10 immensely successful movies that were made on a cheap budget 

Budget of a movie does not often define its success. It is the hard work of the actors, the craft of the directors and overall energy put in by everyone involved that helps make a movie successful. There are many examples of a lot of immensely successful movies that were made on a modest budget and despite the cost cap turned out to be blockbuster hits.

Here is the list of 10 immensely successful movies that were made on a cheap budget.

1) Pulp Fiction

Pulp fiction, one of the most successful movies which has now achieved a cult status was made on a very modest budget of around $8 - $9 million. This movie directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Samuel L Jackson has now become a cultural phenomena. It features a perfect dose of action and humour using minimal CGI effects, and crossed about $200 million at the box office.

2) The Terminator

Can you believe that the iconic hit, The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was made on a budget of $6.4 million? The movie used smart and innovative methods like using miniatures instead of CGI, minimal shooting locations, and using a synthesiser for the soundtrack to stay within the limits of its budget. Despite this, the movie was a massive hit and at the box office managed to earn over $78 million and is counted among one of the most profitable sci-fi films of all time.

3) Rocky

Rocky is known for giving Sylvester Stallone his stardom. Made on a budget of just $960,000, this is an emotional story of the perseverance of an underdog, which makes the movie quite relatable. It has won three Academy Awards and even won one for Best Picture. The filmmakers used handheld cameras to add a realistic cinematography, and instead of expensive sets, the film was shot in the streets of Philadelphia and relied on using realistic boxing sequences. It crossed over $225 million and can be called quite a big and successful hit film.

4) American Psycho

Starring Christian Bale, American Psycho is a very successful film about a psychopathic man who indulges in cannibalism, and while people at his work perceive him to be quite normal, within him hides a beast. This movie, initially made on a $7 million budget today has achieved cult status and is known and appreciated worldwide. The movie saved money by using practical gore effects and shooting in New York.

5) Get Out

The directorial debut of Jordan Peele and made on a budget of $4.5 million, Get Out managed to earn over $255 million at the box office, which makes it one of the most profitable horror films. This film was shot on a limited budget by avoiding elaborate and expensive CGI action scenes and focusing on psychological horror and suspense. The setting was a single suburban house, and the simple yet effective and easy soundtrack contributed to the cost-effectiveness. The movie won best original screenplay at the Oscars.

6) Split

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan and featuring James McAvoy and Anna Taylor, the immensely successful psychological thriller, Split, was made on a mere budget of $9 million. It earned over $278 million worldwide and was the most profitable film of the year 2017. Just like Get Out, the makers of Split also prioritised cost effectiveness by focusing on psychological horror and suspense rather than expensive CGI. Moreover, the acting of James McAvoy was groundbreaking and managed to capture the attention of the audience, and carried the film on its own.

7) Mad Max

It would be quite a shock to hear that the 1979 successful film, Mad Max, was made on a budget of $350,000. This was one of the lowest budgets for an action film ever, and yet it turned out to be one of the most profitable action films by making over $100 million worldwide. Featuring Mel Gibson, who was an unknown star at the time, the movie saved a lot on the salary of the actors, and also, instead of using expensive CGI, it used real car crashes. Many of the vehicles featured in the movie were repurposed from junkyards, and the costumes were second-hand leather outfits. Today, this movie is a famous franchise and has gained the status of a classic.

8) My Big Fat Greek Wedding

The budget for the film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, was $5 million. This romantic comedy, with mostly an unknown cast but with a simple and family-centric story, resonated with audiences across all cultures and became a massive box office hit, earning over $368 million. The movie was shot in real locations like restaurants in Greece and neighbourhoods in Toronto. Despite the limited budget, the film managed to outshine a lot of big-budget films that year.

9) Insidious

The horror film, Insidious, which earned over $99 million worldwide, was made on a very small budget of $1.5 million. It was able to save a lot of its finances primarily because of its shooting location, as most of the film takes place inside a house. It was directed by James Wan, who is also a low-budget filmmaker, and through positive reviews and audience recommendations, the movie sustained a long theatrical run. Instead of spending money on developing a soundtrack, the makers relied on profiting from creepy silence and sudden noises, which, combined with the narrative, produced one of the greatest and most successful horror films.

10) Annabelle

Despite being made on a low budget of $6.5 million, the film Annabelle managed to earn over $257 million by catering to the pre-built audience of the great horror film, Conjuring. The film was shot in a single apartment, leading to low production costs, and also capitalised on the Halloween season by being released in October. Despite the low budget, the film was loved and appreciated by the audience, especially as it was a part of The Conjuring universe.