Hi everyone, and welcome to the second stop of my Grand OPENING Tour! And an enormous thanks you to Captain Ninja Alex for having me here today. Thanks Alex!
During a low point while writing OPENING, I took a break to research low budget films that made it big, some even receiving iconic, cult figure status. This was just the diversion I needed to give me back my vision and my hope and inspired me to do something really really big. It helped get me on track and finish my book.
Hence, my Low Budget Films That Made It Big List. Sorry, but no Sharktopus. (Damn! - Alex)
American Graffiti (1973)
Budget: $777,000 (estimated)
Gross: $115,000,000 (USA)
An almost 9,000% return on investment must have made Universal Pictures extremely pleased, especially since they only took on the project after it was turned down by 20th Century Fox, United Artists, MGM, Columbia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.
Clerks (1994)
Budget: $777,000 (estimated)
Gross: $115,000,000 (USA)
This independent film reached out to a generation of slackers, spotlighting two convenience clerks named Dante and Randal as they annoy customers, discuss movies, and play hockey on the store roof. I've worked at a 7-11 in a previous life and can relate.
Fargo (1996)
Budget: $7,000,000 (estimated)
Gross: $60,611,975 (Worldwide)
Love this show regardless of the most annoying accent in the human language. Ya! I think the wood chipper was nominated for supporting actor.
Halloween (1978)
Budget: $320,000 (estimated)
Gross: $60,000,000 (Worldwide)
Who needs character development? Did you know the original budget was so low the actors wore their own clothes and Jamie Lee Curtis was paid $8,000?
MST 3000 The Movie (1996)
It doesn't get any better than this! Born from the Saturday morning cult-classic, Mike Nelson, Crow T. Robot, and Tom Servo are still forced to watch the most hideous of stinker movies. Oh, has anyone seen my interociter?
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Budget: $1,200,000 (estimated)
Gross: $2,832,029 (USA)
Tarantino helped helped make indie films mainstream with this pop-culture masterpiece. Tarantino made careers for some actors while revitalizing those of others.
Rocky (1996)
Budget: $1,100,000 (estimated)
Gross: $225,000,000 (Worldwide)
My all-time favorite sports movie and still inspires me today. Is there a better theme song to get you up and ready to do something great? I don't think so.
SuperSize Me (2004)
Budget: $65,000
Worldwide Gross: $29,500,000
Did we really need a documentary into America's obsessive consumer culture to tell us eating fast food is anything but healthy?
The Blob (1958)
Budget: $248,000
Grossed: $12,000,000
A young jobbing actor named Steve McQueen was tapped for the lead and offered a choice: he could take a $3,000 fee upfront or get 10 percent of the gross box-office. Figuring The Blob would be just another creature feature, he opted for the former. Bummer. The movie grossed an astounding $12m, which would've earned McQueen $1.2m and set him up for life (back in the day).I hope you had as much fun with this list as I did. Feel free to agree, disagree, or add a movie or two of your own in the comments! And remember, you don't need a huge budget to hit it big!
Stephen Tremp is author of the recently released suspense thriller OPENING, the second book in the BREAKTHROUGH series. You can visit Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs for $1.99. OPENING is available for download at: Amazon for $1.99 Smashwords for $1.99
Have you seen those movies? At least one? Come on, Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie is a classic! All right then, YOU name some low-budget winners then! And don't forget to visit Stephen's SITE for a glimpse at me two years ago...
I've seen a couple of these...some low-budget flicks are actually pretty good! The Blair Witch Project comes to mind, too...
ReplyDeletetotally in for all your low budget films... have you ever seen any of the evenings with kevin smith, fun stuff.
ReplyDeletemovies that have a low budget and high return that comes to mind "Paranormal Activity"
great day, boss!
I've only seen one of them and it was very disturbing. Supersize me. Ugh.
ReplyDeletehello! how are you?
ReplyDeleteyour blog looks good :)
you can download shrek movie font in my website :)
Wonderful reviews Stephen, I see most films on the TV as I don't go to the cinema.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Alex for letting him host his blog. Also good luck with your book.
Yvonne.
Stephen congratulations again on your new book. It looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteI loved American Graffitti, all those nobody's turned into stars. And I had no idea Steve McQueen was in the Blob. How sad for him.
Clerks, Halloween, Fargo and Reservoir Dogs are classics....
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book Stephen. I loved Fargo. Didn't realize it was low budget.
