From `Paranormal Activity` to `Clerks`: 8 cult films made for almost no money

Not all films are born in luxurious studios. Sometimes directors shoot their films literally "on the knee" — and sometimes they become cult classics.

Still think it's impossible to release a cool movie without millions of dollars? Now, the editors of zoomboola.com will prove the opposite!

Paranormal Activity (2007) — $15,000

What can you film for $15,000? Probably just a commercial for a local auto repair shop. However, Oren Peli used this amount to create one of the highest-grossing horror films of the 21st century. The director used simple cameras and spent almost nothing on special effects. Instead, Oren focused on the "found footage" effect and building up the atmosphere.

Shooting with a night camera, a man and a woman are sitting on the bed and pointing at something — Scene from the film "Paranormal Activity"

And it worked. Steven Spielberg, for instance, was so frightened by the film that he gave the tape to his assistant because he was afraid to keep it at home.

The film grossed nearly $200 million at the box office and set the trend for the found footage genre. As Slashfilm writes, Peli's horror film remains the most profitable horror movie in cinema history.

El Mariachi (1992) — $7,000

To save money for his first action film, Robert Rodriguez participated in medical tests where he was injected with experimental drugs. The modest fees the aspiring director earned were immediately invested in filming. This is how the film “El Mariachi” was born, about a guitarist who gets caught up in a deadly game with Mexican bandits.

A man without a shirt is playing the guitar, with a surprised expression on his face — Scene from the movie 'El Mariachi'

Rodriguez not only directed the film but also served as the cameraman, editor, and even handled the special effects. Instead of professional actors, he used friends, and props were made from improvised materials.

Despite its “homemade” production, the film made it to the Sundance Festival. After that, the rights to the action film were purchased by Columbia Pictures, and the author was offered $1 million, which is 140 times the film's budget. Rodriguez became an overnight sensation, proving that talent and perseverance are more important than money.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) — $60,000

This horror film looks like a home video shot in the woods because that's exactly what it was. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez gave the actors a compass, a map, and minimal instructions, leaving the rest to complete improvisation. The creators did not inform the participants about the "scares" that awaited them, and their natural reactions "made" the film.

Amateur shooting, two men in hiking clothes with backpacks looking at the camera — A scene from the film "The Blair Witch Project"

While the filming itself incurred minimal costs, the directors meticulously planned the marketing campaign. Months before the premiere, the internet was flooded with fake police reports, newspaper articles, and false obituaries. The actors (previously unknown to the public) were declared missing.

As a result, the film grossed over $240 million, and marketers still study this case in film schools. "The whole concept of the found footage and the question of 'Is it real or not?' was simply brilliant. These guys fooled the world, and it became a phenomenon," comments marketer Jim Fredrick in an interview with Los Angeles Times.

Dark Star (1974) — $60,000

Today, John Carpenter is a horror genre legend and the creator of the cult classics "Halloween" and "The Thing." But in 1974, he was just a student who, along with his friend Dan O'Bannon, made a low-budget sci-fi comedy "Dark Star." The alien in the film was "played" by the cheapest prop in sci-fi history—a regular beach ball with glued-on limbs.

Two men in headphones are in the cockpit of an aircraft and are looking at the camera in surprise — Scene from the film "Dark Star"

Despite its modest budget and naivety, "Dark Star" became a cult science fiction film. Moreover, this work inspired Ridley Scott to create "Alien"—a serious version of the space thriller, with the screenplay written by the same Dan O'Bannon.

Clerks (1994) — $27,000

At 23, future director Kevin Smith worked as a clerk at a small Quick Stop Groceries store in New Jersey. One day, Smith thought, why not make a movie about what he knows best—ordinary clerks behind the counter?

Black-and-white shot, a young man in a cap photographed against the backdrop of the checkout in a supermarket — Scene from the film 'Clerks'

To fund the filming, Kevin sold his comic book collection and took out a loan. The movie was filmed in the same store—at night, after closing. Friends and acquaintances of the director played the roles of customers, friends, and random passersby. The black-and-white imagery wasn't chosen for the "atmosphere," but simply because there wasn't enough money for color film.

The comedy turned out to be very daring. Discussions of sex and drugs, which Hollywood films tended to avoid, became the hallmark of "Clerks." Smith hit the mark: the youth of the '90s saw themselves on screen—with all the silly jokes and eternal questions of "What next?" All this made "Clerks" the voice of a generation and a classic of indie cinema.

Pi (1998) — $60,000

Darren Aronofsky spent just $60,000 on the filming of this psychedelic drama — mostly money from friends and family. The film "Pi" is a dark story about mathematician Max Cohen, who tries to calculate the secret of the universe and gradually loses touch with reality.

Black-and-white shooting, stylized as vintage. A man holds a slinky toy in his hand — A scene from 'Pi'

The black-and-white visuals, sharp edits, and obsessive soundtrack only enhance the feeling that the viewer is going insane along with the protagonist. When we rewatched "Pi" in the editorial office, we almost felt a physical tension — as if the film was about to break into pixels along with Cohen's mind.

The drama won the Directing Award at the Sundance Festival and became the first step to fame for the creator of future hits "Requiem for a Dream" and "Black Swan." Although more than 25 years have passed since the film's release, it still captivates audiences, as evidenced by its 7.3 rating on IMDb.

These films are a reminder that big ideas don't always require big budgets. The main thing is talent, audacity, and a bit of luck. Which of these films impressed you the most? Let's discuss in the comments!