The biggest problem most independent filmmakers face is funding for their passion projects. Screenwriters and directors can have the greatest ideas and visions for a film, but without enough money required, there is no way to get the film produced.
Millie Loredo knows this firsthand having had to raise the funds to produce and shoot her debut indie horror film Sorrow. The film follows the story of Mila Sweeney, a forensic psychologist who is kidnapped and tortured by two deranged serial killers. However, she manages to escape and exact revenge against her captors. Millie and producer Dillon Bowen took to YouTube to implore horror fans online to donate and then took to finding private investors for the film.
Over the years, indie films have gained popularity, but finding the funds to create these films is still a struggle. Below is a list of films like Sorrow that were produced and filmed on a budget.* Keep reading to find out which classic indie films were created for less than $1 million!
1. El Mariachi (1992) – Robert Rodriguez
Indie film director Robert Rodriguez’s directorial debut is a Spanish-language film about a young mariachi musician who is mistaken for a ruthless criminal nicknamed Azul. The film was shot for only $7,000 and became the first chapter of Rodriguez’s “Mexico Trilogy,” with Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico rounding out the three films.
2. Clerks (1994) – Kevin Smith
The first of Kevin Smith’s View Askew movies was filmed in black and white and follows the complicated life and mishaps of Dante, a clerk at a Quick Stop convenience store. It was filmed for just $27,000.
3. Following (1998) – Christopher Nolan
Before The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan was a novice director, like most of the others on this list. His directorial debut centers on a young man drawn into the criminal underworld of London and was filmed on a $6,000 budget.
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Tobe
Hooper
This classic horror film, which introduced the world to the iconic villain Leatherface, follows the story of a group of friends on a road trip attacked by a family of cannibals in Texas. Hooper’s masterpiece was shot for just $300,000.
5. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – Daniel Myrick
This found-footage horror film centers on three student filmmakers who disappear after going hiking in Maryland to film a documentary about a local legend called the Blair Witch. It took only $22,000 to film the movie that pioneered the “found-footage” approach in modern horror films.
6. The Evil Dead – Sam Raimi
Horror film master Sam Raimi’s directorial debut follows the story of a group of friends vacationing at a cabin where they discover an evil Book of the Dead, which awakens murderous demon spirits when read aloud. It was first shot as a short film until the $375,000 it took to the film the full-length feature film version was raised.
7. Primer (2004) – Shane Carruth
This sci-fi film is about an accidental discovery by four engineers of a time-traveling machine, and it was shot on a very modest $7,000 budget.
8. Open Water (2003) – Chris Kentis
Open Water centers on a couple stuck in the middle of the ocean after being accidentally left behind by their scuba diving group. It was based loosely on the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan who were left behind by their scuba diving group and presumed to have died at sea in 1998. The film was shot on a $130,000 budget.
9. Swingers (1996) – Doug Liman
This dramedy follows two single, unemployed actors living in Los Angeles during the swing revival of the 90s and launched the careers of both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. Swingers was filmed on a $250,000 budget.
10. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – Jared Hess
Jared Hess’ directorial debut is about a socially awkward high school student named Napoleon Dynamite. He lives with his older brother, Kip, and their grandma in Idaho. The film was created on a $400,000 budget and acquired for distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
11. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) – Todd Solondz
Welcome to the Dollhouse centers on a 7th-grade outcast in suburban New Jersey and was filmed on twice the budget of Napoleon Dynamite at $800,000.
12. Mad Max – George Miller
Mad Max takes place in a dystopian future in Australia where an energy crisis sparks anarchy. This film was created on a $350,000 budget and did so well at the box office two sequels (Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome) soon followed.
Millie Loredo knows this firsthand having had to raise the funds to produce and shoot her debut indie horror film Sorrow. The film follows the story of Mila Sweeney, a forensic psychologist who is kidnapped and tortured by two deranged serial killers. However, she manages to escape and exact revenge against her captors. Millie and producer Dillon Bowen took to YouTube to implore horror fans online to donate and then took to finding private investors for the film.
Over the years, indie films have gained popularity, but finding the funds to create these films is still a struggle. Below is a list of films like Sorrow that were produced and filmed on a budget.* Keep reading to find out which classic indie films were created for less than $1 million!
1. El Mariachi (1992) – Robert Rodriguez
Indie film director Robert Rodriguez’s directorial debut is a Spanish-language film about a young mariachi musician who is mistaken for a ruthless criminal nicknamed Azul. The film was shot for only $7,000 and became the first chapter of Rodriguez’s “Mexico Trilogy,” with Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico rounding out the three films.
2. Clerks (1994) – Kevin Smith
The first of Kevin Smith’s View Askew movies was filmed in black and white and follows the complicated life and mishaps of Dante, a clerk at a Quick Stop convenience store. It was filmed for just $27,000.
3. Following (1998) – Christopher Nolan
Before The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan was a novice director, like most of the others on this list. His directorial debut centers on a young man drawn into the criminal underworld of London and was filmed on a $6,000 budget.
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Tobe
Hooper
This classic horror film, which introduced the world to the iconic villain Leatherface, follows the story of a group of friends on a road trip attacked by a family of cannibals in Texas. Hooper’s masterpiece was shot for just $300,000.
5. The Blair Witch Project (1999) – Daniel Myrick
This found-footage horror film centers on three student filmmakers who disappear after going hiking in Maryland to film a documentary about a local legend called the Blair Witch. It took only $22,000 to film the movie that pioneered the “found-footage” approach in modern horror films.
6. The Evil Dead – Sam Raimi
Horror film master Sam Raimi’s directorial debut follows the story of a group of friends vacationing at a cabin where they discover an evil Book of the Dead, which awakens murderous demon spirits when read aloud. It was first shot as a short film until the $375,000 it took to the film the full-length feature film version was raised.
7. Primer (2004) – Shane Carruth
This sci-fi film is about an accidental discovery by four engineers of a time-traveling machine, and it was shot on a very modest $7,000 budget.
8. Open Water (2003) – Chris Kentis
Open Water centers on a couple stuck in the middle of the ocean after being accidentally left behind by their scuba diving group. It was based loosely on the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan who were left behind by their scuba diving group and presumed to have died at sea in 1998. The film was shot on a $130,000 budget.
9. Swingers (1996) – Doug Liman
This dramedy follows two single, unemployed actors living in Los Angeles during the swing revival of the 90s and launched the careers of both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. Swingers was filmed on a $250,000 budget.
10. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – Jared Hess
Jared Hess’ directorial debut is about a socially awkward high school student named Napoleon Dynamite. He lives with his older brother, Kip, and their grandma in Idaho. The film was created on a $400,000 budget and acquired for distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
11. Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) – Todd Solondz
Welcome to the Dollhouse centers on a 7th-grade outcast in suburban New Jersey and was filmed on twice the budget of Napoleon Dynamite at $800,000.
12. Mad Max – George Miller
Mad Max takes place in a dystopian future in Australia where an energy crisis sparks anarchy. This film was created on a $350,000 budget and did so well at the box office two sequels (Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome) soon followed.
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