13 Highly Successful Movies That Earned 100 Times Their Production Cost at the Box Office

      These films achieved returns of over 100 times their budgets at the box office, ranking them among the most lucrative movies in history.

      First, Let's Discuss Box Office vs Return on Investment

      Disney

      In the realm of the highest-grossing films ever, blockbusters like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame stand out, grossing billions globally. However, those figures seem less remarkable considering their production costs; Avengers: Endgame, for instance, is reported to have cost between $350 and $400 million to produce.

      The movies that made over 100 times their budgets at the box office often started with smaller investments.

      Mad Max (1979)

      Roadshow Film Distributors

      Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is currently underperforming at the box office, despite positive reviews from viewers. It has made $32 million during one of the worst Memorial Day weekends in years (excluding 2020 when theaters were largely closed).

      In contrast, the original film, Mad Max from 1979, was a significant box office success. Produced on a shoestring budget of about $250,000, this Australian dystopian action drama grossed $100 million, resulting in a return of 400 times its budget.

      Not only did it launch Mel Gibson to stardom, but it also gave birth to one of the most lasting film franchises.

      Halloween (1978)

      Compass International Pictures

      We could have compiled a list dedicated entirely to horror films qualifying for this category. Halloween is already the second entry, and we'll include a couple more, as we aimed for variety. Nevertheless, Halloween deserves a spot, as John Carpenter played a pivotal role in transforming horror cinema. It remains a standout in the genre.

      While some have claimed that Halloween originated the slasher film, that is inaccurate; Bob Clark’s Black Christmas predates it, as do certain Italian horror flicks. Nevertheless, Halloween popularized the genre in the U.S. and helped establish several key elements.

      Moreover, it generated substantial profits. Carpenter's film was produced for around $300,000 and ended up earning $70 million globally, easily securing its place among movies that made over 100 times their budget at the box office, actually making more than 200 times its investment. That's a profitable film.

      Super Size Me (2004)

      Samuel Goldwyn Films

      Several successful documentaries could qualify for this list, as they typically have lower production costs. We’re highlighting one of the most well-known and impactful documentaries, Super Size Me, by Morgan Spurlock, who sadly passed away from cancer last year at the age of 53.

      By popularizing the "stunt documentary" subgenre, Spurlock ate exclusively at McDonald's for a month to examine its effects on his health. It sparked widespread conversation, altered perceptions about fast food, and effectively led to the discontinuation of the Super Size option at McDonald's and similar offerings elsewhere. Furthermore, it was financially successful.

      With a budget of $65,000, it grossed $22 million.

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

      Bryanston Distributing Company

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre represents both a precursor to the slasher genre and to the found footage horror style. It was marketed as based on true events, though that wasn’t the case, serving as a critique of the sensationalistic "if it bleeds, it leads" journalism of the time. Additionally, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is arguably one of the top movies of all time, and its tagline, “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” is also iconic.

      Made on a meager budget, which can be achievable when your primary special effect involves a chainsaw, Tobe Hooper’s film reportedly cost less than $140,000, with estimates as low as $80,000.

      It went on to earn $30.9 million, delivering a remarkable return on investment and inspiring generations of horror filmmakers. This highly profitable film influenced a variety of subsequent movies, from Pearl to Alien, and it is included in our list of the Scariest Horror Movies of the 1970s.

      The Blair Witch Project (1999)

      Artisan Entertainment – Credit: C/O

      Today, a phenomenon like The Blair Witch Project would be nearly impossible, and the associated social media buzz would likely be overwhelming. It may not be the first found-footage horror film, but it elevated the concept commercially and led to an increased focus on this style in the following years.

      The marketing claimed that The Blair Witch Project was a documentary rather than fiction, with the unknown actors portrayed as real missing persons. The burgeoning internet in 1999 aided its marketing. Eventually, the truth about its fictional nature became clear, though the "witch" angle should have suggested as much.

      Nevertheless, this phenomenon grossed $248.6 million worldwide from a budget of under $1 million.

      Friday the 13th (1980)

      Paramount

      What if you took