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Small Budget, Big Box OfficeSeptember, 2018 While a big budget bomb can end, or at least derail, the careers of those involved, a small budget bomb is quickly forgotten. Conversely, a box office hit made with little money can launch careers and franchises. This month, The Screening Room highlights films that proved that filmmakers don't need to spend a lot of money to make a lot of money.
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Free Movies at the Library "Won't You Be My Neighbor?' Rated PG-13 Saturday, September 8 95th Street Library "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" Rated PG-13 Sunday, September 23 1:15 p.m. (New time!) Nichols Library Movie Musicals! "Gold Diggers of 1933" Friday, September 7 2:00 p.m. Nichols Library
Upcoming Film Festivals REELING: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival September 20-30 Chicago South Asian Film Festival September 20-23 Middle Coast Film Festival September 21-23 Chicago International Social Change Film Festival (ChangeFest) September 28-30 Chicago Horror Film Festival September 28-30
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The Blair Witch Project
After three film students disappear after traveling to Maryland to make a student film about a local urban legend called the Blair Witch, their footage is found a year later. This film is one of the most successful independent films of all time. Made on a budget of $60,000, it grossed over $248 million at the box office. Rated R.
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The Brothers McMullen
Three Irish American brothers in New York struggle with women, love and relationships, each handling problems in his own way. Filmmaker Edward Burns financed the film's $28,000 budget using his credit cards. The result was a critical success and a $10 million gross at the box office. Rated R.
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Clerks
Depicting one day in the life of a young man working as a clerk in a New Jersey convenience store, this film had a shooting budget of $27,000. A box office success grossing over $3 million, it also launched director Kevin Smith's career. Rated R.
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El MariachiThis story of a mariachi musician who is mistaken for a gangster and must run for his life, made over $2 million at the box office. Incredibly, director Robert Rodriguez shot the film for only $7,225. The film is the first in his Mexico Trilogy and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the lowest budget film ever to gross $1 million. Rated R.
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Night of the Living Dead
After being forced into an abandoned house by zombies, a group of strangers must find a way to survive the night as the zombies continue to attack. This horror classic directed by George A. Romero cost only $114,000 to produce and has made $30 million. This film is unrated.
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OnceThis 2007 release about a poor Czech immigrant and a down-on-his-luck Irish musician who meet by chance and start writing music together, was made for $150,000 and generated $23 million in box office receipts. It also produced the Academy Award® winning song "Falling Slowly." Rated R.
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When a family finds an old video camera in their home, they discover that they can see paranormal activity in their home. Made on a budget of only $15,000, it made $193 million and spawned a franchise of films Rated R.
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PiThis film tells the story of a brilliant mathematician who teeters on the brink of insanity as he searches for an elusive numerical code. Shot for $68,000, it made $3.2 million and marked the start of award-winning director Darren Aronofsky's career. Rated R.
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Slacker /Richard Linklater, director of the critically acclaimed film "Boyhood," began his career with this film which follows a single day in the life of forty slackers living in Austin, Texas. Shot on a $23,000 budget, it made over $1 million. Rated R.
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Super Size MeMorgan Spurlock's documentary about eating a McDonald's-only diet for one month was made for $65,000. Its impact was not only at the box office where it made $22.2 million; it also led to the fast food chain dropping its supersize portions. Rated PG-13.
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