20 Horror Movies WAY More Successful Than Anyone Expected
18. Saw
Inspired by micro-budget flicks like Pi and The Blair Witch Project, Leigh Whannell and James Wan created a nine-minute short called Saw in 2003. Its positive reception led to Lionsgate green-lighting a feature based on the property, with Whannell and Wan at the helm.
However, the odds were stacked against the pair, since they had little experience in the industry and were forced to work with a shoestring budget. Also, Saw was part detective drama, part body horror, making it an absolute nightmare to market. To top it all off, the trailers emphasised the film's gore, which could've turned off casuals.
Contrary to predictions, the million-dollar gamble was a smash, bringing in over $100 million. Word-of-mouth from fervent fans combined with a startling twist ending propelled the mystery thriller to instant classic status, and it quickly spawned a long-running franchise and annual Halloween releases, dominating October every year for the next six years.
Furthermore, Saw popularised the torture genre, which may have helped similar titles like Wolf Creek, The Devil's Rejects, and Hostel receive recognition. Sure, Saw's content is disturbing as hell, but its unexpected success is deeply uplifting.