ReplyDeleteYep, I saw most of these! My first date with my hubby was going to see Rocky. Wow, that makes us old, lol
ReplyDeleteHad no idea American Graffiti was a low-budget flick. I think the only ones I haven't seen are Clerks and Halloween. I think Eraserhead was a low-budget surprise success as well.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, that was definitely low budget.
ReplyDeleteMiranda, it was disgusting, wasn't it?
Anne, that's one of his biggest films.
Natalie, I guess because there were no major special effects.
I love Fargo. Clerks is one of those I've always wanted to see. I haven't seen several on the list.
ReplyDeletescene em all!
ReplyDeletei love when they put out a good movie w/low $. thats called quality!
and i love your cover!
I've seen several of those. Lately, I've been on the kick of watvhing really old movies 1940's - 1960's. Love them.
ReplyDeleteT
I've seen a few of these, with Fargo being my favourite. Supersize me did well!
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephen, and Alex for hosting.
I've seen a couple of them. I refuse to Supersize Me. I just can't! It's probably not your kind of movie, but Dirty Dancing was expected to not bring in much money and is still popular today!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Fargo CRACKED ME UP. And it's not just cuz I was born in Fargo, either. Oh, and raised in MinneSOTAAAAA...... LOL.
ReplyDeleteLoved how they talked in that movie. But that wood chipper scene...Yikes, that was a bit...disturbing.
Great list of movies here. Happy MONDAY!!!
LOved Fargo. Although all of the above were low budget...they obviously were high in something to make them so popular.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED MST 3000. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI've seen most of those and believe they can teach the studios a lesson about how a good story is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteI've seen most of those. Usually of more interest to me are the low budget flicks that go nowhere, ie the b-movies. It's amazing what gems you can sometimes find amongst the crap.
ReplyDeleteI loved Fargo and Rocky (only the first one). I own The Blob.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex for hosting me and thanks everyone for stopping by! This was a fun post to put together. Lots of other low budget films that made it big too. SOmetimes we see independent films from Sundance, Cannes, and other film festivals.
ReplyDeleteI love several of these, but having gone to high school in Minnesota, Fargo is probably my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them all. I was a huge Kevin Smith fan before it was cool to be a Kevin Smith fan. Is it still cool? I've also seen the MST3000 guys riffing a movie live. Lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteFun post, some fun flicks. Who woulda thunk.
ReplyDeleteI've seen five of these, all deserving the classic status. It just goes to prove that a great story idea or characters don't need a ton of money (or high profile publisher) to make it big! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw 4 of them. That's almost the number of movies I've watched in my lifetime. Glad to know I'm a low-budget movie-goer and that these gems did so well. Thanks, Stephen and Alex.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
I've seen almost all of these movies. I was SHOCKED to see Halloween on the list.
ReplyDelete~JD
Halloween is one of my all time favorite horror films. All of these films are great and just goes to show what can be achieved on a shoe string. Cool post!
ReplyDeleteI saw Rocky, and watched a little of Mystery Science Theater on tv, does that count? :)
ReplyDeleteTara, so few can!
ReplyDeleteLaura, not my type of movie but I have seen it.
Lynn, the wood chipper scene was the best. Especially the line about it in the squad car.
Liz, you have great taste!
Matthew, seems a lot of people here are from Fargo. Who knew?
Christine, MST3K was awesome.
Robyn, we really need to go see a show sometime...
Karen, I think it counts.
stephen, something smells like shoe polish. Kevin Smith sold his comic collection to pay for that movie.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of a couple of those, but Fargo and American Graffiti were fantastic. And Rocky, of course. Maybe heart counts more than dollars in some things still. :)
ReplyDeleteReservoir dogs, yes indeed!
ReplyDeleteThe only one on the list I've not seen is... MST The Movie!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved these films - I loved FARGO - "yeah?, yeah!"
Hello Stephen, hello Capn Ninja!! Take care
x
I've seen four of these. Reservoir Dogs has to be my favourite :-)
ReplyDeleteI've seen all but 1 of these. Reservoir Dogs is one of my fav movies
ReplyDeleteMan i LOVE the Blob! And MST3K naturally. Also, after i watched supersize me, i stopped eating fastfood all together. Just gave it up. And besides one or two times we couldn't avoid it (road trips etc) we haven't touched it in over a year.
