will say $30 million, and he’ll say, no, $41 million, and the studio is, like, $35 million. And he said listen, you think I’m negotiating with you. I’m telling you, the price of this movie is $41 million. That’s what it costs to make this movie. I don’t want to make the $40.5 million version of the movie.

— Aaron Sorkin on working with David Fincher in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter

Previously: David Fincher on compromise