This is a non-definitive list of the least expensive films, not adjusted for inflation. Only movies with costs of not more than 40,000 U.S. dollars are listed.
The list includes only films already released to the general public at the time of inclusion, not films that are still in production, post-production or just announced because their costs can change during the production process. Most studios will not provide production costs, so only estimates by professional researchers and movie industry writers are available. These include those from the Internet Movie Database, Box Office Mojo and The Numbers.
Promotional and distribution costs (i.e. advertisements, commercials, posters, film prints etc.) are not included.
Only films which are notable enough to have received significant mention in independent sources are included.
| Movie name | Year | Production Costs (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Colin | 2008 | £45 (~$74 Sept '09) |
| Midground | 2009 | $150.00 |
| The Legend of Action Man[1] | 2010 | $200 |
| Tarnation | 2003 | $218.32 |
| Ennui [2] | 2009 | £200 (~$332 Nov '09) |
| Restless Dust [3] | 2011 | £500 (~$804 Mar '11) |
| The Last Broadcast | 1998 | $900 |
| My Date with Drew | 2005 | $1,100 |
| The Final Sacrifice | 1990 | $1,500 |
| It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books | 1988 | $3,000 |
| Return to the Land of Wonders | 2005 | $5,000 |
| The Right Way | 2004 | $6,500 |
| The Mongol King | 2004 | $7,000 |
| El Mariachi | 1992 | $7,500 |
| Primer | 2004 | $7,000 |
| Fighting Nirvana | 2009 | $10,000 |
| Pink Flamingos | 1972 | $10,000 |
| Murder Inside of Me | 2006 | $10,000 |
| Birdemic: Shock and Terror | 2008 | $10,000 |
| The Puffy Chair | 2005 | $15,000 |
| Paranormal Activity | 2007 | $15,000 |
| The Other Side | 2005 | $15,000 |
| Eegah | 1962 | $15,000 |
| Robot Monster | 1953 | $16,000 |
| Player 1/2 | 2006 | $17,500 |
| Flywheel | 2003 | $20,000 |
| Eraserhead | 1977 | $20,000 |
| Zero Day | 2000 | $20,000 |
| Deep Throat | 1972 | $22,500 |
| Slacker | 1991 | $23,000 |
| The Brothers McMullen | 1995 | $23,800 |
| In the Company of Men | 1997 | $25,000 |
| The Blair Witch Project | 1999 | $25,000 |
| Manos: The Hands of Fate | 1966 | $26,000 |
| Clerks | 1994 | $27,575 |
| Red Zone Cuba | 1966 | $30,000 |
| The Beast of Yucca Flats | 1961 | $34,000 |
| Basket Case | 1982 | $35,000 |