8 Low Budget Films That Flourished At The Box Office
When we think about big blockbuster films we don’t necessarily think they were cheap to make. Surprisingly, some of Hollywoods most loved films had a low budget (well, low for Hollywood). When a production doesn’t have 50-plus-million-dollars to spend on realistic special effects and complex sets, they need to get more creative to win the box office over. Many of these low budget films won Oscars as well, showing that talent can be far more useful than budget.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Blair Witch Project is a perfect example of how creativity and talent can often surpass budget. For the price of 60,000 dollars, directors Equador Sanchez and Daniel Myrick earned 246.8 million dollars at the box office. Its success popularised the found footage horror film as people realised how terrifying a grainy, shaky camera can be. The directors took advantage of their small budget by showing that a poor quality camera can achieve the same amount of realism as a multi-million dollar film.
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Paranormal Activity (2007)
Paranormal Activity is another horror film that put its small budget towards the found footage format. With merely 15,000 dollars, the creators earned 193.4 million at the box office. The horror genre demands realism for it to be properly frightening, and nothing displays realism like night vision security cameras capturing ghosts in quiet houses.
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Juno (2007)
Juno started with the small budget of 4.5 million dollars, but soon became one of the most popular indie films, grossing 231.4 million dollars at the box office. Despite being a big studio, Fox Searchlight Pictures didn’t have much faith in it - they even cut Jennifer Garner’s paycheck. Juno’s quality is what’s to thank for its huge success. Instead of being another rom-com designed to make a quick buck, Juno had an important and controversial theme that many could relate to. The film has since become a cult classic and a hailed piece of cinema with an armful of Oscar nominations. It was nominated for best picture, best director, best actress, and took home an Oscar for best original screenplay.
Lost In Translation (2003)
Director Sofia Coppola used her 4 million dollar budget to create a cinematic masterpiece that grossed 118.7 million dollars at the box office. What makes the film so effective is its simplistic style, for which a higher budget was not needed. The simple shots of the characters walking the unknown streets of Tokyo, looking melancholicly out of hotel windows, and driving through the foreign city proved effective to deliver the themes of loneliness. Lost In Translation was successful with the Oscars as well, with a nomination for Best Actor (Bill Murray), Best Director, Best Picture, and the award for Best Original Screenplay.
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Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
With an 8 million dollar budget, Little Miss Sunshine made 100.5 million dollars worldwide, and became an indie favourite. As well as creating fans worldwide, the film earned four Oscar nominations from which they won two - Best Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin) and Best Original Screenplay (Michael Arndt). It’s no wonder Littlle Miss Sunshine made it so big. It is a touching story with many laughs, and it portrays Steve Carell’s flexibility as an actor as the suicidal uncle.
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Get Out (2017)
The love for Jordan Peele grew after directing and writing the smash hit horror film, despite his background in comedy. Against a budget of 4.5 million, Get Out made 255.5 million at the box office. Perhaps what made the film so cherished is that unlike any other horror film, it had a Jordan Peele twang to it. Peele used his background in comedy to manifest undertones of satire in Get Out. The plotline itself sounds pretty satrical: a woman brings her black boyfriend to meet her parents only for him to find out they’re racists who hypnotise black people into being submissive slaves. It’s also terrifying and disturbing, though, and has an impactful message.
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Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
With a 400,000 budget, Napoleon Dynamite pulled in 47.1 million at the box office. Jon Heder, who plays the main character, only got 1,000 dollars for the role, but got a cut of the film's earnings after its huge success. Over time, it has become a cult classic and is often cited as one of the funniest movies. What makes Napoleon Dynamite so memorable is its many quotable lines. Even simple phrases like “Gosh!” was made iconic by the main character.
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Pulp Fiction (1994)
Arguably Quinten Tarantino’s best film, Pulp Fiction became an instant hit, gaining 213.9 million at the box office with a budget of 8.5 million. Despite only being his second film, he took home an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. With references to Mia Wallace’s overdose, the famous diner robbery scene, and the iconic dance circulating pop culture, Pulp fiction has become a classic piece of cinema.
