The Blair Witch Project
Over the years, we have seen movie budget get bigger and bigger and bigger; just because you spend a pile of money making a film, does not mean it will be a monster hit.
In fact, some of the really great movies have been made on a shoestring budget, and have gone on to enjoy critical and commercial success.
To show that less can be more; we take a look at some of the great movies that have been made for less than $1 million.
- The Blair Witch Project - $60,000
The Blair Witch Project is one of the most iconic horror movies of the last twenty year.
Not only was it one of the most successful independent films of all time, it also introduced viral marketing to film promotion.
The Blair Witch Project was made for just $60,000 by directors Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick, and followed the story of three student filmmakers who go into the Black Hills of Burkittsville to film a documentary on local legend The Blair Witch.
The film was a huge hit when it was released in 1999; as it went on to gross in excess of $248 million at the global box office.
The film showed the movie industry the power of the internet and kicked off the now common idea of viral marketing.
Never before had chat rooms and movie sites power a film in such a way as simple word of mouth made Blair Witch a mammoth hit.
- Once - $160,000
Once was released back in 2007, and was one of the best films to hit the big screen that year.
Directed and written by John Carney, the movie follows a busker and a Czech girl during a week in Dublin, where they write and record music.
The movie was made for just $160,000 and starred Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová in the lead roles; it was the second acting role for Hansard, while Irglova made her big screen debut.
This love story really captured the hearts of critics and audiences on the festival circuit, with great screening reactions at Sundance and in Dublin.
By the time the movie hit the big screen there was plenty of excitement and praise surrounding it, and it went on to gross over $20 million; finding an audience in the U.S. as well as in the UK.
Falling Slowly, which was written and performed by Hansard and Irglova, won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
- Clerks - $27,575
Kevin Smith made his feature film directorial debut back in 1995 Clerks; a film that remains one of his best.
Shot entirely in black and white, the movie follows a day in the lives of two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal: Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson starred in the central roles.
The movie was filmed in the convenience and video stores where Smith worked, and was shot for just over $27,000.
Miramax did spend $200,000 on postproduction work, but that is still quite a modest budget for a film these days.
Clerks kicked off Smith's career in fine style; as the movie went on to gross over $3.1 million worldwide. The film has gone on to become a bit of a cult classic.
- Bronson - $230,000
If you haven't seen Bronson yet, then it is a movie that you should check out as it contains a truly towering performance from Tom Hardy.
Released in 2008, the movie was a drama based on infamous prisoner Charles Bronson, and saw Nicolas Winding Refn in the director's chair.
Bronson is a mix of drama, comedy, and art-house elements, but is an incredibly stylish film.
The movie was made for just $230,000, but enjoyed a box office gross of over $2,260 million by the end of its theatrical run.
Charles Bronson himself was also a fan of the movie, praise indeed.
- Monsters - $500,000
Gareth Edwards made his directorial debut back in 2010 with British sci-fi film Monsters.
When you see this movie, you will ask yourself just how they manage to make this for a modest $500,000, as it just looks fantastic.
Directed and written by Edwards, the movie is set six years after an alien invasion of earth. A journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.
Monsters is really unlike any other alien invasion film: it is packed with intrigue, political aspect, and personal relationships, and isn't all about the alien creatures.
It is a strikingly beautiful movie that is packed with tension and atmosphere - a great achievement for a first time filmmaker. Edwards will be back later this year with Godzilla.
Monsters went on to gross in excess of $4,242 million, and was a hits with critics and audiences.
- Brick - $475,000
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most exciting actors currently working in Hollywood, and Brick is one of his stand out film moments.
The movie saw him team up with director Rian Johnson, as he made his feature film directorial debut with this project.
Starring Gordon-Levitt and Emilie de Ravin, Brick follows a teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
Brick is a striking debut from Johnson, as he has delivered a movie that is compelling, smart, and stylised.
The movie won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the Sundance Film festival, and went on to gross $3.9 million.
Other great movies made for less than $1 million include, Eraserhead, El Mariachi, and Evil Dead.