ReplyDeletegosh, what would the movie industry be like without the creative genius of George Lucas, and the theme song from Rocky?
ReplyDeleteNow I want to put Clerks and Fargo in my Netflix queue. Great shows! Super Size me is so disturbing. As is Food Inc. They literally changes how I eat and probably added years to my life.
ReplyDeleteI've seen all of these. Often the lower budget films are my favorites. Too much money means big stars, effects, and other excess that gets in the way of the movie. Then there are the low budget films like the ones Ed Wood made--so bad that they're now classics.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
MST is the best! It's a great way to watch those old B-flicks.
ReplyDeleteThose are some big rates of return. I've seen a couple, ok, maybe three :)
ReplyDeleteI saw Rocky. I'm surprised to learn it was a low budget film. What a success!
ReplyDeleteBudd, really?
ReplyDeleteCharles, that's what I say!
Kitty, you need to rectify that right away!
Sarah, I almost never ate it even before watching that film!
Stephen, Food Inc. was an eye-opener.
Holly, you have great taste!
I am struck by the numbers The Blob, Steve McQueen probably had regrets.
ReplyDeleteI've seen most of them and enjoyed them all, except for The Blob - I prefer the much more entertaining 80s remake.
ReplyDeleteLike Arlee, i like a lot of films that are so bad they're actually good. Wifey and I love Let's To Go To Prison with Will Arnett. Its bad. really really bad. Low budget too. But for some reason we watch it when its on.
ReplyDeleteSome real icons here. I agree about the woodchipper :)
ReplyDeleteAmerican Graffiti opened in my town to a line two blocks long.
ReplyDeleteYes. I am. Older. Than the Dinosaurs.
There are some really awesomely bad movies on this list and some that are just awesome.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved that Fargo movie poster.
I've seen three. American Graffiti was my favorite of those, but Supersize me was a close second. Now I have to pop over and say hi ST. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDelete'American Graffiti' was a great movie. I remember watching 'SuperSize Me.' I don't eat at McDonald's, anymore.
ReplyDeleteGreat choices, Stephen! I've seen many of those films and they're all fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI must've watched Clerks a zillion times. From 1994 t0 1997.
ReplyDeleteWow...no mention of Blair Witch Project or the Paranormal Activity franchise. These define low budget blockbusters!
ReplyDeleteSeveral scenes in American Grafitti were filmed in Livermore, CA, where I lived for many years. I'll always love that film. And Fargo is even funnier for me than it is for most. It's like walking into a family reunion with all my Norwegian in-laws up in Minnesota!
ReplyDeleteAmerican Graffiti was great, one of those films about wanting to grow up but not wanting to grow up.
ReplyDeleteReservoir Dogs - my daughters made me watch it. Lots of blood and male posturing contests with guns.
The Blob - why is a moving pile of 'stuff' so scary? Because Steve McQueen made us think it was.
Fun list, Stephen. Best wishes for your book.
American Graffiti was the best, IMO.
Maynard, I remember that one!
ReplyDeleteHuntress, you're not old!
Suze, I don't blame you.
Copyboy, you were dedicated!
Michael, someone above mentioned them. Most of Stephen's are older films that really set the tone for low-budget.
Nancy, that IS funny!
LOVE American Graffitti. It's my era. And Rocky is the all-time great "script" to study for scenes/acts and plot points.
ReplyDeleteGo, Stephen! Get YOUR story on film!!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
I've seen and enjoyed most of these except SUPER SIZE ME. Hey, don't pick on my fast foods! LOL. Great post, Roland
ReplyDeleteRocky is still far and away my favorite sports movie. Its one people can relate too. I wasn;t born with a lot of athletic ability so its inspiring to see another "just a guy" person work hard and get that one big break.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Fargo. Hubby and I were feeling depressed and our GP recommended it!!! I think he wanted us to end it all.;O)
ReplyDeleteWe thought it was depressing and disturbing!
Supersize me we enjoyed. Not seen the others.
How about The Legend of Boggy Creek. Now that's the very definition of low budget!
Awesome post, Stephen, and thanks for hosting him, Alex. We've watch one too many episodes of MST3K in our house, I have to admit. :)
ReplyDeleteThe thing I like about American Graffiti most is the cars. The acting was atrocious, save for Harrison Ford playing a convincing douchebag.
ReplyDeleteClerks and Fargo! Did any of us ever look at a wood chipper the same after seeing that movie?
