16 Low-Budget Movies That Were Huge Hits

Not every hit movie needs an astronomical budget and A-list stars to resonate with audiences.

Check out some films that succeeded despite (and sometimes because of) the built-in limitations of being low on cash.

More from Zimbio:

• The Most Tear-Jerking Moments From Every Pixar Movie So Far
• North West And Other Unusual Celebrity Baby Names
• Celebrity Wedding Crashers

'The Purge'

Budget: $3 million
Opening Weekend: $34 million

Armed with little more than Ethan Hawke and a wickedly provocative concept, The Purge surprised studios by handily winning its opening weekend. The horror movie is about a future United States that allows a 12-hour period of lawlessness every year.

'Once'

Budget: $150,000
Domestic Gross: $9.4 million 

This low-budget musical stunned critics when it was first released in Ireland in 2006, and continued to win them over after it traveled overseas. The story of a street musician and a pianist who find love and make music together was acted out by two real-life musicians (Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová), who were not trained actors.

'The Full Monty'

Budget: $3.5 million
Gross Domestic: $50 million

This British movie about down-on-their-luck blue collar workers turned strippers had a little budget, but that didn't keep it from hauling in an impressive $257.9 million in worldwide box offices. It was also nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and won the BAFTA for Best Picture despite competition from Titanic.