5 Most Profitable Movies Of All Time Compared To Budget

2. Tarnation (2003)

Profit: $1,200,000  

Budget: $218.32  

With a focus on the filmmaker’s own experiences growing up with a mentally ill mother, Tarnation is a highly personal documentary, made on a budget of $218.32. The movie, which was directed by Jonathan Caouette, takes a frank and uncompromising look at the difficulties associated with family, mental health, and identity.

Aside from home movies and other archival material, the whole movie is made up of footage that Caouette himself recorded over 19 years. The film continues to be a milestone of American independent cinema, with a grossing of $1,200,00, and has received widespread praise for its creative approach to documentary storytelling.