5 Horror Movies That Made 200 Times Their Production Cost at the Box Office

      Here are five iconic horror movies that earned at least 200 times their budget at the box office.

      What do they share in common? They all had small budgets, compelling concepts, and featured no major stars — as the concept itself was the real star.

      Notably, one film from this list did elevate its leading actress to stardom.

      Let’s get started.

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

      Continental Distributing – Credit: C/O

      George Romero’s seminal zombie film was filmed in black and white near Pittsburgh for under $125,000, featuring a cast of newcomers.

      While zombie films were made prior, Romero’s work brought an unsettling atmosphere, tight storytelling, and no campiness — it felt like a post-apocalyptic, fly-on-the-wall documentary, which contributes to its continued appeal today.

      It grossed over $30 million — more than 200 times its budget — and inspired reboots, sequels, and numerous imitations.

      This is about as successful as indie filmmaking can get.

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

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      The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was effective in presenting its horror straight — creating a chilling feeling that the events on screen are real or could realistically occur.

      Tobe Hooper produced the film for less than $140,000, and it went on to gross $30.9 million. Its impact can be seen in many subsequent films, including X and Alien.

      Recently, it's gained renewed interest due to the popular Netflix series Monster: The Ed Gein Story, as real-life Wisconsin killer Ed Gein inspired Leatherface, the main antagonist of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

      Gein also influenced the villains in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 Psycho and 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. Both are highly profitable classics, yet neither reached the profitability of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which made over 200 times its budget.

      **Halloween (1978)**

      Compass International Pictures – Credit: Sony Pictures

      Halloween is the only film on this list that catapulted one of its stars to fame — Jamie Lee Curtis remains a prominent figure today and recently won her first Oscar for her supporting role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

      Former couple John Carpenter and Debra Hill worked together on the gripping, haunting script for Halloween, set in an all-American town named after Hill’s birthplace, the quaint Philadelphia suburb of Haddonfield, New Jersey. The outcome is one of the most frightening horror films of the 1970s — or any era.

      Halloween went on to gross $70 million worldwide and spawned a film franchise with a total of 13 films, including Halloween Ends, which Jamie Lee Curtis has claimed will be her final performance as 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 usage, audiences were truly uncertain whether The Blair Witch Project was a real documentary or a fictional found-footage story. The found-footage style was still new, making The Blair Witch Project even more chilling.

      Limited by their budget, the filmmakers wisely decided to withhold or suggest many elements. The most frightening moment in The Blair Witch Project, in our opinion, is simply a man standing in a corner, overwhelmed by 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 capture the original's eerie essence, but very few films have succeeded.

      **Paranormal Activity (2007)**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

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

      That investment reaped rewards: Paranormal Activity grossed $194.2 million and resulted in several sequels.

      You can see its influence in many horror films, including the outstanding recent release, Weapons.

      If you enjoyed this list, you might also be interested in our compilation of Movies That Made 100 Times Their Budget. While less remarkable, it’s still quite impressive.

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

      Editor’s Note: Clarifies main image and title and makes updates throughout.