Low Budget Films That Made More Than Their Money Back

Published on December 20, 2018 By James Spiro

Donnie Darko – $4.5 million budget

This psychological-thriller was a modest success upon its release in 2001 but has since become a cult phenomenon. It stars a young Jake Gyllenhaal as a troubled teenager capable of seeing visions and can communicate with a bunny called Frank.

Low Budget
Credit: Flower Films

Despite only making $7.5 upon its initial release, it was a VHS classic in the mid-2000s and garnered a large following. The cult film requires multiple viewings to fully understand its time-travel and complex plot points.