Some of the biggest movie successes started out as tiny projects with limited budgets, unknown actors, and low expectations. These films were never expected to become widely seen, but they ended up being huge. Due to unique storytelling and a well-crafted plot, audiences spread the word and turned them into unexpected blockbusters. The movies on this list stunned filmmakers when they hit it big.
1. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Budget: Around $60,000
Box office: Nearly $250 million worldwide
Before found-footage horror became popular, The Blair Witch Project was just a risky and inexpensive filmmaking experiment. Shot by a group of first timers with handheld cameras and featuring unknown actors, the movie used a unique documentary style. It later had an alluring and effective marketing campaign that led audiences to believe the movie contained actual found footage of something sinister. It ended up being an incredibly profitable movie. One minuscule horror project became a cultural phenomenon.
2. Rocky (1976)
Budget: About $1 million
Box office: Over $225 million worldwide
When Sylvester Stallone wrote Rocky, he was a struggling actor. He refused to sell the script unless he could play the lead role. The studio expected a small but well-done boxing drama. They didn’t think a huge hit was in the cards. And they certainly didn’t think it would become one of the most beloved sports films ever made. But audiences connected to the underdog story behind Rocky, finding the hardworking character relatable. It ended up winning Best Picture and put Stallone on the map as an actor.
3. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Budget: Around $15,000
Box office: Nearly $200 million worldwide
This extremely low-budget independent horror movie had a clever premise, but Paranormal Activity was never expected to compete with big studio releases. The film’s simple setup, a couple recording strange events in their home, seemed believable. After gaining attention at film festivals, it was picked up by a major studio and released. People loved watching this one in theaters and its massive success led to an entire franchise. It proved that a movie with almost no budget shot completely in one house could create effective horror.
4. Get Out (2017)
Budget: Around $4.5 million
Box office: Over $250 million worldwide
Jordan Peele’s first stab at directing was relatively inexpensive by filmmaking standards. The horror movie had an unusual premise: a young Black man finds himself surrounded by disturbing occurrences while visiting his girlfriend’s family. Nobody expected a thriller with comedy elements to resonate with mass audiences. And no one expected the film to be so darn good overall. It became one of the biggest movies of the year and the clever storyline was widely discussed across the country. Peele won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
5. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Budget: Around $400,000
Box office: Nearly $50 million worldwide
An exceptionally eccentric movie about an awkward teenager living in rural Idaho didn’t sound like a story many people would want to see. Napoleon Dynamite was made on a small budget with a mostly unknown cast, weird characters, and a deadpan sense of humor. Nothing about it fit the traditional Hollywood mold. But it became a sensation, with its bizarre, lovable characters and super quotable dialogue, and unusual style. It turned into a cult classic.
6. Juno (2007)
Budget: Around $7.5 million
Box office: Over $230 million worldwide
Juno was a small indie comedy about a teenager dealing with an unexpected pregnancy. Its smart female lead, sharp writing, and amazing cast helped it reach a bigger audience. Largely thanks to the clever coming of age screenplay by Diablo Cody, the film became one of the most memorable independent movies of the 2000s. It was nominated for several Oscars and won Best Original Screenplay.
7. Halloween (1978)
Budget: Around $300,000
Box office: Tens of millions worldwide (original release only)
John Carpenter’s Halloween was made with a pretty small budget and relatively unknown actors, including a never-before-seen-on-film Jamie Lee Curtis. Without much money, the movie was forced to rely on suspense and atmosphere and didn’t include expensive effects. It managed to create a terrifying experience with very limited resources. Its success helped set the foundation for the now beloved slasher genre. It turned Michael Myers into one of horror’s favorite villains. The follow ups went on to span multiple decades and become a powerhouse franchise.
8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Budget: Around $5 million
Box office: Nearly $370 million worldwide
This romantic comedy was focused entirely on a Greek-American family coming together for a wedding. It wasn’t expected to reach much more than a small audience but it become one of the biggest hits of the early 2000s. The movie had no action sequences, no huge stars, and revolved around a relatively simple story about love and family. Audiences loved the humor and it was a long-running box office success. Even today, it is one of the most profitable romantic comedies ever made.