8 Great Films Made On A Shoestring Budget

8. Slacker

Costing only $23,000 to make, Richard Linklater's indie dramedy Slacker (1990) caused an eruption of indie filmmaking in the 90s. Its simplistic structure, plotless, character-driven narrative and philosophical themes made it a big hit upon its release, and saw Linklater come into his own as a filmmaker.

Following an odd assortment of strange, endearing, relatable and hilarious characters, Slacker thrives off its whip-smart dialogue and character interactions. There are no expensive sets, no big-name actors and no major narrative hook. But it is nonetheless an enchanting journey, full of life, philosophical musings and thoughtful and funny monologues.

It earned $1,200,000 at the box office, giving Linklater a chance to try his hand at making a slightly bigger indie flick a couple of years later. He ended up making Dazed and Confused (1993), cementing himself as one of the leading figures in modern indie filmmaking. Slacker has since gone on to amass a cult following, and still stands as one of the director's best movies.