Low-budget movies are often films that debut on TV and rarely make it to theaters. Some amateur directors take part in low budget movies to launch their career and prove themselves. Many of the low-budget movies are horror films. This genre is popular for not spending. People who like horror films are more focused on what the movie will make them feel instead of expecting famous stars. So director have the chance to cut the budget on this area.
Sometimes these movies are featured on theaters like The Blair Witch Project. This movie was a MAJOR success. It’s budget was around $60000 but grossed almost $240 million worldwide. Another good example is El Mariachi, directed by Robert Rodriguez, on a $7000 budget. The film was so low cost that the director could not afford second takes. Still it was a success.
These movies are made on millions of dollars less than other contemporary films and have made more money. That is why making and producing films is a gamble. Here are the MOST PROFITABLE low-budget films.
Paranormal Activity
Univision
This movie was first released on 2007 as part of the Screamfest Festival. It was an independent film and it was later acquired by Paramount Pictures that gave it a full release on theaters on 2009. The story follows a young couple who is haunted by a supernatural force. The budget used was of $15000 and after the massive release it grossed a grand total of $193.3 million. That made it the most profitable film ever made.
The Purge
List25
It had a $3 million budget. This is a sci-fi horror thriller released in 2013 and directed by James DeMonaco. It was so successful that they have announced a fourth film. The first movie had stars like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey. The movie is set on 2014 and it is after an economic collapse. So the far right party of that time decides to pass an amendment in which, for 12 hours, all crime is legal. People liked the plot so much that the movie managed to gross over $89 million worldwide.
Open water
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The 2003 psychological success is a movie based on a real life event. An American couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan were left behind, by accident, on a scuba diving trip. It describes their agony as they tried to survive in shark infested waters. Since the movie didn’t need that many locations the budget was of $130000 and it had a revenue of $54.7 million.
Night of the living dead
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It’s a 1968 independent horror film. At the time it was a huge success. It grossed $12 million domestically and $30 million internationally. All of this was accomplished on a $114000 budget.
SAW
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The first movie of this famous storyline was a BIG hit. It is a horror film that takes place just in one room. It is said to be the most profitable horror film since Scream in 1996. The story is about a mysterious being that tests people to see if they could save their lives. The film grossed over $100 million dollars on a $1.2 million budget and didn’t have famous stars on the cast.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
List25
This film is a British crime comedy thriller. It tells the story of a card sharp that loses a lot of money to a crime lord. So he had to pay his debt by robbing a gang. The movie was directed by Guy Ritchie and it brought him international acclaim. He was even nominated for a British Academy Film Award as outstanding British Film of the Year. The movie had a $1.35 million budget and earned $28.3 million
Rocky
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“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”. That famous line is part of Rocky a movie that made Silvester Stallone into the famous and iconic character he is now. It became so famous that it has seven films. Rocky managed to recover $225 million on a $1million budget.
Napoleon Dynamite
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This is one of the best comedies of the last 15 years. The plot centers on a socially awkward teen called Napoleon and his life. When it was released it had positive reviews from Stone Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Science Monitor. It became a cult film for the teenagers of that time. The film was made on a $400000 budget and had a revenue of $46.1 million.
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
List25
In this dystopian action film we get to see Mel Gibson as mad Max. The movie was released in 1985 and for a period of time held the record guiness for the most profitable film. George Miller, the director managed a revenue of $100 million on a $400000 budget.
HALLOWEEN
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This 1978 slasher horror film had a great success.With a $325000 budget and a $70 million revenue. It even had a remake on 2007 directed by the famous Rob Zombie. It was also written by him and co-written by John Carpenter, the director of the 1978 film.
El Mariachi
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When it comes to low budget film movies this is one of the examples by excellence. The movie was released in 1992 as an action film. It is the first installment of the trilogy directed by Roberto Rodriguez. He directed and wrote El Mariachi. It has a budget of $7000 and it has earned a total of $2 million.
ONCE
List25
This is an Irish musical film written and directed by John Carney. The movie was released on 2007 and a screening on the Sundance Film Festival. It was so successful that it even had Grammy nominations for Best compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media and for Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. It had a budget of $160000 and had a revenue of $20.7 million.
The Blair Witch Project
List25
One of the most famous and successful horror movies of all time is also one of the most profitable. The Blair Witch Project was a film that kept the audience strapped to their seats and sweating. It was released in 1999 and it was directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez. It is about three students that get lost in the Black Hills of Maryland and document their scary experience with the nature and the supernatural. It has a $248 million gross with a $750000 budget.
Super Size Me
List25
Is a documentary directed and starred by Morgan Spurlock. This independent piece documents Spurlock and his ALL McDonald’s diet for 30 days. The documentary explains all his emotional, physical and psychological health deterioration. The budget for this was $65000 and had a revenue of $29.5 million.
The Brothers McMullen
List25
This is a comedy drama film that won the 1995 best picture on the Sundance Film Festival. The movie is about three Irish brothers from Long Island and their struggle with love, marriage and infidelity. It had a $23800 budget and $10.2 million revenue.
