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The cold, brutal truth is that most independent films never make a dime. Having said this though, there are a few that go on to make quite a few dimes. That's the allure of independent filmmaking. You never quite know when that one movie made on a credit card budget will become phenomenally successful.
This list represents those films that made it. They aren't the highest grossing films in terms of overall box office, but rather, they're the ones that cost the least and made the most. The list was calculated by comparing production budget to gross domestic box office. This ratio reveals just how a little investment can yield enormous profits. This list does not include monies generated by video or DVD sales or merchandising. Nor does it include pornographic films. It also only considers the initial production budgets of the films. No marketing expenses or finishing costs are included.
The Top Ten
1. The Blair Witch Project - Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez
Released in 1999, Blair Witch became the must-see movie of a generation. With a production budget of $35,000 and box office receipts of $140 million, Blair Witch grossed 4000 times its budget, making it the most profitable movie in motion picture history.
2. Road to Ruin - Directed by Norton S. Parker
This film was released in 1928 follows the life of a teenage girl that goes bad. Controversy fueled the box office for this film. Made for $2,500, it went on to gross approximately $2.5 million, a return of over 1000 times its budget.
3. Birth of a Nation - Directed by D. W. Griffith
Griffith's silent masterpiece is hardly an independent by today's standards, but was still made outside the studio system of its time. Released in 1915, Birth of a Nation was a phenomenon of epic proportions. It had a huge budget for its day, $105,000, but went on to make $60 million dollars in a day when bread was 5 cents a loaf. Controversial, then and now, the film that wrote history with lightning made back 570 times its production budget.
This list represents those films that made it. They aren't the highest grossing films in terms of overall box office, but rather, they're the ones that cost the least and made the most. The list was calculated by comparing production budget to gross domestic box office. This ratio reveals just how a little investment can yield enormous profits. This list does not include monies generated by video or DVD sales or merchandising. Nor does it include pornographic films. It also only considers the initial production budgets of the films. No marketing expenses or finishing costs are included.
The Top Ten
1. The Blair Witch Project - Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez
Released in 1999, Blair Witch became the must-see movie of a generation. With a production budget of $35,000 and box office receipts of $140 million, Blair Witch grossed 4000 times its budget, making it the most profitable movie in motion picture history.
2. Road to Ruin - Directed by Norton S. Parker
This film was released in 1928 follows the life of a teenage girl that goes bad. Controversy fueled the box office for this film. Made for $2,500, it went on to gross approximately $2.5 million, a return of over 1000 times its budget.
3. Birth of a Nation - Directed by D. W. Griffith
Griffith's silent masterpiece is hardly an independent by today's standards, but was still made outside the studio system of its time. Released in 1915, Birth of a Nation was a phenomenon of epic proportions. It had a huge budget for its day, $105,000, but went on to make $60 million dollars in a day when bread was 5 cents a loaf. Controversial, then and now, the film that wrote history with lightning made back 570 times its production budget.
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Comments
RT
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/13/2009
I had thought that Billy Jack was the top grossing indie. Anyone know if Billy Jack qualifies as indie?
Clayton Roche
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/09/2008
What about the porn film Deep Throat?
It cost 25k to make and brought in 600 MILLION.
(this is a 70s movie, the original 'smut.' I'm not talking about a new, internet movie)
Great article filled with very interesting information. I have seen a few of these movies and I never would have guessed. Thanks!
Angie -- Greek Wedding was a semi-indy, but with a production budget of about 5 million and domestic gross of approximately 240 million, its cost to gross ratio is 48. Oh ad you're not missing much with Blair Witch. Thanks for the comment!
Jay -- you're right about that. Thanks for the tip!
Great article! Very interesting.
Cool article! Though I think it would have been a tad better if you had counted down. The info on the Blair Witch Project is pretty darn cool and would have been a great way to close the srticle out. Either way this was a enjoyable read.
Although I have not seen all of these movies, I have seem a few. I remember Pink Flamingos well. Good topic and great article.
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