Cinema is, first of all, a profitable business. Studios are ready to invest great money in their projects, counting on the return on rental. However, there are also many films produced, the success of which is quite difficult to predict. It’s time to talk about projects that managed to win the audience’s hearts despite the penny budgets and low level of ambition.
What is the secret of such films? Original ideas, a successful marketing campaign, attractive actors, or the sum of these factors guarantee the ultimate success. It is not necessary to seriously invest in a tape for it to become desirable for the audience, and the films listed below are an explicit confirmation of this.
MY BIG GREEK WEDDING
IMDb – 6.6
Before the release of this film, it was simply impossible to imagine how great his success would be. Of course, the modest budget did not imply the participation of stars of the first magnitude in the project. However, the film managed to shoot at the box office, earning over 350 million in US currency, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay.
Tula is a girl of Greek origin who lives in Chicago with a large family. The main character has long wanted to meet the man of her dreams and get married, so she is simply crazy with happiness when the American Ian pays attention to her. However, the guy will have to make a lot of efforts to show his best side in front of the orthodox parents of the chosen one.
DON’T BREATHE
IMDb – 7.1
Before us is a picture from which the domestic audience undoubtedly expected more. The tape “Don’t Breathe” turned out to be a solid thriller with ” horror elements,” and its budget was a modest 10 million. The director lured Stephen Lang into the lead role, even though he was not an exciting start. The lion’s share of filming occurred within the same location, and the viewer expected to see another film of average quality. It’s not every day that you see a blind veteran defending a home from young people who decide to take advantage of his vulnerable position. Also, the picture is rich in unexpected twists that make the viewer change their attitude toward the characters in viewing.
MAD MAX
IMDb – 6.9
Logically, it was simply impossible to predict the success of Mad Max. There were only 300 thousand dollars, a few shabby cars and motorcycles, and a pair of leather suits at the director’s disposal. The cars were repainted on the go to use them in other scenes, and the actors were dressed together, bringing wardrobe items from home. Mel Gibson starred in the lead role.
Despite all the difficulties, George Miller made a fantastic action movie, which is already considered a classic of cinema, got sequels, and managed to surprise. At the box office, Mad Max earned over $100 million, an incredibly high-profile success with an acute shortage of resources.
SPLIT
IMDb – 7.3
As you know, “Split” is the second film of the trilogy in a series of such films as “Invulnerable” and “Glass.” When it became clear that the film series returned after 16 years, public expectations were extremely high. However, a modest budget – only 9 million in green currency did not allow counting on any frills. However, the director managed to assemble a very decent cast. The pair of James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy managed to play convincingly enough to pull the film to new heights.
Kevin has multiple personality disorders – completely different people whose worldviews fit his mind. A man kidnaps three girls to sacrifice them and summon his next alter ego, the Beast, whom he considers the pinnacle of human evolution.
AWAY
IMDb – 7.7
It is necessary to return to another masterpiece, which was completely unexpectedly successful. Get Out is Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, so the picture didn’t claim to be something serious. A modest budget of 4.5 million did not allow for much acceleration, and acting became the cornerstone. Daniel Kaluuya, who embodied the image of the main character, did not disappoint – sometimes, the guy looked extremely convincing. The film plays up the theme of transferring a person’s consciousness into another’s body and the opportunity to ensure immortality in this way. Chris becomes a victim of a family that put such operations on stream, and now he will have to try very hard to get out of this mess unscathed.
DIFFICULTIES IN TRANSLATION
IMDb – 7.7
Some call this picture brilliant, while others fall asleep already 10 minutes after the start of viewing. Why are viewers’ opinions so different? Such melodramas should be studied in a certain, appropriate mood. Only then can one appreciate the full range of emotions generated by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. If you are not interested in delving into the details of the film “Lost in Translation,” it will seem like another “rogue.” The picture tells about a chance meeting of two lonely people who are no longer satisfied with their own lives. However, do not count on a typical ending – it can surprise even an experienced viewer. The public voted for the film with their feet and brought the studio almost 120 million in green currency.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
IMDb – 8
This film is a sensation in its purest form. The result is simply unbelievable, given that the layman, jaded with blockbusters, does not have much sympathy for such melodramas. However, the facts speak for themselves – almost 380 million conventional units were earned by the creators of the tape. The film tells how Jamal advances in the famous TV show to the public’s surprise. Everyone thinks that the guy is cheating, so he will have to tell his own story of growing up in the hellish slums of Mumbai, where any information can find a person, regardless of his will.
ROCKY
IMDb – 8.1
Many people know that one of the most iconic films was considered a very risky undertaking. The script for “Rocky” was written by Sylvester Stallone in just a couple of days. The actor wanted to play the main character so much that he gave the studio an appropriate request, and the filmmakers had to give in. As a result, Stallone had to involve members of his family and relatively famous people who wanted to appear on the screen as a cameo. However, the story of a talented boxer turned out to be so attractive that it pulled in 225 million in US currency and received 3 Oscars.
OBSESSION
IMDb – 8.5
Many will say that “Obsession” is one of the best near-musical films of our time and will not be far from the truth. The picture gushes with strong emotions, forcing the viewer to squeeze into a chair from an excess of adrenaline. The film’s box office is not too high – 49 million, but it must be taken into account that almost 15 times less was spent on shooting. It is worth adding 3 more Oscar figurines and the boundless love of cinema fans. Andrew is an incredibly talented drummer who dreams of becoming great. He stubbornly goes to the goal and begins to play in the orchestra with a recognized master, famous for his eccentric behavior. The methods of a genius can hardly be called pedagogical, so Andrew will have to be patient so as not to break down psychologically.
CRIME NOVEL
IMDb – 8.9
The cult film “Pulp Fiction” by the cult director Quentin Tarantino with cult actors in the lead roles had few chances of success. Tarantino’s films are always a separate genre of art; Quentin skillfully manages images, relying on the visual component. Pulp Fiction is kitsch, a crude spoof of pulp novels, but the tape has reached the audience’s hearts, earned almost 214 million conventional units, and found its fan base.