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen and Alex :D
ReplyDeleteEr... I'm not much of a movie watcher, let alone low budget ones... but I have seen Supersize me and it was totally disturbing... bleh!
Cool! Nice list!
ReplyDeleteI'll agree that Super Size Me was disturbing, but perhaps the most disturbing thing was that it left me with a craving for McDonald's and I went the next day for lunch. I don't go to McDonald's all that much either.
ReplyDeletethe A to Z Challenge April 2012
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Hmm, I would have thought that Resevoir Dogs made more money than that. Still, all those numbers are fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI've seen most of these, all great movies. That chipper scene in Fargo was the first movie scene to ever shock and excite me, I was talking about it for weeks afterwards, amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat old Blob movie was so cheesy, but so were many during that time. Reservoir Dogs was a little too violent for me but my husband loved it.
ReplyDeleteSeen them all, it's not the size(of the budget) that counts :)
ReplyDeleteMadeleine, haven't seen that one but I'll put it in my Netflix queue.
ReplyDeleteDavid, that's what's so great about YouTube. I can watch five minute clips of MST3000 when the urge hits.
Shockgrubz, the acting wasn't very good. But it captured a time people are nastolgic about.
Johanna, the wood chipper was classic!
Morgan, still McDonald's stock continues to rise. Amazing.
Laura, glad you liked it!
Lee, that's funny.
Lydia, I wonder about some of these figures. Lots of movies made a killing on DVD. Austin Powers the first movie is a good example.
I've seen every single one of these movies! I guess I'm a sucker for low budget jewels.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprised me the most was Halloween. That's pretty shoe-string for a horror classic.
I've seen all of these movies. Just goes to show that good writing and a good concept are so much more important than fancy special effects (though I'll admit I enjoy those too).
ReplyDeleteAmerican Graffiti, Fargo and Rocky were all terrific movies! Thanks Stephen and Alex! Julie
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think I've seen any of these! Apparently I'm more behind on my low-budget films watching than I had thought.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a film buff by any means, but I was surprised not to see the Blair Witch Project on here. That movie had to have a huge ROI.
ReplyDeleteHa! I loved this. I've seen almost all of them! Loved FARGO and MYSTERY THEATER. :D
ReplyDeleteRoland, then you probably don't want to see it!
ReplyDeleteDavid, that makes you uber geek cool!
Lee, that is disturbing.
Jay, Carpenter's raw beginnings.
Laura, so many movies, so little time...
Ali, that makes you Ninja cool!
Congrats on your Grand OPENING Tour, Stephen. I love this post. So darn interesting. I love Rocky, too, and totally agree about that theme song making us feel like we can overcome anything. And The Blob, oh man, I saw it at the theater when I was six and had nightmares all night, so my mom wouldn't let me watch scary movies after that! And Fargo, the wood chipper scene was hard to stomach. American Graffiti - another great movie. Who woulda thunk?
ReplyDeleteI know you've been busy with your book launch lately, but I wanted to let you know that I shared your parenting story in my post on Jan. 30. Here it is when you get a chance: http://lynnkelleyrandomactsofwriting.blogspot.com/2012/01/embarrassing-moments-parenting-plights.html Alex and a few others liked yours the best! LOL!
I see Blair Witch Hunt and Paranormal are some low budget favorites. There are a lot to choose from, including black and white films and flicks from the 50s and 60s. I love Netflix. Its cheap and I can watch shows that could never be found at Blockbuster or RedBox.
ReplyDeleteLyn, I wasn't aware of this one. See what happens when I don;t get out there and visit people as often as I should. Who doesn't like a great kid poo story? Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI like many of these movies. Low budget doesn't have to mean bad.
ReplyDeleteI've actually seen a couple of those! That's a first for me as whenever I see films discussed it's always ones I missed.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! LOVE.IT. Clerks? Priceless hilarity. I adore that movie. Halloween is my all time FAVORITE scary movie. Michael Myers is my fav bad guy (beating Freddy by just a hair because he is AWESOME too). Umm...oh! The Blob? Loved that as a kid. Probably 11 when I saw that, I think. Great stuff. That guy really screwed the pooch on that decision.
ReplyDeleteThe sound track for American Grafiti was awesome. I think I played it to death. Rocky is an excellent and very inspirational movie. I really liked that one.
