Low Budget Movies That Made Their Money Back and Then Some
In a time that seems to be dominated by big-budget blockbusters, more and more studios are pumping in hundreds of millions of dollars to see returns of $900 million+ on their investments.
Unfortunately, these big-budget films often stifle smaller, independent companies.
There are a few independent films, however, which surprised us all by not only drumming up a buzz but also making it big time at the box office.
These films not only highlight new talent, but they also helps to kickstart the careers of filmmakers and actors alike. Keep reading to find out which low budget films competed with some of the world’s best.
The Blair Witch Project ($60,000 budget)
It can be easy to forget just how groundbreaking The Blair Witch Project was because it was released over 20 years ago, in 1999, to be exact.
The movie was created long before mockumentaries (footage of fictional events presented as documentaries) were a thing.
The movie’s marketing campaign was successful in that it made audiences question whether what they were watching was real or not.
The film ended up making an impressive $248 million which makes it the most profitable movie of all time, with regards to percentage.
The Full Monty ($3.5 million budget)
The Full Monty is a British cult classic starring Robert Carlyle as Gaz, the leader of a group of unemployed steelworkers who decide to make some extra cash by baring it all, well mostly all.
The film received acclaim for its “heart and charm” and it was nominated for several awards including an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Critics called the film a ‘no-fuss, low-budget British film designed to genuinely entertain,’ and that it did. The film brought in $258 million and is still considered a classic to this day.
Juno ($7.5 million budget)
For Juno to stick to its budget, actress Jennifer Garner who played Vanessa Loring, agreed to take a pay cut.
The 2008 film became an instant hit, bringing in over $231 million at the box office as well as several Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director.
The movie tells the story of a high school teen who accidentally gets pregnant and decided to give her baby up for adoption. The film also starred Ellen Page (as Juno) and Michael Cera.
Juno has been credited for skyrocketing Page’s career in Hollywood.
Little Miss Sunshine ($8 million budget)
Little Miss Sunshine is a 2006 indie film that tells the story of the Hoover family on their cross-country road trip so that their youngest, Olive, played by Abigail Breslin, can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.
The film raked in $100 million, more than 12x its budget.
The film features actors Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, and Steve Carrell who gave a stellar performance. The film built up quite the anticipation which resulted in a bidding war among studios. The latter went on to win two Academy Awards, one for Arkin.