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Low-Budget Legends: Action Films That Out-Earned Their Budgets by Over 1,000%

Low-Budget Legends: Action Films That Out-Earned Their Budgets by Over 1,000%

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Low-Budget Legends: Action Films That Out-Earned Their Budgets by Over 1,000%

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

50. The Maze Runner (2014)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

49. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Courtesy of United Artists

48. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Courtesy of Summit Distribution

47. Hero (2002)

Courtesy of Miramax

46. The First Purge (2017)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

45. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2016)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

44. Aliens (1986)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

43. Independence Day (1996)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

42. The Karate Kid (1984)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

41. Earthquake (1974)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

40. Lucy (2014)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

39. You Only Live Twice (1967)

Courtesy of United Artists

38. Batman (1989)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

37. The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

36. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

35. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

34. The Terminator (1984)

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

33. Avatar (2009)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

32. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

31. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Courtesy of United Artists

30. Deadpool (2015)

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

29. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

28. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Courtesy of United Artists

27. Liu Lang Di Qiu (2018)

Courtesy of Netflix

26. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

25. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)

Courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment

24. Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

23. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

22. Thunderball (1965)

Courtesy of United Artists

21. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Courtesy of United Artists

20. The Bodyguard (1992)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

19. Jurassic Park (1993)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

18. Escape Room (2017)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment

17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

16. The French Connection (1971)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

15. The Mask (1994)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

14. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts

13. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

12. Live and Let Die (1973)

Courtesy of United Artists

11. Top Gun (1986)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

10. Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

9. Dangal (2016)

Courtesy of Zee Tamil

8. From Russia With Love (1964)

Courtesy of United Artists

7. Jаckass: The Movie (2002)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

6. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

5. Goldfinger (1964)

Courtesy of United Artists

4. Dr. No (1963)

Courtesy of United Artists

3. Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope (1977)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Billy Jack (1971)

Michael Ochs Archives / Handout / Getty Images

1. Mad Max (1979)

Courtesy of American International Pictures (AIP)

Low-Budget Legends: Action Films That Out-Earned Their Budgets by Over 1,000%
50. The Maze Runner (2014)
49. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
48. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
47. Hero (2002)
46. The First Purge (2017)
45. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2016)
44. Aliens (1986)
43. Independence Day (1996)
42. The Karate Kid (1984)
41. Earthquake (1974)
40. Lucy (2014)
39. You Only Live Twice (1967)
38. Batman (1989)
37. The Purge: Election Year (2016)
36. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
35. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
34. The Terminator (1984)
33. Avatar (2009)
32. The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
31. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
30. Deadpool (2015)
29. Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
28. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
27. Liu Lang Di Qiu (2018)
26. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
25. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
24. Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
23. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
22. Thunderball (1965)
21. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
20. The Bodyguard (1992)
19. Jurassic Park (1993)
18. Escape Room (2017)
17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
16. The French Connection (1971)
15. The Mask (1994)
14. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
13. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
12. Live and Let Die (1973)
11. Top Gun (1986)
10. Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. Dangal (2016)
8. From Russia With Love (1964)
7. Jаckass: The Movie (2002)
6. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
5. Goldfinger (1964)
4. Dr. No (1963)
3. Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope (1977)
2. Billy Jack (1971)
1. Mad Max (1979)

Low-Budget Legends: Action Films That Out-Earned Their Budgets by Over 1,000%

Action films are, undeniably, one of the more popular movie genres in the world, accounting for 34% of all U.S. box office revenue alone. The genre has remained at the top of the box office for the past several decades. Yet it isn't always the big blockbuster films that have box-office success. The highest-earning action movies of all time are a blend of new, old, mega-releases, and smaller films that all saw impressive success.

To identify the highest-earning action movies of all time, 24/7 Tempo analyzed data on global box office and production budgets from Opus Data, by Nash Information Services. Action films were ranked based on the return on investment ratio of global box office earnings to production costs.Box office figures were adjusted for inflation using historical ticket prices from the National Association of Theatre Owners.

Only films with a global inflation-adjusted box office of at least $10 million were included. IMDb user ratings and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores were utilized for this information. Genre classification and director credits came from IMDb.

This post was updated on August 11th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

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