One of the most surprising facts about the film industry is that the biggest budgets often end up being the most successful. The most expensive movies in history earned nearly 70 times more than their budgets. Here are some examples of movies that made the most money with small budgets. A film that cost a mere $1 million will not break the bank, but it's still worth seeing for the sheer entertainment value. Also, check out these examples of the cheapest movies ever made.

12 Angry Men

One of the best-selling films of all time, Marty, cost just $2 million to make. It was the first successful TV-to-movie adaptation. Apparently, studios like United Artists were open to strip-mining television dramas to find a movie script. And they were right. 12 Angry Men grossed $1 million, which was still not enough to cover the costs of production.

After seeing the teleplay, Henry Fonda contacted producer Reginald Rose. Lumet had been working under a strict deadline and was known for being efficient. Ultimately, Fonda and Rose opted for Sidney Lumet to direct the movie. They also chose the film's director, Sidney Lumet, who was 33 years old and had directed countless episodes of CBS television shows.

Although Sidney Lumet trained as a playwright, he did not take his training in theater into consideration when directing the film. In fact, he used his experience in live television dramas to make 12 Angry Men. Despite the fact that the film was one of the cheapest films ever made, it received three Oscar nominations. The budget was so tight that the director had to bob and weave to make the film on time.

Halloween

The horror movie Halloween was produced for a low budget of just $320,000, despite its box office success. The movie starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance, but it actually earned more than seventy million dollars worldwide. The movie also has an unusual storyline: the escaped sociopath Michael Myers is stalking a young woman named Laurie Strode. The original movie cost just $300,000 to produce, so the cost of the remake was only $10 million. The resulting movie has become a horror classic, making the cost of producing it extremely low.

Another movie with a low budget is Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock's classic film almost ended his career due to the difficulties of production. The original movie cost only $800,000 to make, and the movie was shot in black and white and used chocolate syrup for blood. This movie is just one of the many great movies that were produced for a budget of just a few million dollars. You might be surprised at just how much of your favorite movies cost.

Another horror movie that is cheap is "Halloween II." Harris' character, Annie, is the movie's star. Many fans of the franchise have remarked that she deserves a return appearance as the titular character. However, this movie is far less fun than the original. While the film does feature an awesome performance by Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan in The Mandalorian), it is still not the best movie in the series.

Jigsaw

The cheap-looking cast of Jigsaw is enough to make the film a sleeper hit with the masses, but the plot is rather thin. After all, the movie is mostly about two college students who play video games together. While one of them, Logan Nelson, survives the game and becomes the next apprentice of John Kramer, the creator of Jigsaw. The second half of Jigsaw features an enticing story about two high school kids who fall in love.

One of Jigsaw's best moments is the chase sequence. The hysteria surrounding the chase sequence is entertaining and well-acted. The film opens with a shot-for-TV police chase and ends with a new "game" in the distance. It also features an amiable and a serious character named Detective Halloran, who has some great lines in the movie.

The plot of Jigsaw is somewhat predictable. The first half deals with the "Jigsaw" killer and the class's rejection of his request for cancer treatment. The film's "twist" seems moot. While Tobin Bell returns to expand #TeamJigsaw's base, Jigsaw fails to live up to its initial promise. Ultimately, Jigsaw does not feel like a Jigsaw movie.

Split

The film Split is a highly-anticipated sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's blockbuster 2000 film, which cost only $9 million to make. Although it's not marketed as a sequel, Split was the first "stealth sequel" and first solo supervillain origin movie. It's hoped that Split will surpass Unbreakable, which topped the box office in its first five sessions, and that Split will earn over $135 million domestically. Despite the low cost of production, the film has already grossed over $100 million in the United States, and is now a potential sequel to Shyamalan's Unbreakable series.

While most get-rich-quick schemes are scams, making movies is a different story. Horror movies are easy to make, but not so much money is required to fund them. Still, the movie Split has already earned back its $9 million budget fifteen times over. And the film's budget of $9 million may be the lowest among all films ever made, but it's a success story nonetheless.

The movie Split is a psychological thriller that was self-financed by M. Night Shyamalan in an effort to retain creative control. As a result, Split is the best reviewed film since Signs in 2004. It is predicted to gross at least $23 million this weekend. Its success has encouraged the director to embrace low-budget films and make more of them. So, what's the secret behind Split's huge success?

Napoleon Dynamite

The film Napoleon Dynamite was one of the cheapest movies ever made and grossed over $248 million worldwide. Despite the low budget, the movie was so successful that it gained a cult following, becoming a staple of popular culture. Incredibly, the film was made on a shoestring budget of only $400,000.

The premise of the film is based on the life of a young man in his late teens. The characters are cynical and awkward, yet they do what they can to get out of a jam-packed day. The movie is so funny that you'll find yourself quoting the film over again. The resulting movie memes are hilarious and the film remains popular in this day and age.

The film grossed over $1 billion at the box office. While the budget of the movie was small, the actors' salaries and production costs were very expensive. It also had expensive special effects. The actors' salaries accounted for a large portion of the budget. And it's worth mentioning that Andrew Stanton, the first live-action director, directed the film. But with the huge budget, it wasn't enough to make the movie successful.

Paranormal Activity

If you think Paranormal Activity is one of the cheapest horror movies ever made, you're wrong. The director spent only $15k on the film's production and it's still one of the most successful horror films of all time. Even though the film is not a Hollywood blockbuster, the movie did make $193.4 million at the box office. The movie is based on true events, and its realism makes it a great choice for viewers.

Peli's vision for "Paranormal Activity" was simple and direct. He shot the film in his own house and cast actors with little or no experience. He also filmed the film in seven days with a handheld camera. This allowed him to avoid major setpieces and expensive visual effects. Ultimately, the film relies on the viewer's imagination to build suspense. It's a great example of how a low budget can make a big movie.

The movie made $193 million at the box office, thanks in part to its positive reviews. The film's success may have lowered the costs for Paranormal, but Paramount also took advantage of smart marketing and distribution strategies to get a bigger audience. It was initially released in limited theaters, but was released to the general public the weekend before Halloween, when it was widely seen. The film went on to earn nearly $200 million worldwide - making it one of the cheapest movies ever made.

Saw

The first Saw film grossed $103.9 million worldwide against a meager $1.2 million budget, launching a lucrative horror franchise that continues to produce low-budget box office hits. Saw's low-budget beginnings enabled the film to capture the imagination of viewers and sustain a high level of word-of-mouth for the duration of its October and November box office runs. As the Saw franchise has continued to expand, the filmmakers have increased the budgets for the sequels.

The storyline of Saw is simple, but the results are disturbing. The movie's diabolical mastermind, Jigsaw, forces people to make horrifying decisions. Director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell originally shot a seven-minute short of Jigsaw's actions, and Twisted Pictures turned it into a feature film for a mere $1.5 million. As a result, Saw has become one of the most atypical horror films.

The first Saw movie cost only $1.2 million and was almost destined for the DVD shelf. In spite of this, the movie's enduring appeal has been boosted by a massive wave of merchandise. The "Saw" franchise has gone on to gross over $1 billion worldwide, and the latest installment, titled "Saw III," is expected to open Oct. 24. "Saw III" made $137 million worldwide. As the third installment is expected to be a hit, Lionsgate's plan to release a new Saw film every Halloween is about to be tested.