ReplyDeleteWow, I wouldn't think The Blob was that popular! I don't think I've ever seen it! But loved Clerks and Fargo!
ReplyDeleteAt the end of a post like this I like to tally which movies get the best shout outs. American Graffiti, Fargo, and Clerks are getting a lot of votes so far.
ReplyDeleteI loved Fargo and Mystery Science Theater. :) The Blob is so classic.
ReplyDeleteI haven't eaten fast food since watching Super-Size me. That's how much it disturbed me. It's been 4-5 years.
Will go visit Stephen's blog now.
American Graffiti is such a classic. We actually have a poster of John Milner standing by the yellow deuce coupe. (Another classic that was made cheap but didn't make it big is Two Lane Blacktop with James Taylor and Dennis Wilson. Yep the singer and the Beach Boy.)
ReplyDeleteI've seen the majority of those movies and liked most of them. It just goes to show you don't need a lot of money to create something great.
ReplyDeleteNice selection. David Lynch's Eraserhead can't have cost much to make. Mind you it probably didn't make much either. Still, cool movie.
ReplyDeletemood
Wow. I'm proud to say I haven't seen most of those movies. I think.
ReplyDeleteMy kids did a stint of filmmaking when they were teens and did a remake of the blob, using a blanket. I think it was better than the original.
Amazing what they have grossed. Halloween had Jamie Lee Curtis? I didn't know. Thanks for sharing all this!
ReplyDeleteMonti
Mary Montague Sikes
I see Eraserhead appear a number of times in the comments. I haven;t seen it. Yet. One more pic to put in my Netflix queue.
ReplyDeleteI admit to having watched four of them, but only Rocky at the theater.
ReplyDeleteLynn, I remember that story!
ReplyDeleteColene, and I think that's the movie everyone remembers McQueen best for as well!
Mary, score another one for MST3K!
Mood, but almost everyone has seen it at some point out of sheer curiosity!
Donna, that's funny!
Monti, it was one of her first films.
Stephen, you've never seen the most bizarre mind-trip of a movie ever??????
American Graffiti is one of my absolute favourites and it's a tradition of mine to watch it every year on the last weekend in August to mark the passing of summer.
ReplyDelete"C'mon take a ride with the Fay-roh's"
Halloween is one of my favorite movies. :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few, and I and my student pals saw American Graffiti when it first came out, which dates me. Very fun flick.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post and some of those films. What a coincidence that American Graffiti and Clerks both cost the same and earned the same.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how some movies become tradition. We have our Christmas movies we watch every year. Halloween too. I love Weekend at Bernie's to kick off the summer!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. My hubs and I thrive on low budget films. He works on Hollywood stuff-- but we like watching indies. He's shooting his own this summer! (=
ReplyDeleteCool stats! Reservoir Dogs has surely made more than $2.8 mil though, hasn't it? Or was that just while in the theatre?
ReplyDeletePersonally I'm a huge low-budget, b-grade movie fan... they just you laugh and reminds me to not take everything so seriously:)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any of these movies . . . I am pathetic when it comes to films. :P
ReplyDeletePaul, you must have it memorized!
ReplyDeleteHelena, I saw it as well. Wasn't a teen at the time though.
Anthony - what are the odds???
Alexia, I'd assume it was just in the theater.
Golden, some came out long before you were born, so it's cool.
What a fantastic guest post! My Movie Geekasm is off the charts. I love American Graffiti. There is such honesty in the atmosphere and the performances. And Lucas' direction was incredible. And Fargo, Reservoir Dogs, Rocky, I mean these are such iconic films that are rendered even more amazing by the fact that they cost so little to produce. Great insights, Stephen!
ReplyDeleteI have to say terrific job, Alex, for graciously allowing Stephen to decorate your blog with some wonderful, low budget movie wisdom!
To the both of you, outstanding work!
Paranormal Activity has to be the biggest ever low-budget. It was made with a budget around $15,000 (and man, can you tell!) and it grossed around $190 M--don't remember exactly off the top of my head. I don't know why, though. The movie was terribly boring until the last ten to fifteen minutes. The ones you mention, Stephen, are at least great cult classics. Which leads me to another favorite classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show--made for $1.2 M and grossed nearly $140 M. Other favs of mine are the "college" classics like Night of the Living Dead and Evil Dead. Gotta love the horror flicks ;)
ReplyDeleteIf, like me, you live in the UK, then there is one low-budget movie that is still packing out cinemas 35 years after it was made, and is probably one of the greatest teenage movies ever made in the UK.
