10 Indie Films That Took the World By Storm
Shot on a shoestring budget, these movies managed to gross millions – and even bagged some Oscars along the way.
1. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Budget: $15,000; Box Office: $193.4 million
A couple moves into a new home and strange things start happening at night.
Paranormal investigator Micah sets up cameras to record any odd occurrences. And odd, they were – from doors moving to shadows lurking, there was enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies.
And then there was the pièce de résistance – the girlfriend, Katie, becomes possessed. It's a chaotic climax as Katie starts acting violent and eventually kills Micah in a demonic frenzy.
2. Juno (2007)
Budget: $7.5 million; Box Office: $231.4 million
Juno is the quirky story of a teenager's unintended pregnancy and her choice to give her baby up for adoption. Juno, the eponymous character, falls pregnant after a fling with her friend Paulie. In an uncharacteristic decision for a teenager, she decides to give the child up for adoption.
The soon-to-be parents, Vanessa and Mark, are introduced, with Mark sharing a mutual love for rock music and horror movies with Juno. But trouble brews in paradise as Mark and Vanessa's relationship crumbles, and Juno doubts her choice of the couple.
3. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Budget: $60,000; Box Office: $248.6 million
Who could forget the Blair Witch Project, a film that ushered in the era of found footage horror? It all begins with a documentary crew investigating a local legend about a witch. The crew goes deeper into the woods, and tensions run high as they get lost.
Weird things start happening, like finding creepy stick figures hanging from trees. Their map disappears, the nights become filled with mysterious noises, and the fear takes its toll. Each member of the crew is slowly driven to insanity and desperation, leaving behind only the footage.
4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Budget: $8 million; Box Office: $100.5 million
Picture this: a dysfunctional family on a road trip with a little girl whose dream is to win a beauty pageant. That's the essence of Little Miss Sunshine.
Olive, the beauty-pageant-obsessed little girl, convinces her family to drive across the country to participate in the "Little Miss Sunshine" contest. They embark on a wild road trip in a VW bus, facing unexpected setbacks like a broken clutch and the death of a grandparent.
Amidst the madness, the family starts to come together in a weirdly wonderful way.
5. Whiplash (2014)
Budget: $3.3 million; Box Office: $49 million
Jazz drumming, a demanding mentor, and an obsession for perfection come together in the gripping drama, Whiplash.
The film revolves around young drummer Andrew, who is accepted into a prestigious music conservatory. His mentor, Fletcher, is known for his tough, borderline abusive teaching methods. Under Fletcher's guidance, Andrew pushes himself to the limit, practicing until his hands bleed.
Their relationship takes a turn for the worse when Fletcher hurls a chair at Andrew in frustration. Andrew's obsession drives him away from his family and girlfriend.
6. Moonlight (2016)
Budget: $4 million; Box Office: $65.3 million
Have you ever wondered what it's like to grow up as a black gay man in Miami? Moonlight shows us. The movie follows Chiron, the protagonist, through three stages of his life – childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
In his childhood, he forms a bond with a local drug dealer, Juan, who acts as a father figure. As an adolescent, Chiron grapples with his sexuality, his relationship with his friend Kevin, and bullying at school. The bullying culminates in a violent confrontation that leads to Chiron's arrest.
7. The Lobster (2015)
Budget: $4 million; Box Office: $18.3 million
What happens in a world where being single is a crime? Welcome to The Lobster. The protagonist, David, finds himself in a hotel where singles are given 45 days to find a partner. Those who fail are turned into animals of their choice.
David wants to be a lobster if he doesn't find a match. He tries to pair up with a woman who has a heart of stone but fails. Escaping the hotel, he joins a group of rebels called "The Loners" who forbid romantic relationships. Here, he meets a woman who shares his myopia.
8. Donnie Darko (2001)
Budget: $4.5 million; Box Office: $7.5 million
If you're into mind-bending films, Donnie Darko is a trip. Donnie, a troubled teenager, starts seeing a rabbit-suited figure named Frank who predicts the world will end in 28 days. Frank manipulates Donnie into committing acts of vandalism and arson.
As the film progresses, Donnie investigates time travel theories, finding connections to his own experiences.
9. Ex Machina (2014)
Budget: $15 million; Box Office: $36.9 million
Artificial intelligence and deceit – that's the name of the game in Ex Machina. Caleb, a programmer, is invited to a secluded estate by his reclusive CEO, Nathan, to test an AI named Ava.
Caleb and Ava form a connection, with Ava showing signs of genuine consciousness. Ava reveals that Nathan plans to erase her memories and upgrade her. In a series of deceptions, Ava convinces Caleb to help her escape.
10. Lady Bird (2017)
Budget: $10 million; Box Office: $79 million
Coming-of-age never felt so real as in Lady Bird. Set in 2002, the film follows Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson in her senior year of high school. She has a rocky relationship with her mother, as they struggle to understand each other.
Lady Bird experiences her first romance, but it ends when she finds out the boy is not what he seemed. Her friendship with her best friend gets tested when she tries to fit in with the popular kids.