It is common knowledge that it is a very expensive feat to create a top box office film, however this is not always the case. With most films costing more that $100 million to make, here are movies with a budget below $5 million that became box office successes.
‘Halloween’
‘Halloween’, made in 1978, is one of the most well-known Halloween films to date. As an independent slasher film, it only had the budget of $300,000 – $325,000. The film went on to gross $47.16 million, becoming one of the most profitable independent films of all time. Later spawning a film franchise which is comprised of 13 films, there is everything you need to know about Michael Myers, and enough movies to keep you up late into the night.
‘Mad Max’
The original 1979 ‘Mad Max’ film that started it all managed to make the action-packed blockbuster on a budget of $400,000. The film then made $100 million in the worldwide box office. As a home-grown Australian film, it became part of a three-part franchise that was later re-made into ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’. With rev-head vehicles, and intense storyline, and an iconic red desert, what’s not to love about this franchise?
‘The Breakfast Club’
The 1985 film ‘The Breakfast Club’ is a well-known cult classic that spawned from the ’80s. With a budget of only $1 million, this classic grossed $46 million in the worldwide box office. As an American teenage coming-of-age flick, this film gained huge traction. With a not-overly-complex storyline but characters with depth, this film continues to remain popular with audiences.
‘Napoleon Dynamite’
This odd-ball comedy defeated the odds, becoming a classic culture milestone that is easily recognisable by the masses. Taking the risk and producing the weird paid off for ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. With a budget of $400,000, this film managed to get $46.1 in the worldwide box office. Iconic for it’s ‘Vote No.1 for Pedro’ shirts and incredible dance ensemble, its hard to miss the cultural impact this movie had.
‘Paranormal Activity’
‘Paranormal Activity’ was a 2007 American supernatural horror film that is mainly shot from the perspective of a home video camera. The film was originally developed as an independent feature that was shot for $15,000, however it was then acquired by Paramount Pictures and modified with a budget of $200,000. The horror film earned $194 million in the worldwide box office, with many calling it the most profitable film ever made, based on return on investment.
‘Rocky’
The first instalment of the ‘Rocky’ film franchise, the American sports drama film is one of the most well-known and well-loved sports movies. With a budget just below $1 million, this movie earned $225 million in the worldwide box office. Written and starred in by Sylvester Stallone, this film popularised the ‘rags to riches’ themes in sports films that followed. Spawning a six-part movie franchise, ‘Rocky’ has also encouraged a spin-off series, ‘Creed’.
‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’
The 2002 romantic comedy ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ was a well-loved box office success. Following themes of family influence, independence, and culture, this film is a great combination of quirk, sincerity, and classic humour. With a budget of $5 million, this film made $374.8 million in the worldwide box office. It later led to two more films following the events of the first, which were less successful than the original but still highly enjoyable.
‘Saw’
‘Saw’ is a highly well-known horror franchise, displaying tortuous tests set out by the Jigsaw Killer for his victims to complete. The first horror instillation had a budget of $1.2 million, earning $103.8 million in the worldwide box office and leading to the production of a nine-film franchise, each with varying levels of success. This gruesome, yet disturbingly intriguing film has developed a large horror fanbase.
Hayley Rochester
Hayley is an intern with The Western Weekender, currently studying at Macquarie University.