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Movies with Budgets Under $20,000

by craiginzana • Created 4 years ago • Modified 4 years ago
Truly scrappy films in a world of $1 million+ being considered "low budget".
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  • 28 titles
  • Primer (2004)

    1. Primer

    20041h 17mPG-1368Metascore
    6.7 (119K)
    Four friends/fledgling entrepreneurs, knowing that there's something bigger and more innovative than the different error-checking devices they've built, wrestle over their new invention.
    DirectorShane CarruthStarsShane CarruthDavid SullivanCasey Gooden
    $7,000
  • El Mariachi (1992)

    2. El Mariachi

    19921h 21mR73Metascore
    6.8 (74K)
    A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.
    DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsCarlos GallardoConsuelo GómezJaime de Hoyos
    $7,000
  • Jeremy Theobald in Following (1998)

    3. Following

    19981h 9mR60Metascore
    7.4 (107K)
    A young writer who follows strangers for material meets a thief who takes him under his wing.
    DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJeremy TheobaldAlex HawLucy Russell
    $6,000
  • Imani Khiry and Bill Nally in Blood on the Leaves (2016)

    4. Blood on the Leaves

    20161h 36m
    6.1 (85)
    A city boy and country hunter find themselves at a deadly impasse in rural Pennsylvania. All of their unspoken stereotypes, hopes, and fears boil to the surface.
    DirectorVincent BarnardStarsImani KhiryBill NallyBrendon Taylor
    $10,000
  • Jack Nance in Eraserhead (1977)

    5. Eraserhead

    19771h 29mNot Rated87Metascore
    7.3 (138K)
    Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newborn mutant child.
    DirectorDavid LynchStarsJack NanceCharlotte StewartAllen Joseph
    $10,000
  • Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat in Paranormal Activity (2007)

    6. Paranormal Activity

    20071h 26mR68Metascore
    6.3 (266K)
    After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.
    DirectorOren PeliStarsKatie FeatherstonMicah SloatMark Fredrichs
    $15,000 (but backed by a massive marketing campaign)
  • The Castle (1997)

    7. The Castle

    19971h 25mR
    7.6 (18K)
    A working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.
    DirectorRob SitchStarsMichael CatonAnne TenneyStephen Curry
    $20,000
  • Drew Barrymore and Brian Herzlinger in My Date with Drew (2004)

    8. My Date with Drew

    20041h 30mPG51Metascore
    6.5 (4.8K)
    Since the second grade, Brian has had a crush on Drew Barrymore and now 20 years later he wants to fulfill his dream by asking her on a date.
    DirectorsJon GunnBrian HerzlingerBrett WinnStarsBrian HerzlingerDrew BarrymoreJohn August
  • Steel Spirit (2002)

    9. Steel Spirit

    20021h 30mNot Rated
    7.5 (28)
    This 90-minute, emotionally charged action adventure will have you asking yourself, "Who would I trust?" as Dallas McQuaid struggles to stay alive after a five million-dollar bounty is placed on his head by his archenemy, Bruce Costas. The mentally unstable McQuaid, a Former U.S. Marine with a brief background in the CIA, had set his sights on the underworld. His reputation as our country's most feared bounty hunter flourished as he captured 46 of America's 100 Most Wanted. So how does a hero become the hunted? Seven years after his disappearance, a blue-collar car salesman's identity is exposed, and peace and seclusion are sacrificed for survival. While being hunted by every lowlife bounty hunter looking for beer money, McQuaid searches for friends among foes. Reunited with his best friend, Jack O'Donnell; ex-wife, Jennifer; and his old friend, Detective John Coleman, McQuaid quickly discovers that sometimes loyalty is purely superficial. After the sound of the gunfire, missiles, and jet engines stop, you will be left listing to be the beating of one mans heart. People live, people die, and angels fly.
    DirectorSteven J. PershingStarsSteven AlversonBill BenferGene Bozi
  • Socrates (2018)

    10. Socrates

    20181h 11mNot Rated82Metascore
    7.1 (1.3K)
    After his mother's sudden death, Socrates, a 15-year-old living on the margins of São Paulo's coast, must survive on his own while coming to terms with his grief.
    DirectorAlexandre MorattoStarsChristian MalheirosTales OrdakjiJayme Rodrigues
  • Lucas Till and Jason Trost in All Superheroes Must Die (2011)

    11. All Superheroes Must Die

    20111h 18mUnrated
    3.9 (2.4K)
    Four super heroes find themselves abducted by their arch nemesis and are forced to compete in a series of deadly challenges in order to save an abandoned town full of kidnapped innocent civilians.
    DirectorJason TrostStarsJason TrostLucas TillJames Remar
  • Paul Devlin and Jim Wood in The Front Man (2014)

