20 Low-Budget Movies That Made a Ton of Money

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - March 28th 2025, 22:20 GMT+1

Cropped Little Miss Sunshine — Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

**Budget:** $8,000,000
**Box Office:** $101,059,124
**ROI:** 12.63

Who knew a dysfunctional road trip in a rusty yellow VW bus could make over $100 million? *Little Miss Sunshine* is the quirky indie gem that stole hearts and wallets alike. With a cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, and a breakout performance from a precocious 10-year-old Abigail Breslin, this heartfelt comedy-drama proves that messy families and beauty pageants are a match made in cinematic heaven. Steve Carell plays the world’s saddest Proust scholar, and Alan Arkin delivers grumpy wisdom that earned him an Oscar. It’s weird, it’s warm, and it made everyone believe in the power of offbeat storytelling. | © Big Beach Films

Cropped Pulp Fiction — Pulp Fiction (1994)

**Budget:** $8,000,000
**Box Office:** $213,900,000
**ROI:** 26.74

*Pulp Fiction* didn’t just make money – it rewired cinema. With a lean $8 million budget, Quentin Tarantino served up a twisty, time-hopping gangster tale that made indie film cool again. The movie resurrected John Travolta’s career, gave us Samuel L. Jackson’s most quoted performance ever, and let Uma Thurman dance her way into pop culture legend. Every scene is dripping with attitude, cheeseburgers, and unexpected violence – and somehow, it all works. This wasn’t just a film, it was a phenomenon, and it cleaned up at the box office like a hitman with a blood-soaked car. | © Miramax Films

Cropped The Purge — The Purge (2013)

**Budget:** $3,000,000
**Box Office:** $89,328,627
**ROI:** 29.78

One night. No laws. Unlimited crime. Sounds horrifying, right? Also sounds like box office gold. *The Purge* cashed in on its high-concept premise with a minuscule $3 million budget, and horror fans showed up in droves. Ethan Hawke leads the cast as a well-meaning dad trying to survive the world’s worst night in suburbia. This gritty, home-invasion thriller was the spark that launched an entire franchise and a TV spin-off. It’s violent, it’s political, and it made nearly 30 times its budget. Say what you will about society collapsing – it sure is profitable. | © Blumhouse Productions

Cropped Split — Split (2016)

**Budget:** $9,000,000
**Box Office:** $278,500,000
**ROI:** 30.94

When M. Night Shyamalan returned to horror with *Split*, nobody expected it to shatter the box office like it did. With just $9 million in the budget bank, the film raked in over $278 million thanks to a chilling premise and a jaw-dropping performance by James McAvoy – who plays 23 different personalities (and somehow makes it look easy). Anya Taylor-Joy brings her signature eerie brilliance, and the twist ending? Classic Shyamalan. This surprise sequel to *Unbreakable* reminded Hollywood that the director hadn’t lost his touch – and reminded investors that low-budget horror still rules. | © Blumhouse Productions

Cropped Juno — Juno (2007)

**Budget:** $7,000,000
**Box Office:** $231,450,102
**ROI:** 33.06

Teen pregnancy, snappy dialogue, and a whole lot of heart – *Juno* turned a $7 million budget into over $230 million in ticket sales. Ellen Page (now Elliot Page) absolutely shines as the whip-smart, brutally honest Juno, navigating an unplanned pregnancy with dry humor and surprising grace. Michael Cera is his usual awkwardly adorable self, while J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney steal scenes as the world’s most refreshingly supportive parents. Diablo Cody’s script is sharp, weird, and endlessly quotable. Critics loved it, audiences adored it, and the Oscars came calling. Not bad for a movie with orange Tic Tacs and hamburger phones. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Annabelle — Annabelle (2014)

**Budget:** $6,500,000
**Box Office:** $257,589,721
**ROI:** 39.63

Creepy doll? Check. Haunted backstory? Check. Massive box office haul? Triple check. *Annabelle* took a $6.5 million budget and turned it into over a quarter-billion-dollar global scare-fest. As a spin-off from *The Conjuring* universe, it didn’t have to reinvent the horror wheel – it just had to be spooky enough to make audiences clutch their popcorn and text their ex at 2 a.m. asking if they’re home. It stars Annabelle Wallis and Alfre Woodard, but let’s be real – the demonic doll steals the show. It’s like Chucky’s more fashionable, more terrifying cousin, and it made the box office scream. | © New Line Cinema

Cropped Get Out — Get Out (2017)

