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...