ReplyDelete'QUADROPHENIA' - fantastic movie
I can see how these low budget films could inspire you to move forward with your own creation. I actually thought about this not long ago - how people are willing to watch low budget, B movies all the way through, but have to be hooked in a novel in the first paragraph or they'll put it down.
ReplyDeleteBut it is good to have something to say "yep, I can do better than that" and then go on and creat something marvelous.
Good luck with your Opening tour Steve.
......dhole
I tend to stay away from low budget movies because everything is so full of cheese, why the director can't see that the actors look cheesy on set, too. ;P
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the cheese, Alex!
@AprilA2Z
#AtoZChallenge 2012 Co-host
Matthew, it was his idea and I knew it would be a hit! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteAngela, can't go wrong with the Evil Dead movies.
Little, never heard of it = will have to see if it's on NetFlix.
Donna, that is ironic, isn't it?
Elizabeth, just swimming in the sea of cheese today!
The only ones on the list that I've seen are Fargo and Reservoir Dogs. My daughter is in sixth grade and yesterday they watched Supersize Me at school. She swears she'll never eat at McDonalds again!
ReplyDeleteFargo was low budget? And yes, I agree with you on the wood chipper!
ReplyDeleteYa Stephen...what the heck do ya mean annoying accent? ;-) Great list. I didn't even realize some of these were low-budget.
ReplyDeleteSigned,
A Minnesoooooooootan
What is the threshold before a film can no longer be considered low- budget? I would think more than $500K or $1M.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show appear a few times in the comments. Now I'll be doing the Time Warp all morning hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI've actually only seen Rocky, but now I've got some more movies to add to my list.
ReplyDelete:-D
Missed one of my favorites: Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi from 1992.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost ashamed to say I've heard of most of these (erm, Rocky? Who hasn't?) but haven't actually seen any! Gah!
ReplyDeleteI liked Fargo, certainly very profitable.
ReplyDeleteHalloween, still one of the best.
ReplyDeleteSusan, we'll see how long that lasts.
ReplyDeleteTracy, you tell him!
Joshua, I'm not sure.
Christopher, good call!
Sangu, time to watch some movies!
Amen, I luv all these films! Neat idea of "invading" each other's blogs too:)
ReplyDeleteAll great. I didn't know Blob was a "low budget film." A classic.
ReplyDeleteFargo is one of my favorite movies and one of few I'll go back to watch again and again.
ReplyDeleteYou guys and gals are adding some great flicks to the list El Mariachi was a great low budget film too. Makes me want to go out and make a low budget film. Well, maybe a trailer for my books using those little Lego men.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie Clerks. Such a classic! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree ... there should be more Indy movies, but today they are a bit harder to find.
ReplyDeleteI love this post!
ReplyDeleteTHE BLOB made $12 million? How insane is that?
And I loved ROCKY. One of my favorite movies ever.
I saw AG and Rocky...and Rocky was a real surprise! As for a low budget I LOVED...but now I can recall whether or not it was a hit, try Breaking Away.
ReplyDeletei like rocky...~!!!
ReplyDeleteFargo's one of my all-time favorites! Best thing - pregnant character who remains pregnant throughout the film with no sudden water-breakage.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting list...somehow I have trouble feeling sorry for Steve McQueen though. Methinks he still did all right for himself.
Thanks for the fun, fellas (& I'll see you both Friday for Tumble 4 Ya. ;))
Thanks, everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnd ready for blogfest, Nicki.
I've seen 5 of them. It's really cool that they could be so successful without spending a fortune. Supersize Me was very eye-opening!
ReplyDeletehow lame is it I've not seen any of those TV/movies was never something I watched often.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cap'n lex for hosting me on my Grand OPENING Tour! You have a great blog and an awesome group of followers. I met some new people and got reacquanted with some old friends.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks everyone for stopping by and for commenting! This was a fun post and it's great to hear your input of other low budget movies that made it big!
I've seen Halloween, Reservoir Dogs, and American Graffiti. I'm surprised I haven't seen the rest. They're big titles, despite the low budget.
ReplyDeleteI like to watch IFC and other channels for current low budget winners.