**Budget:** $4,500,000
**Box Office:** $255,407,969
**ROI:** 56.76

Who knew meeting your girlfriend’s parents could be so... horrifying? *Get Out* took the horror genre, flipped it inside out, and gave it a masterclass in social commentary. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut cost just $4.5 million but earned over $255 million worldwide, proving that terrifying ideas don’t need blockbuster budgets. Daniel Kaluuya leads a chillingly talented cast, navigating microaggressions, hypnosis, and a very sinister tea ritual. The film is sharp, satirical, and unsettling in all the best ways – plus, it gave us the Sunken Place, now a metaphor in every group chat. | © Blumhouse Productions

Cropped The Full Monty — The Full Monty (1997)

**Budget:** $3,500,000
**Box Office:** $257,938,050
**ROI:** 73.70

What happens when a group of unemployed steelworkers decides to become male strippers? Apparently, one of the most profitable British films of all time. *The Full Monty* may sound like a cheeky comedy – and it is – but it also packs a surprisingly heartfelt punch about masculinity, friendship, and doing what it takes to get by. With a modest $3.5 million budget, this underdog story strutted its way to nearly $258 million at the box office. Starring Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, and Mark Addy, it's proof that sometimes, baring it all is a financial *and* emotional win. | © Redwave Films

Cropped Napoleon Dynamite — Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

**Budget:** $400,000
**Box Office:** $46,122,713
**ROI:** 115.31

Gosh! With a budget of just $400,000, *Napoleon Dynamite* became the king of cult classics and one of the most profitable indie films ever. Set in the weirdest little town imaginable, it follows the delightfully awkward Napoleon (Jon Heder) as he navigates high school with nunchuck skills, tetherball dominance, and a deep love for tater tots. The film’s offbeat humor, low-fi aesthetic, and endlessly quotable lines made it an instant icon. Vote for Pedro? More like vote for *profit*. And yeah, that dance scene? Legendary. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Moonlight — Moonlight (2016)

**Budget:** $1,500,000
**Box Office:** $65,100,000
**ROI:** 43.40

*Moonlight* is the little indie that could – and did. With a $1.5 million budget and a story that unfolds in hushed tones and quiet power, it became a cultural and critical juggernaut. Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age drama about identity, love, and Black masculinity won Best Picture (eventually... thanks, envelope mix-up), and made over $65 million at the box office. It features breakout performances from Mahershala Ali (who won an Oscar), Trevante Rhodes, and André Holland. It’s delicate, devastating, and a reminder that real stories resonate – and can clean up at the box office. | © A24

Cropped Friday The 13th — Friday the 13th (1980)

**Budget:** $550,000
**Box Office:** $59,700,000
**ROI:** 108.55

Before Jason got his iconic hockey mask (which, by the way, didn’t show up until *Part III*), *Friday the 13th* kicked off the slasher craze with a blood-soaked bang. Made on a shoestring budget of just $550k, this campy horror flick made nearly $60 million and gave birth to one of horror’s most unstoppable franchises. Kevin Bacon shows up just long enough to get gruesomely offed, and audiences couldn't get enough of the mystery killer lurking around Camp Crystal Lake. Low budget, high body count, and an even higher return – slashers never looked so good on paper. | © Sean S. Cunningham Films

Cropped Rocky — Rocky (1976)

**Budget:** $960,000
**Box Office:** $225,000,000
**ROI:** 234.38

Yo, Adrian – we made a fortune! *Rocky* is the ultimate underdog story, both onscreen and behind the scenes. Sylvester Stallone wrote the script, insisted on starring in it, and turned a modest $960,000 budget into a global hit that punched out $225 million. It wasn’t just a box office champ – it won Best Picture and inspired a franchise that’s still throwing jabs today. Stallone became a household name, and that stair run in Philly? Instant legend. From zero to hero, *Rocky* proves that heart (and some killer training montages) can beat any odds. | © Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Cropped Saw — Saw (2004)

**Budget:** $1,200,000
**Box Office:** $103,911,669
**ROI:** 86.59

Want to play a game? Because *Saw* played one with Hollywood – and won. With a mere $1.2 million budget, this gritty, twisted horror flick raked in over $100 million and launched a juggernaut of sequels, spin-offs, and Halloween costumes. Directed by James Wan and starring Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell, *Saw* dared audiences to stomach grisly traps and moral dilemmas, all wrapped in a plot that twisted harder than a Rubik’s cube. It’s a textbook case of how smart horror and psychological thrills can cut through the noise – and into the cash register. | © Twisted Pictures

Cropped Super Size Me — Super Size Me (2004)

**Budget:** $65,000
**Box Office:** $22,237,097
**ROI:** 341.34

The fries were hot – and so was the controversy. *Super Size Me*, Morgan Spurlock’s fast food docu-experiment, took a bite out of McDonald’s and made a super-sized splash at the box office. Made on a mere $65,000 (barely the price of a year’s supply of Big Macs), it grossed over $22 million and sparked national debates about health, obesity, and just how far someone will go for a documentary. Spurlock became a pop culture figure overnight, and even the Golden Arches started sweating a little. Talk about food for thought – with a side of serious profit. | © The Con

