Touchy Feely
We have already been treated to some fantastic independent films in recent weeks, with the likes of Blue Ruin and Frank hitting the big screen.
This week sees Lynn Shelton return to the director's chair with Touchy Feely, and we take a look at some of the most financially successful indie films of all time.
- Passion of the Christ - $611 million
It was back in 2004 when Passion of the Christ hit the big screen: it celebrated its tenth anniversary back in March.
The movie saw Mel Gibson back in the director's chair, as he told the story of Jesus Christ's final twelve hours: ending with his crucifixion.
As you may imagine, the movie was surrounded in controversy, but that only fuelled the box office success.
Made for $30 million, the movie went on to gross in excess of $611 million by the end of its theatrical run. Only Mel Gibson could make a film in a dead language and make it a hit.
- Slumdog Millionaire - $377 million
It is not very often that independent films make the leap into the mainstream, but that is exactly what happened to Slumdog Millionaire back in 2009.
The movie saw Danny Boyle return to the director's chair, as the film was based on the book by Vikas Swarup: Simon Beaufoy adapted it into a screenplay.
Slumdog Millionaire was the most praised movie of 2009, and seemed to win over critics and audiences wherever it played.
The film would not only enjoy huge box office success - taking over $377 million - but it would win a clutch of Oscars: including Best Picture & Best Director for Boyle.
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding - $368 million
My Big Fat Greek Wedding hit the big screen back in 2002, and saw Joel Zwick in the director's chair.
The movie follows a young Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek, and struggles to get her family to accept him.
Starring and written by Nia Vardalos the movie was a box office smash, despite never holding the #1 spot at the U.S. box office.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding was one of the big sleeper hits of 2002, and took a whopping $368 million: not bad for a film made for $5 million.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding was one of the best comedies of the noughties, and remains one of the best rom-coms.
- Shakespeare in Love - $289 million
Work on Shakespeare in Love started back in 1991, when Universal Pictures was behind the film and Julia Roberts was in the lead role.
However, when Roberts pulled out, Universal also decided to leave the film. Miramax swooped in, in a bid to save the project.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Judi Dench, and Ben Affleck were all on board, and a $25 million budget was in place.
Shakespeare In Love was one of the most critically praised films of 1998, and went on to triumph at the Oscars.
The film scooped seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Paltrow and Best Supporting Actress for Dench.
- The Blair Witch Project - $248 million
The Blair Witch Project was released back in 1999, and made for a very modest $35,000.
However, it was to be a movie that would change the way horror films were shot and movies were marketed forever.
Blair Witch Project used viral marketing as a way to tell people about the film: never before had chat rooms and movie sites powered a film in such a way.
The film grossed $248 million at the global box office, making it one of the most successful independent movies, but it also had the highest profit-to-cost ration making back over $10,000 for every dollar spent.
- Silver Linings Playbook - $236 million
There was some dispute as to whether Silver Linings Playbook was a true independent film when it was released back 2012.
Directed by David O.Russell, the movie was back by The Weinstein Company. While some may not have agreed with the 'indie' tag, The Independent Spirit Awards surely did, and gave it four gongs from five nominations.
The movie saw Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence star together for the first time, and was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Matthew Quick.
Silver Linings Playbook was a critical triumph: Cooper and Lawrence's central performances receiving plenty of praise.
As well as taking over $236 million at the box office, the movie would be nominated for eight Oscars. Lawrence would go on to scoop the Best Actress gong.
- Juno - $231 million
Ellen Page grabbed everyone's attention back in 2008, when she took on the title role in Juno: it was to prove to be her breakthrough film.
Directed by Jason Reitman, Juno followed a young girl who has an unplanned pregnancy, and must decide what to do about her unborn baby.
Juno was met with acclaim on the festival circuit - it really did win critics over left, right, and centre.
It took over $231 million at the box office - it was made for around $7 million.
Juno bagged four Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. Diablo Cody would triumph for her screenplay.
Other independent films that performed well at the box office include Pulp Fiction, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Good Will Hunting.
Touchy Feely is released 16th May.
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