Fun post, I love thinking back to those movie days! I loved American Graffiti! I didn't see the BLOB, but heard there was jello involved, ;D
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best and I have you on my list! YOU are going to help me for Valentine's Day! ;D
I adore Rocky! It's my dad's favorite movie of all time.
ReplyDeleteI have seen most of them, with American Graffiti being my all-time-favorite! I just watched it with my husband a few weeks ago and tried to spot the license plate that said R2D2 (George Lucas's little plug for then upcoming Star Wars)
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see the span of movies with low budgets. Clerks revels in its absence of money, while Halloween compensates in almost every scene, lulling you into forgetting.
ReplyDeleteDafeenah, I live for them!
ReplyDeleteElla - LOTS of Jello!
Angela, that's right, he did do the license plate.
I love Halloween. Still one of my favorites. And I've always wondered about the sequel to American Graffiti...
ReplyDeleteoh yes, I've seen most of these! Clerks - love the writing. Snappy!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex, Hi Stephen, two of my favorite male writers.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Minnesota for ten years and I can tell you, the Fargo accents are spot on.
Congrats on the release Stephen.
Nancy
I love the show Mystery Science Theater 3000! I had no idea there was a movie.
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
Nancy, I liked the accents!
ReplyDeleteAllison, you must track it down, now! So many classic lines.
Good Heavens Alex .. thousands of comments! and Stephen .. I haven't seen any of them thankfully - but I'd like to see Reservoir Dogs sometime ..
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I've seen poor movies - but for now they've left my mind - probably for ever fortunately! .. Cheers Hilary
How fun!! I have seen (and loved) all of them. Fargo is my favorite, but Clerks has a special place in my heart. Headed over for a look at you two years ago...
ReplyDeleteI saw American Graffitt 8 times . . or was it 10??!! Loved it loved it loved it!
ReplyDeleteI always love a low budget film. Though more at the blog in general do you ever look at sci fi books as if you do I recommend a author called Alistor Reynolds.
ReplyDeleteAlso a rather amusing blog about my beginning as a stand up and some amusing posts
http://alcoholicwelshman.blogspot.com/
Hilary, it's a good film.
ReplyDeleteJudy, you're dedicated.
Rocky is hands-down one of my favorite low-budget flicks -- and it's as old as I am.
ReplyDeleteWow! I step out for a day at the movies and shopping with wifey (finally saw The Descendants, great flick) and the comments still keep a; coming. You've got a great group of followers Alex!
ReplyDeleteI was hopeful for Sharktopus! I guess my eleven year old is the only one to agree that it is a cult classic.
ReplyDeleteIn Supersize Me the protagonist gained weight and faced potential health problems, but it came out very cost effective.
ReplyDeleteI love this list.
ReplyDeleteReservoir Dogs is one of my favorite movies of all time.
And who doesn't still quote Fargo and Marge's accent and that wood chipper scene?
I won't even admit to how many time husband and I have quoted Clerks. Classic. (KS peaked with that movie, though.)
Milo, it's much younger than me - crap!
ReplyDeleteVeronica, that's a good one! Suggestion, not movie.
Lola, that woodchipper scene was epic.
Sorry I'm late for the party. I was out of town for a few days. :) I liked some of these, but I HATED Fargo. My hubby and every other person I knew loved it, but I just didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I've only seen a few of these movies, but had no idea they were low budget. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list. It's kind of inspiring that movies with such low expectations could come out on top like they did.
ReplyDeleteMST3K the movie is awesome. My wife hates the show with a passion, but I got her to watch that, and she admitted it was funny. Perfect balance of bad enough to be funny, but good enough to watch without just gritting your teeth between jokes.
ReplyDeleteWow! I can't believe how low the budget was for some of those movies, especially Halloween! Goes to show you...
ReplyDeleteSeen 'em all! It's obviously been a long time, as I had no idea McQueen was in The Blob. Was Evil Dead low budget? Seems like it would have been. Then again, I have no idea if it grossed anything, either.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Ciara, it's a quirky film, so I understand.
ReplyDeleteNigel, how can anyone not like MST3K???
Shannon, one of Raimi's first films? Oh yeah, it was low budget!
I've only seen Rocky, but I've heard of all these. Fun list!
ReplyDeleteOh man, the BLOB! Epic movie. I watched that one about a million times as a kid.
ReplyDelete:)
Angela
I recognise two in the list. The Blob being one of them.
ReplyDeleteSharktopus not on your list? Shame on you, Stephen. :0 lol!