Cropped Star Wars — Star Wars (1977)

**Budget:** $11,000,000
**Box Office:** $775,400,000
**ROI:** 70.49

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... George Lucas changed the game forever. *Star Wars* (yes, just *Star Wars –* we’re talking OG 1977, not *A New Hope* yet) started as a risky sci-fi flick with a $11 million budget and turned into a full-blown cultural revolution. With stars like Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford leading the charge, it grossed over $775 million and spawned the most iconic franchise in movie history. Lightsabers, Wookiees, droids, and Death Stars – this wasn’t just a hit, it was a phenomenon. | © Lucasfilm Ltd.

Cropped Big Fat Greek Wedding — My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

**Budget:** $5,000,000
**Box Office:** $387,700,000
**ROI:** 77.54

Who needs explosions and superheroes when you’ve got Windex and family drama? *My Big Fat Greek Wedding* became a global rom-com sensation by leaning into love, laughs, and a whole lot of spanakopita. Nia Vardalos, who wrote and starred in the film, delivered a hilarious and heartfelt performance that made audiences say “Opa!” all the way to the tune of nearly $388 million. John Corbett plays the charming outsider who marries into her big, loud Greek family, and the cultural clash is as delightful as it is relatable. It’s the little indie that turned family chaos into cold, hard cash. | © Gold Circle Films

Cropped The Blair Witch Project — The Blair Witch Project (1999)

**Budget:** $60,000
**Box Office:** $248,000,000
**ROI:** 4,133.33

The movie that made shaky cam scary and forests terrifying again. *The Blair Witch Project* turned a $60k handheld horror flick into a box office monster, grossing a jaw-dropping $248 million. With zero big-name stars and marketing that blurred the line between fact and fiction, it had audiences genuinely questioning if this was *real*. Heather Donahue’s sobbing, snot-dripping monologue became instantly iconic, and the film’s lo-fi aesthetic birthed the modern found-footage genre. It wasn’t just a hit – it was a movement. | © Haxan Films

Cropped Paranormal Activity — Paranormal Activity (2007)

**Budget:** $15,000
**Box Office:** $193,355,800
**ROI:** 12,890.39

Fifteen thousand dollars. That’s how much *Paranormal Activity* cost – less than most wedding cakes – and it brought in a paranormal $193 million. Oren Peli shot the whole thing in his own house with a couple of actors, some creepy noises, and a whole lot of tension. The result? A cultural phenomenon that had people sleeping with the lights on and scanning their bedrooms for ghostly footprints. Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat play the unlucky couple, and their performances feel so real it’s unsettling. This is the gold standard of microbudget horror – and the numbers are flat-out spooky. | © Blumhouse Productions

Cropped El Mariachi — El Mariachi (1992)

**Budget:** $7,000
**Box Office:** $2,041,928
**ROI:** 291.70

*El Mariachi* isn’t just a film – it’s a legend. Made for $7,000 (yes, you read that right) by Robert Rodriguez, this Spanish-language action flick was shot on 16mm film and edited with pure indie grit. It tells the story of a traveling musician who gets mistaken for a deadly assassin – because of course he does. The film's raw energy, creative camera work, and DIY spirit caught Hollywood’s attention and kickstarted Rodriguez’s directing career. It’s proof that passion beats budget, and sometimes all you need is a guitar case and a dream. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped Mad Max — Mad Max (1979)

**Budget:** $215,000
**Box Office:** $99,750,000
**ROI:** 464.65

Before *Fury Road* exploded onto IMAX screens, *Mad Max* was a scrappy, post-apocalyptic road movie made for just $215,000. George Miller and a then-unknown Mel Gibson created a dystopian world of oil wars, leather jackets, and revving engines that roared all the way to nearly $100 million in box office returns. It’s gritty, it's gnarly, and it feels like it was filmed with equal parts ambition and gasoline. This movie didn’t just launch a franchise – it ran over the competition in a souped-up V8 and never looked back. | © Kennedy Miller Productions

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You don’t need a blockbuster budget to create a box office hit. Over the years, several low-budget films have defied the odds, raking in massive profits and proving that great storytelling, smart marketing, and creative execution can outweigh high production costs. In this article, we dive into 20 low-budget movies that turned modest investments into huge financial successes – some even launching franchises, winning awards, or gaining cult status. Whether you're a film buff, aspiring filmmaker, or just curious about the biggest cinematic underdog stories, this list is packed with surprising success stories that reshaped Hollywood’s financial playbook.