You probably didn’t even realize a ton of your favorite films were made on budgets that amount to peanuts in Hollywood.
These films might have had to clip coupons to get made, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth watching.
1. Another Earth ($100,000)
The creators of this critically acclaimed sci-fi drama literally managed to create another freakin’ earth for $100,000, and it still looked absolutely amazing.
I need the peeps behind this movie to budget my life for me because they are obviously financial geniuses.
2. Paranormal Activity ($15,000)
I probably don’t have to remind you how popular this movie was when it first hit theaters in 2009.
We all went to see it with our friends and pretended that we weren’t scared, but deep down, we were terrified. Honestly, it still freaks me out.
3. The Blair Witch Project ($60,000)
The Blair Witch Project is the movie that put found footage horror flicks on the map and gave us all an irrational fear of the woods.
In fact, this movie was so convincing that a lot of people thought it was actually real .
4. Clerks ($27,575)
This black-and-white comedy film was one of Kevin Smith’s first movies, and it actually ended up making over $3 million at the box office.
This low-budget movie launched Smith’s career and enabled him to make other classics like Mallrats and Chasing Amy .
5. Super Size Me ($65,000)
This award-winning documentary about the effects of regularly consuming fast food was actually made on a microscopic budget. I guess it doesn’t hurt that fast food is super cheap.
This was the movie that made us all realize we probably shouldn’t be living off of chicken nuggets.
6. Swingers ($200,000)
This hilarious indie drama stars Vince Vaughn in one of his earliest roles and was written and directed by Jon Favreau.
It was critically acclaimed and made over $4 million at the box office. So basically, it was money, but it didn’t even know it…
7. Once ($220,000)
If you haven’t seen Once , you need to stop what you are doing and watch it right now.
Once is a gorgeous modern-day musical about two people who connect through music. It even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, “Falling Slowly.”
8. Bronson ($230,000)
This movie is for you if you want to watch a mustachioed Tom Hardy do a lot of strange and shocking things while shirtless.
It’s a wild ride, and it gets even wilder when you realize it’s based on the real stories of England’s most notorious criminals.
9. Napoleon Dynamite ($400,000)
Remember when Napoleon Dynamite took over the planet and every other word you said was “gosh”? Good times.
This movie is still iconic, and I probably have a “Vote for Pedro” shirt somewhere in the back of my closet.
10. Monsters ($700,000)
I can’t believe that they managed to make Monsters on such a small budget.
This movie follows two people as they try to get out of an area of Mexico six years after the Earth was invaded by giant octopus-like aliens. It’s gorgeous, and you should check it out.
11. Tangerine ($100,000)
This fantastic comedy-drama was shot entirely on an iPhone 5s , which probably explains its teeny-tiny budget.
This heartbreaking and hilarious film follows transgender sex worker Sin-Dee Rella after she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her.
12. Brick ($475,000)
Baby Joseph Gordon-Levitt alert!
If you like dark teen dramas like Heathers , then you need to see Brick. It’s a mystery drama starring a very young JGL as he investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
13. Monty Python and the Holy Grail ($400,000)
Do I even need to explain to you how great Monty Python and the Holy Grail is?
It’s a comedy classic that gave us timeless characters and gags like The Knights Who Say “Ni!” and “It’s just a flesh wound!”
14. Halloween ($300,000)
You can’t talk about low budget movies without bringing up 1978’s Halloween .
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This movie kicked off an entire franchise, but the entire film basically took place in two houses that were across the street from each other. It also gave us the incredible Jamie Lee Curtis.
15. Moonlight ($1.5 million)
Moonlight is an incredibly powerful and beautifully shot movie, but it didn’t have as big a budget as you might think.
With just $1.5 million to work with, it ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.
16. And finally, Lost In Translation ($4 million)
I had no idea that this indie classic had such a low budget! Sometimes less truly is more.
Do you know any low-budget movies that we missed? COMMENT and let us know!
