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Greatest Low-Budget Films

Posted on 5/20/09 at 10:47 am
Posted by Decatur
Member since Mar 2007
31768 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 10:47 am
Under $500k:

Following - $6k
Primer - $7k
Eraserhead - $7k
El Mariachi - $7k
Blair Witch Project - $22k
Clerks - $27k
Pi - $60k
Texas Chainsaw Massacre - $83k
Night of the Living Dead - $114k
Swingers - $250k
Halloween - $325k
Mad Max - $350k
The Evil Dead - $375k
Napoleon Dynamite - $400k
Brick - $475k

I left out a few so feel free to add any that you think are contenders.

I think that Primer got the biggest bang for the buck (not talking about sales).
This post was edited on 5/20/09 at 10:48 am
Posted by alajones
Huntsvegas
Member since Oct 2005
35756 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 10:53 am to
I've only seen BWP and Napoleon Dynamite. I'd have to lean toward ND. Because BWP made a shite load of money off of sly marketing. ND just kind of grew in popularity.
Posted by JohnnyT
Central Texas
Member since Feb 2005
1841 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:07 am to
"The Gods Must Be Crazy"

I don't know the exact budget amount but it couldn't have been much.
Posted by Mouth
Member since Jan 2008
22994 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:09 am to
Boondock Saints could make that list
Posted by PnG Exsanguination
About 5 miles from Tiger Stadium
Member since Jul 2008
2768 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:13 am to
Are these adjusted for inflation?
Posted by glaucon
New Orleans, LA
Member since Aug 2008
5292 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:21 am to
I would have to go with either Clerks or Evil Dead if you take into account the careers and films that were created due to them.
Posted by Decatur
Member since Mar 2007
31768 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:23 am to
quote:

Are these adjusted for inflation?


No. Production cost at the time the movie is made.
Posted by Cdawg
TigerFred's Living Room
Member since Sep 2003
61628 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 11:55 am to
El Mariachi gets my vote considering the budget.

Posted by spslayto
Member since Feb 2004
21660 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 12:56 pm to
I have to go with Halloween. Although not the first true "slasher" film, we probably don't get most of the horror movies that ripped it off in the 80s if it were never made.
This post was edited on 5/20/09 at 12:57 pm
Posted by BLIZZAKE7
BRLA
Member since Apr 2005
6244 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:22 pm to
Clerks
The Foot Fist Way
Posted by Murtagh
Metairie, La
Member since Feb 2008
2044 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:23 pm to
Clerks. Love that movie and everything that followed
Posted by Sophandros
Victoria Concordia Crescit
Member since Feb 2005
45219 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:24 pm to
quote:

Clerks. Love that movie and everything that followed


And it holds up well.
Posted by Keys Open Doors
In hiding with Tupac & XXXTentacion
Member since Dec 2008
32787 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:36 pm to
I enjoyed Clerks a lot, but I can also definitely see how it was made for less than 30 grand since most of the scenes are just a couple of guys hanging out in a gas station.

I am really surprised that Following, Eraserhead, and Pi were all made for such ridiculously low amounts considering the multiple filming locations, special effects, etc. However, I don't think that the number on Eraserhead is reliable since Lynch originally got funding from the AFI, but that was not enough to cover the costs of the film. I have a hard time imagining that the AFI only gave Lynch 3 or 4 grand for his movie.
Posted by glaucon
New Orleans, LA
Member since Aug 2008
5292 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:38 pm to
Although sort of covered by Clerks based on the standard of the thread Chasing Amy should probably be considered. Arguably Kevin Smith best and certainly his most serious film and was Afleck's first staring role. The budget was $250,000.
Posted by The Seaward
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2006
11515 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:40 pm to
quote:

Following - $6k


thats what I was going to post
Posted by bomber77
Member since Aug 2008
14783 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 1:56 pm to
How about the original Rocky? Does this qualify?
Posted by TigerMyth36
River Ridge
Member since Nov 2005
41064 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 2:06 pm to
Not to attack your numbers but this site has the eraserhead budget at 100k.

LINK

The wiki on it states he started with 10k but continued to work on it for several years borrowing money. They list the budget at 20k.

Not sure who is right.
Posted by JW
Los Angeles
Member since Jul 2004
5173 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 2:12 pm to
No way swingers was made for 250k ... shooting in LA and Vegas? not possible

though just checked IMDB pro and that was the estimate... wow ... alot of production value
This post was edited on 5/20/09 at 2:14 pm
Posted by Keys Open Doors
In hiding with Tupac & XXXTentacion
Member since Dec 2008
32787 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 2:15 pm to
That makes sense. AFI probably gave 20K or so, and then Lynch had to come up with the rest of the money over time. That explains why it took him 5 years to make it.

Still, it's very impressive that it only cost 100K considering the effects in the film.
Posted by Sophandros
Victoria Concordia Crescit
Member since Feb 2005
45219 posts
Posted on 5/20/09 at 2:24 pm to
I can see Chasing Amy at 250K, and if that's the case, then yes, it is the best film in the View Askewniverse.

However, Smith was co-executive producer on Good Will Hunting. Does that count (not for this thread, obviously)?

And yeah, easily Afleck's best work, unless you count his role in Mallrats as acting, which I'm kind of afraid it might not have been...
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