12 Highly Profitable Films That Generated 100 Times Their Production Budget at the Box Office

      These lucrative films have garnered 100 times their production costs at the box office, placing them among the most profitable movies ever created.

      However, let's first discuss Box Office versus Return on Investment.

      Disney

      In the realm of the highest-grossing films of all time, blockbusters like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame reign supreme, each generating billions in revenue globally.

      Yet, those figures lose some of their luster when weighed against their production costs. For instance, Endgame's reported production expenses fell between $350 and $400 million.

      The highly profitable films that have surpassed 100 times their budget at the box office often commenced with modest beginnings.

      Mad Max (1979)

      Roadshow Film Distributors

      Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is currently experiencing challenges at the box office, despite positive reviews from those who have seen it. It accumulated $32 million during the weakest Memorial Day Weekend in decades (excluding 2020, when cinemas were largely closed).

      Conversely, the inaugural film in the franchise, 1979's Mad Max, was a notable box office success. Produced on a shoestring budget of approximately $250,000, this Australian dystopian action drama reeled in $100 million—400 times its production cost.

      This film not only introduced a young Mel Gibson to a wider audience but also gave rise to one of cinema's most enduring franchises.

      Halloween (1978)

      Compass International Pictures

      We could easily compile a list solely featuring horror films that qualify for this accolade. Halloween is the second mention, with more such films included for variety. Still, Halloween deserves a spot, as John Carpenter significantly influenced the horror genre. It remains a standout in the realm of horror cinema.

      Although some have claimed Halloween invented the slasher film, this isn't entirely accurate; Bob Clark's Black Christmas preceded it, along with a few Italian horror films. Nonetheless, Halloween did popularize the slasher genre in America and contributed to defining its key elements.

      Moreover, it proved to be a financial success. Carpenter’s film had a production cost of around $300,000 but went on to earn $70 million worldwide, easily qualifying it for our list of films that made over 100 times their budget. In fact, it generated more than 200 times its production cost—that's a profitable film.

      Super Size Me (2004)

      Samuel Goldwyn Films

      Numerous successful documentaries could make the list of films that earned 100 times their budget, as documentaries typically have low production costs. To represent this genre, we chose one of the most famous documentaries—Super Size Me—created by Morgan Spurlock, who sadly passed away from cancer last year at the age of 53.

      Spurlock’s "stunt documentary" popularized the genre as he consumed only McDonald’s for a month to analyze its impact on his health, initiating conversations about fast food and leading to the discontinuation of the Super Size option at McDonald's and similar offerings elsewhere. And yes, it was a huge financial success.

      Produced on a budget of $65,000, it generated $22 million.

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

      Bryanston Distributing Company

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a precursor to both slasher and found footage horror films. Marketed as being based on a true story, it criticized the sensationalist news of the era. Additionally, the film is arguably one of the top-10 titles of all time, with the unforgettable tagline, “Who will survive and what will be left of them?”

      Tobe Hooper’s film was made cheaply, utilizing a chainsaw as its primary special effect. The production budget was under $140,000, with some estimates as low as $80,000.

      It ultimately grossed $30.9 million, resulting in a remarkable return on investment while influencing countless future horror filmmakers. A highly profitable movie that would inspire a diverse range of films, from Pearl to Alien.

      And it appears on our list of the Top 1970s Horror Movies, Ranked by Box Office.

      The Blair Witch Project (1999)

      Artisan Entertainment

      Nowadays, replicating the phenomenon of The Blair Witch Project would be nearly impossible, and the social media buzz surrounding such a film would likely be overwhelming. While it wasn't the first found-footage horror film, it elevated the concept to new commercial heights and galvanized a trend in the style thereafter.

      The marketing promoted The Blair Witch Project as a documentary rather than a fictional narrative. The actors, all unknown, were presented as real missing individuals. It helped that the internet was beginning to expand significantly in 1999, which aided in the film's marketing as well. Over time, it became evident that it was a fictional work, although the "witch" aspect should have been an indicator.

      Nevertheless, the phenomenon amassed $248.6 million globally from a budget of less than $1 million.

      Friday the 13th (1980)

      Paramount

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