7 Movies With The Lowest Budgets Of All Time

Many of us are so used to seeing films that come with budgets of hundreds of millions of dollars. After all, but the time the actors and crew are paid, the CGI is perfected, and all the sets have been created, it can rack up well into the millions. Amazingly, it doesn't always have to be that way.

The 7 movies with the lowest budgets of all time go to show that some of the best movies have come from the smallest budgets, letting the stars and the camera work do the talking. Although it might not be enough to change Hollywood, it certainly has us questioning where some of that money goes.

1. Napoleon Dynamite saw the lead actor earn just $1,000

What does it take to become a cult classic? If you're anything like 'Napoleon Dynamite,' you need some talented actors and a host of comedy. Amazingly, it brought in just over $116,500 in its opening weekend before going on to make $44.9 million after the first year. However, that all came off of just $400,000 for the budget. As if that's not enough, Jon Heder, aka the lead in 'Napoleon Dynamite,' was paid just $1,000.

2. Rocky saved money as it was written by Sylvester Stallone

While it might be one of the most significant movies of all time, 'Rocky' didn't have the budget that so many people imagine. One of the biggest parts of it all was the fact that Sylvester Stallone was the one to write the movie, meaning they didn't have to pay for expensive Hollywood writers. The film was released in 1976 and had a budget of just under $1 million before it went on to make $225 million at the box office. Adjusted for inflation, that's a total of more than $1 billion in today's money.

3. Friday the 13th set the way for an incredible franchise

It didn't take long for 'Friday the 13th' to jump on the slasher train and create an unforgettable franchise. The first movie paved the way for an incredible story and slasher lead but was made for just $500,000. Eventually, it went on to make $39.7 million in the US alone and $59.8 million across the world, firmly cementing it as one of the best of all time.

4. Mad Max set the record as the most profitable film of the time

It comes to something when a beloved franchise is so popular that it comes back to life several years later. That was the case for 'Mad Max,' but the start of it all was made on a small budget compared to the blockbusters we see later on in the franchise. To start, the 1979 movie was made for just 400,000 Australian dollars (approximately $278,000 in today's money.) However, that all turned around when it brought home $100 million, making it the most profitable movie at the time.

5. Halloween was so cheap that the mask cost just $2

Slashing his way into the box office was none other than Michael Myers in 1978's 'Halloween.' The movie was made on just $350,000 and made a staggering $23 million across the globe, with every aspect of it being made on a budget. Even the famous mask cost just $2 from a costume store, but it was enough to put slasher movies on the map once and for all. To top it off, 'Halloween' is still a franchise that thrives today.

6. American Graffiti was George Lucas' first offering to the world

Long before George Lucas became the name that so many know and love today, he was a simple filmmaker working on 'American Graffiti.' He also didn't have access to the budgets that he does today, producing his first movie for just $770,000. It was an initial success, bringing in $55 million, but things didn't end there. Now, 'American Graffiti' has more than $200 million to its name.

7. The Blair Witch Project might be one of the cheapest movies ever made

Everything about 'The Blair Witch Project' was meant to be a home-produced movie. Amazingly, the entire thing cost somewhere between $35,000 and $60,000, meaning it's one of the movies with the lowest budgets of all time. While that changed when it was handed $200,000 to $750,000 in post-production, it quickly earned that back and more, making $248.6 million at the global box office.

When it comes to movies with the lowest budgets of all time, they show that throwing money at something doesn't necessarily mean it will end up great. Instead, it's all about creating something that will last a lifetime and earn millions of fans if you want to bring home the bacon at the end of it all.