5 Horror Films That Generated 200 Times Their Production Budget at the Box Office

      Horror has consistently proven to be a strong performer at the box office, and these five films exemplify this fact: Here are five iconic horror movies that earned at least 200 times their production budget.

      What unites them? Minimal budgets, compelling ideas, and no big-name stars — the concept itself takes center stage.

      Interestingly, one film on this list did launch its lead actress into stardom.

      Let’s dive in.

      **Night of the Living Dead (1968)**

      Continental Distributing – Credit: C/O

      George Romero’s classic zombie horror film was filmed in black and white near Pittsburgh for under $125,000, featuring an unknown cast.

      While zombie films were made before, Romero’s brought a chilling atmosphere, tight storytelling, and no campiness — it felt like a post-apocalyptic, observer-style documentary, which is one reason it remains captivating today.

      It grossed over $30 million — more than 200 times its budget — inspiring a reboot, sequels, and countless imitators.

      It doesn't get much more successful in indie filmmaking than this.

      **The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)**

      Bryanston Distributing Company

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre also benefited from its straightforward approach — there's a very unsettling feeling that what unfolds on screen is truly happening or could happen in reality.

      Tobe Hooper produced the film for under $140,000, and it went on to earn $30.9 million. Its influence can be seen in numerous films since, including X and Alien.

      Recently, it has garnered renewed attention due to the successful Netflix series, *Monster: The Ed Gein Story*, since real-life Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein was one of the inspirations for Leatherface, the main antagonist of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

      Gein also inspired the villains in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 *Psycho* and the 1991 *The Silence of the Lambs*. While both are highly profitable classics, they did not achieve the same level of profit as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which made significantly more than 200 times its production budget.

      **Halloween (1978)**

      Compass International Pictures – Credit: Sony Pictures

      *Halloween* is the only film on this list that propelled one of its leads to stardom — Jamie Lee Curtis continues to thrive today and recently earned her first Oscar for her supporting role in *Everything Everywhere All at Once*.

      Then-couple John Carpenter and Debra Hill crafted the tight, haunting script for *Halloween*, set in an all-American town named after Hill’s birthplace, the charming Philadelphia suburb of Haddonfield, New Jersey. The outcome is one of the most terrifying horror films of the 1970s — and indeed, any decade.

      *Halloween* grossed $70 million globally and launched a franchise boasting a total of 13 films, including *Halloween Ends*, which Jamie Lee Curtis has indicated will be her final portrayal of Laurie Strode.

      We’ll see how that unfolds.

      **The Blair Witch Project (1999)**

      Artisan Entertainment – Credit: C/O

      In the early days of widespread internet use, many viewers were genuinely uncertain whether *The Blair Witch Project* was a real documentary or a fictional found-footage tale. The found-footage style was still relatively new, making *The Blair Witch Project* even more frightening.

      Constrained by a limited budget, the filmmakers cleverly chose to omit many elements — or suggest them. The most chilling moment in *The Blair Witch Project*, in our opinion, is simply a character standing in a corner, overwhelmed with guilt and shame.

      Filmed in Maryland for less than $1 million, it grossed $248.6 million. *The Blair Witch Project* led to several attempts to recapture the original's dark allure, but few films have succeeded.

      **Paranormal Activity (2007)**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      Another success in found-footage horror, Oren Peli’s *Paranormal Activity* unfolds through footage from a stationary home video camera. Initially filmed for $15,000, it was picked up by Paramount, which invested an additional $200,000 to amplify the scares and add a new ending.

      That investment proved fruitful: *Paranormal Activity* grossed $194.2 million and generated several sequels.

      The impact of *Paranormal Activity* can be seen in many horror films, including the recent *Weapons*, which features nearly hypnotic Ring camera and CCTV footage of children running away… somewhere. We won’t spoil the film. But if you're looking for a truly frightening preview, we recommend taking a look.

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      Main image: *The Texas Chain Saw Massacre*. Bryanston Distributing Company.

      Editor’s Note: Corrects spacing in Chain Saw; corrects main image.