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

      These successful films generated profits of 100 times their budget at the box office, placing them among the highest-grossing movies in history.

      Some of these films are considered some of the greatest ever made.

      Let’s begin.

      But First, a Note on Box Office vs Return on Investment

      Disney

      When discussing the highest-grossing films ever, blockbusters like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame are often mentioned. These movies generated billions globally.

      However, those figures seem less significant when factoring in their production costs. For instance, Endgame reportedly had a budget ranging from $350 to $400 million.

      The truly lucrative films that made over 100 times their production budget often started with a modest approach.

      Mad Max (1979)

      Roadshow Film Distributors

      Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is currently facing challenges at the box office, despite receiving positive reviews from viewers. (It has grossed $32 million during a Memorial Day weekend that has been deemed the worst in decades—excluding 2020, when theaters were largely shut down.)

      In contrast, the original film in the franchise, 1979’s Mad Max, was a clear box office success. Produced for approximately $250,000, this Australian dystopian action film earned $100 million, equating to 400 times its budget.

      Not only did it introduce a young Mel Gibson to a wider audience, but it also gave rise to one of the most enduring film franchises.

      Halloween (1978)

      Compass International Pictures

      We could compile a list exclusively featuring horror films that qualify for this category. Halloween is the second entry here, and a few more are included for the sake of diversity. That said, Halloween was essential to mention, as John Carpenter significantly influenced the horror genre. Plus, it remains a standout horror film.

      While some claim that Halloween created the slasher genre, that isn’t entirely accurate. Bob Clark’s Black Christmas came first, along with various Italian horror films. However, Halloween did popularize the genre in America and helped define some of its elements.

      Additionally, it was highly profitable. Carpenter’s film was made for around $300,000 but went on to earn $70 million worldwide, easily placing it on our list of films that made over 100 times their budget. In fact, it made more than 200 times its budget—truly a lucrative film.

      Super Size Me (2004)

      Samuel Goldwyn Films

      Numerous successful documentaries could fit into this category, as they typically don’t have high production costs. To represent the genre, we chose one of the most well-known documentaries that also provided substantial value. That film is Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock, who sadly passed away from cancer last year at the age of 53.

      Spurlock’s stunt documentary style gained popularity when he exclusively consumed McDonald’s for a month to observe its effects on his health. It sparked widespread discussion, shifted opinions on fast food, and ultimately contributed to ending the Super Size option at McDonald’s and similar offerings elsewhere. Plus, it was a financial success.

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

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

      Bryanston Distributing Company

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is regarded as both a precursor to the slasher and found footage horror genres. It was marketed as being inspired by a true story, although that was misleading, representing a critique of sensationalist news reporting at the time. Furthermore, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is arguably among the top 10 films of all time, with the tagline, “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” remaining iconic.

      Tobe Hooper’s film was produced inexpensively, allowing for a budget-friendly approach, especially when the main special effect is simply a chainsaw. The film was made for under $140,000, with some estimates as low as $80,000.

      It went on to gross $30.9 million, yielding an impressive return on investment and influencing countless horror filmmakers in the years that followed. A very profitable film, it inspired a diverse array of movies, ranging from Pearl to Alien.

      It's also included in our list of the Top 1970s Horror Movies, Ranked by Box Office.

      The Blair Witch Project (1999)

      Artisan Entertainment – Credit: C/O

      In today's world, a phenomenon like The Blair Witch Project would be nearly impossible to replicate, with social media discourse around it likely overwhelming. While not the first found-footage horror film, it significantly elevated the concept commercially and sparked a trend for future similar styles.

      The marketing led viewers to believe that The Blair Witch Project was a documentary rather than a fictional film. The actors, all relatively unknown, were presented as real missing individuals. The internet’s expanding presence in 1999 also aided the film's promotion. Eventually, it became clear that it was a fictional piece, although the “witch” aspect should have hinted