    12. The Front Man

    20141h 13mNot Rated
    8.6 (9)
    Disillusioned by the broken promise of rock 'n roll, but still plagued by dreams of stardom, a charismatic musician goes on a 27-year journey in search of the meaning of success.
    DirectorPaul DevlinStarsDaniel J. SnyderGreg SwansonGlen Burtnick
  • The Ridges (2011)

    13. The Ridges

    20111h 29mNot Rated
    3.0 (152)
    Four college students at Ohio University set out to make a documentary proving that spirits and the paranormal are not real. In order to do this, they plan to film their investigation of an old lunatic asylum in Athens, OH. Their investigation proves more than they could have anticipated.
    DirectorBrandon LandersStarsRobbie BarnesRobert GrantAlana Kaniewski
  • The Puffy Chair (2005)

    14. The Puffy Chair

    20051h 25mR73Metascore
    6.5 (5.4K)
    Josh Sagers drives cross-country on a mission to deliver his father's birthday gift - a giant purple LazyBoy.
    DirectorsJay DuplassMark DuplassStarsMark DuplassKatie AseltonRhett Wilkins
  • Stories of Our Lives (2014)

    15. Stories of Our Lives

    20141h
    7.6 (111)
    A collection of five vignettes about Kenya's LGBT community.
    DirectorJim ChuchuStarsKelly GichohiPaul OgolaTim Mutungi
  • Divine in Pink Flamingos (1972)

    16. Pink Flamingos

    19721h 33mNC-1747Metascore
    6.0 (30K)
    Notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Divine goes up against a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive".
    DirectorJohn WatersStarsDivineDavid LocharyMary Vivian Pearce
  • Gorio in Grip: A Criminal's Story (2006)

    17. Grip: A Criminal's Story

    20061h 59mNot Rated
    6.4 (14)
    After betting a fellow inmate he would not return to prison, recently released ex-con, Grip, tries to make an honest living but is soon re-introduced to the world of guns and thugs headed by his older brother Maurice.
    DirectorsGorioKing JeffStarsCraig DerocheGorioRoy L. Jackson Jr.
  • Tin Can Man (2007)

    18. Tin Can Man

    20071h 23mNot Rated
    5.9 (180)
    Recently dumped by his girlfriend for another man, working in a job he hates, things could be better for Peter. One night, while he is alone in his apartment, there is a knock at the door. His life will never be the same again.
    DirectorIvan KavanaghStarsPatrick O'DonnellMichael ParleEmma Eliza Regan
  • Clean (2006)

    19. Clean

    20061h 11mNot RatedVideo
    4.1 (79)
    A dangerous serial killer decides to go out with a bang when he is invited by a mysterious group of fellow murderers for an evening of snuff and torture. One by one, the killers will become the victims.
    DirectorAlexandre MichaudStarsMarco CalliariSebastien CroteauMartin Dubreuil
  • On the Downlow (2004)

    20. On the Downlow

    20041h 24mNot Rated
    5.7 (195)
    Isaac and Angel are two young Latinos involved in a south side Chicago gang. They have a secret in a world where secrets are forbidden.
    DirectorTadeo GarciaStarsTony SanchoMichael CortezDonato Cruz
  • King Jeff, El Timo, Eddy Lacy, and Gorio in Bang (1996)

    21. Bang

    19961h 25mRVideo
    4.2 (32)
    Four police officers are kidnapped by gang members who vow to kill one cop every hour.
    DirectorKing JeffStarsCraig DerocheGorioKing Jeff
  • Dormeshia Sumbry in The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang (2007)

    22. The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang

    20071h 30m
    8.4 (16)
    An irresponsible party girl begins a journey to re-discover her tap dancing roots.
    DirectorStacie HawkinsStarsTony CazeauMee-ae Chatmon-NelsonAngela Cobb
  • Family Motocross (2007)

    23. Family Motocross

    200755mNot RatedVideo
    PeeWee's, Mini's, Privateers and Pro's all take their turns on the screen in this fun, fast paced look at the sport Motocross on a local level. Filmed on location at Lake Elsinore Motocross park, and Starwest Motocross Park in Southern California...Get into the action with race footage, rider interviews, and exciting helmet-cam views of the track. A family friendly program suitable for all ages.
    DirectorGary RobertStarTamara Apted Heath
  • Newlyweds (2011)

    24. Newlyweds

    20111h 35mNot Rated
    6.3 (1.7K)
    Newlyweds Buzzy and Katie find their blissful life disrupted by the arrival of his half-sister and news of her sister's marriage troubles.
    DirectorEdward BurnsStarsEdward BurnsCaitlin FitzGeraldKerry Bishé
  • Cavite (2005)

    25. Cavite

    20051h 20mNot Rated64Metascore
    6.0 (683)
    Flying back to his home country, an American man is informed that his mother and sister have been kidnapped and will be killed if he doesn't comply with certain demands.
    DirectorsNeill Dela LlanaIan GamazonStarsIan GamazonEdwin LagdaEdgar Tancangco

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