12 Highly Profitable Movies That Made at Least 100 Times Their Production Budget at the Box Office

      These successful films have generated returns of 100 times their budget at the box office, placing them among the most profitable films ever made. Some of these titles are also considered to be among the greatest films in cinema history.

      Let’s dive in.

      First, A Note on Box Office vs Return on Investment

      Disney

      Within the highest-grossing films in history, there are blockbusters such as Avatar and Avengers: Endgame, which have grossed billions globally. However, their earnings are less impressive when factoring in their production costs. For instance, Avengers: Endgame is reported to have cost between $350 million and $400 million to produce.

      The highly profitable films that made over 100 times their budget began with a smaller vision.

      Mad Max (1979)

      Roadshow Film Distributors

      Currently, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is facing challenges at the box office, despite receiving positive feedback from viewers. Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, it garnered $32 million, marking one of the lowest box office performances in decades, excluding 2020 when theaters were largely shut down.

      In contrast, the original film in the franchise, 1979’s Mad Max, was a notable box office success. With a modest production cost of approximately $250,000 in U.S. dollars, the Australian dystopian action film grossed around $100 million, which is 400 times its budget. It not only introduced the young Mel Gibson to wider audiences but also initiated one of the most enduring film franchises in cinema.

      Halloween (1978)

      Compass International Pictures

      A list of horror films that qualify for this category could easily exist. Halloween is the second entry here, and while we have a couple more similar films, we aimed for diversity. Still, Halloween is essential to include due to John Carpenter's influence on the horror genre, and it remains a quintessential horror film.

      Some have claimed that Halloween invented the slasher genre, which is not accurate, as Bob Clark's Black Christmas predates it, along with several Italian horror films. Nonetheless, Halloween popularized the genre in America and codified many of its tropes.

      Moreover, it was incredibly profitable. Carpenters’ film had a budget of around $300,000 and grossed $70 million worldwide, easily earning a spot on our list of films that made over 100 times their budget at the box office. In fact, it returned more than 200 times its investment, qualifying it as a highly profitable film.

      Super Size Me (2004)

      Samuel Goldwyn Films

      Many successful documentaries could feature on this list of films that yielded 100 times their budget, as documentaries are generally low-cost. We chose one of the most well-known documentaries that delivered significant profits: Super Size Me, directed by Morgan Spurlock, who tragically passed away from cancer last year at the age of 53.

      By popularizing the “stunt documentary” subgenre, Spurlock undertook a month-long diet exclusively of McDonald's to examine its impact on his health. The film sparked widespread discussion, changed perceptions about fast food, and effectively ended the Super Size option at McDonald's and similar options elsewhere. Additionally, it was a financial success, generating $22 million from a modest $65,000 budget.

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

      Bryanston Distributing Company

      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre serves as both a precursor to slasher films and to found footage horror. Although it was marketed as based on a true story, it was a criticism of sensationalistic news coverage of the time. Moreover, it is considered one of the standout films in cinema history, with its haunting tagline, “Who will survive and what will be left of them?” being iconic.

      Tobe Hooper’s film was made inexpensively, which is feasible when the main special effect involves a chainsaw. The total production cost was under $140,000, with some estimates as low as $80,000.

      It went on to earn $30.9 million, making it a tremendous return on investment, inspiring scores of future horror filmmakers. This film is also featured in our Top 1970s Horror Movies, Ranked by Box Office.

      The Blair Witch Project (1999)

      Artisan Entertainment – Credit: C/O

      Today, a phenomenon like The Blair Witch Project would be nearly impossible to replicate, and social media discussions around such a film would likely be overwhelming. While it may not have been the first found-footage horror film, it significantly elevated the concept commercially and led to more films adopting a similar style.

      All marketing suggested that The Blair Witch Project was a documentary rather than fiction. The cast, all relatively unknown, was presented as actual missing persons, further heightening the intrigue. The rise of the internet in 1999 also helped promote the film. Eventually, it became clear that the movie was fictional, although the "witch" aspect should have raised suspicions.

      Regardless, the