BUDGE MOVIES THAT MADE IT BIG

"BRONSON" BUDGET:

$230,000 REVENUE: $2.3 MILLION

Bronson is a 2008 British biographical psychological drama

co-written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The film portrays

the life of the notorious prisoner Michael Gordon Peterson (played by

Tom Hardy) who was renamed Charles Bronson by his fight promoter

who eventually became one of the United Kingdom’s most

dangerous criminals.

“THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN” BUDGET:

$23,800 REVENUE: $10.2 MILLION

A comedy drama film written, produced and directed by Edward Burns,

The Brothers McMullen tells the story of the lives of three brothers

from Long Island, New York as they learn about religion, love, sex,

marriage and family.

“CLERKS” BUDGET:

$27,575 ($230,000 POST) REVENUE: $3.1 MILLION

Written and directed by Kevin Smith, Clerks is a 1994 American

black-and-white comedy film starring Jeff Anderson as

Randal Graves and Brian O’Halloran as Dante Hicks. It was the

first of Smith’s “View Askewniverse” film and introduced

recurring characters such as Jay and Silent Bob. Clerks was shot for

$27,575 in the convenience store where director Kevin Smith

worked in real life and eventually grossed over $3 million.

“IN THE COMPANY OF MEN” BUDGET:

$25,000 REVENUE: $2.85 MILLION

This Canadian/American black comedy was written and directed by

Neil LaBute and was released in 1997. The plot revolves around

two male co-workers who, frustrated with women in general, plot to

toy maliciously with the emotions of a deaf female subordinate.

The film received generally positive reviews with a 89% in

Rotten Tomatoes.

"OPEN WATER" BUDGET:

$130,000 REVENUE: $54.7 MILLION

This 2003 psychological horror film is based on the true story of an

American couple, Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who were accidentally

left behind while on a scuba diving trip. Open Water cost about

$130,000 to make and was bought by Lions Gate Entertainment for

$2.5 million. The film went on to make a total of $55 million worldwide,

$30 million of which came from the North American Box office.

“SLACKER” BUDGET:

$23,000 REVENUE: $1.23 MILLION

Slacker is an American independent comedy-drama film that was

directed and written by Richard Linklater and was nominated for the

Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival. A seemingly

plotless film, Slacker follows various bizarre characters as they share

a few minutes of screen time while discussing themes centred around

social class, terrorism, joblessness, political marginalization, and even

government control of the media.

“PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” BUDGET:

$15,000 REVENUE: $193.3 MILLION

Written, photographed, edited and directed by Oren Peli, Paranormal

Activity is a supernatural horror movie that centres around a young couple,

Katie and Micah, who are haunted by a supernatural being. It was

first released on January October 14, 2007 as part of the Screamfest

Film Festival. Afterwards, it was acquired by Paramount Pictures, modified

and given a limited U.S. release on September 25, 2009 with a full

release on October 16, 2009. The film earned about $108 million at

the U.S. box office and $85 million internationally for a grand total of

$193 million. Consequently, it is the most profitable film ever made

based on return on investment.

“PINK FLAMINGOS” BUDGET:

$12,000 REVENUE: $7 MILLION

Written, composed, shot, edited, directed and produced by John Waters,

Pink Flamingos is a 1972 American transgressive black comedy exploitation

film that sparked controversy because of its wide range of detailed perverse

acts. Considered one of the most notorious films in history, it starred

Divine, Mink Stole, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce and Edith Massey.

“EL MARIACHI” BUDGET:

$7,000 REVENUE: $2 MILLION

This 1992 American action film was the first instalment of Robert

Rodriguez’s Mexican Trilogy which marked his debut as a director

and writer. “El Mariachi” was written in Spanish and was shot in

Ciudad Acuna, Mexico; the hometown of Carlos Gallardo.