These Blockbuster Movies Were Made For Less Than $1 Million
And one of them has grossed almost $380 million.
We all love movies, right? And when we see announcements for a huge Hollywood film, we simply can't wait. We think, "Wow, they've spent $50 million on it. It must be fantastic."
People often believe that a blockbuster film requires a high budget and only A-list performers. While some films do require budgets of tens of millions of dollars, it is still possible to create a terrific film on a smaller scale.
Many well-known films feature fantastic, unique plotlines as well as stunning cinematography. It all boils down to the crew that worked on the picture.
Everyone knows that making money requires investment, but is a large budget necessary to produce compelling content for a film? Experts estimate that the cost to produce any feature film can range from $40 million to $70 million.
However, none of the low-budget films we are showcasing here had even a $1 million budget. Spending so much money on a movie that might not perform well in theaters can be quite risky.
Nevertheless, the earnings of these movies were enormous, and they became huge global hits. So let's take a look at all the low-budget films that achieved remarkable success.
1. Friday The 13th
Everybody has heard of the movie Friday the 13th and how it has created a cult holiday for horror aficionados worldwide. Even though it only cost $550,000 to make, this movie brought in $92.7 million globally.
The film is based on a hockey mask-wearing antagonist who exacts revenge on Friday the 13th. As a result, 12 additional films, comic books, clothing, video games, and other projects were produced, starting a new franchise dedicated to this picture.
It continues to rank among the highest-grossing horror films ever. In addition, this is the reason for the Friday the 13th celebration, which is observed worldwide by horror enthusiasts...
@Y2John842. The Blair Witch Project
For all the horror movie enthusiasts out there, The Blair Witch Project launched a brand-new genre.
Many subsequent films quickly adopted its style and concept. Although it was not the first of its kind, the film is based on the idea of "found footage."
A group of young student filmmakers attempts to investigate an urban legend in this independent film. One of the first movies to employ a marketing strategy that relied on the premise that all the events in the film took place in real life was The Blair Witch Project.
Horror fans around the world were ecstatic when this film was first released, which contributed to its enormous success. Despite having a $60,000 budget, the movie still made $246.8 million worldwide.
You might be surprised to learn that the movie was shot in less than eight days and that the script wasn’t complete before production began. This only serves to demonstrate that a big budget is not necessarily required for a hit film.
@MASKEDMANIACXXX
3. Mad Max
Since its debut in 1979, Mad Max has garnered significant acclaim from critics. This $300,000 dystopian action flick, revolving around murder and revenge, started one of the most well-known movie franchises ever.
The movie made $378.9 million globally. There have already been three sequels to this film, and each one has been a commercial success.
70s Sci-Fi Art
4. Halloween
The 1978 independent film Halloween is well-known for having introduced the slasher subgenre to a wide audience. This film launched a famous series that continues to produce films, television shows, video games, and merchandise.
Despite having a $300,000 budget, this cult classic grossed $255.5 million worldwide, placing it among the films with the highest return on investment.
Halloween Movie Source
5. Napoleon Dynamite
A well-known comedy film from 2004, Napoleon Dynamite was made on a $400,000 shoestring budget. It's remarkable that the main actor in this film only received a $1,000 salary for the duration of the film, which was edited in the producer's apartment on his personal computer.
Despite all the budget constraints, the film brought in a total of $46.1 million globally.
FilmFacts
6. Insidious
The film Insidious is well-known among thriller and horror fans. But did you realize that it only had an $800,000 budget?
This horror film serves as an example for everyone on how to turn a modest budget into a blockbuster. The quality of this movie astounded producers and filmmakers alike.
This movie earned $99.9 million globally and received critical acclaim.
@Alex_Killswitch
7. Night Of The Living Dead
This zombie film is unique because it generated a lot of controversy when it was first released. A black actor was chosen to portray the lead role, and it debuted on television in 1968.
Because it was included in the national film registry's preservation list back in 1999, this movie has established itself as a cult classic. The entire production of the film cost $114,000, which was more than 250 times its low budget.
It made $18 million globally.
@Spookifyer
8. Open Water
Open Water was based on a real-life story. It centered on a couple who were stranded in the middle of the ocean and struggled to survive. Despite having a $500,000 budget, the movie made $50 million worldwide.
Only a digital camera with a simple setting was used to record the film.
@SirJonoRose
Although a high movie budget often implies that the film will be spectacular (with special effects, A-list actors, and stunning locations), it doesn’t guarantee that the movie will be any good. Anyone can make a bad movie with a huge budget, but only a rare few can create a good movie with limited funds.
