10 Great Low Budget Movies Which Cleaned Up At The Box Office

10. Monster

Gareth Edwards' directorial debut is a fine example of how low budget movie production can yield impressive results thanks to developments in technology and software which allows even the most budget-constrained filmmaker to achieve professional results. Monsters stars Scoot McNairy as photojournalist Andrew Kaulder who has to escort his employer's daughter (Whitney Able) through an infected zone in Mexico where giant tentacled monsters roam freely. Edwards builds tension with subtle suggestions and only reveals the creatures fully towards the end of the film, but enhances the intrigue with subtexts involving broader politics and personal relationships. It certainly impressed the right people in Hollywood - Edwards went on to direct the mega-budget remake of Godzilla, released earlier this year. Budget: under $500,000 Box office: $4.2 million