Generally speaking , drama do n’t need bounteous budgets so as to be successful . Usually , a budget of around $ 50 million should be enough to make a decent drama that would n’t take long to turn a net income . That said , there are many examples of dramas that were able to do more with less , excel the expectations of even the most pessimistic commentator .

This lean complies ten of the lowest - budget dramas that not only fall in even , but sound ahead and overlook in their respective fields . Before we get down , we ’d like to give a outcry out to the brilliant nerds at The Numbers and Box Office Mojo , as well as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes , all of whom helped make this listing possible .

Lady Bird (Budget: $10 Million. Box Office: $78 Million)

The story of a rebellious teenage girlfriend during her final twelvemonth of gamey school was a hit with audiences and critics , and is one of A24 ’s highest grossing films to date . A relatable drama with a antic cast , the motion picture won TV audience over thanks to its bright writing and playing . Lead actress Saoirse Ronan was put up for an Academy Award for Best Actress , and the movie was constitute for Best Picture , Director , and Screenplay .

The Intouchables (Budget: $10 Million. Box Office: $426 Million)

Perhaps best known as the divine guidance for the 2018’sThe Upside , this French dramatic play recall the true - life story of a deep quadriplegic and his needy , immigrant caretaker . A storey about friendly relationship and master obstruction , The Intouchablesstruck a nerve with audiences , thanks to its feel - good narrative and paper .

While the movie get mixed reappraisal , audiences use up it up , bringing its ecumenical box office amount to almost $ 500 Million . It is presently the 42nd highest - rated movie on IMDb , with a user evaluation of 8.5 out of 10 .

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Budget: $5 Million. Box Office: $368 Million)

There was a point whenMy bountiful Fat Greek Weddingwas inescapable . Perhaps one of the most abiding rom - coms ever made , the movie say the timeless story of two lover from different backgrounds , attempting to overwhelm ethnic norm before their marriage .

My Big Fat Greek Wedding’srelatable assumption made it an clamant strike , and propelled it beyond anyone ’s expectations . The film would afterwards inspire its own television receiver spinoff , My braggy Fat Greek Life , and a continuation .

Moonlight (Budget: $4 Million. Box Office: $65 Million)

Winner of the Best Picture Oscar at the 2017 Academy Awards , this impactful dramatic event revolves around topic of race , sexuality , and impoverishment .

A timely motion picture , Moonlightis loaded with commentary regarding our current fellowship . While a pic like this was bound to ruffle a few feathering , it was nevertheless a bang , and audiences help pushMoonlight’sbox office sum beyond the $ 60 million mark .

Boyhood (Budget: $4 Million. Box Office: $44 Million)

While not the highest grossing picture on this list , it ’s still impressive that film director Richard Linklater was able-bodied to pull off such a exploit of cinematic mastery without go over $ 10 million . produce over the course of 12 years , the film abide by a boy named Mason , as he literally grows up on covert .

An downright marvel of a picture , Boyhoodmade a stir at the Oscars , and those who saw it were in for a once - in - a - lifetime goody that broke film records pull up stakes and right .

War Room (Budget: $3 Million. Box Office: $73 Million)

An evangelical Christian picture by the directors behindCourageousandFacing the Giants , War Roomwas met with both hostility and praise from temporal and spiritual audiences alike . The moving-picture show rotate around a prospicient suffering wife , who turns to prayer when her husband starts cheating on her .

Critics were disgust   by the movie ’s composition regarding traditional grammatical gender persona , and allegation of misogyny were hurled at both the movie and its creators . Still , it made quite a act of money , especially for a movie that lacked the financial backing of a reputable production company .

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Budget: $3 Million. Box Office: $108 Million)

regard one of the greatest pic ever made , which is based on a book that many considered the respectable ever write , One Flew Over the Cuckoo ’s Nestpaints a damnatory portrait of America ’s genial wellness system of rules .

The movie help cement the career of its spark advance actor , Jack Nicholson , who come through a Best Actor Oscar for his role , and would later go on to star in hundreds of movies over the next forty years . Produced on a budget that was meager for the time , the movie went on to break the $ 100 million mark , and would after get ahead the coveted Oscar for Best Picture .

God’s Not Dead (Budget: $2 Million. Box Office: $64 Million)

The move that helped propel its production company , Pure Flix , into the world ’s consciousness , God ’s Not Deadis another Christian dramatic play that was controversial after its tone ending .

The story of a Christian college student trying to navigate the mankind of lay higher teaching , the moving picture was accused of rely on straw man characters and racist stereotypes to campaign its conservative agenda .

Taxi Driver (Budget: $1.3 Million. Box Office: $28 Million)

This is the motion picture that made the careers of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro , and would bulge out a decade ’s long partnership that keep with this year’sThe Irishman . A masterpiece of the New Hollywood geological era of film , Taxi Drivershocked audiences with its fury and its raw , unflinching look at the effect of PTSD on veterans .

The movie was snubbed by the Oscars , but is on a regular basis cited by film assimilator and historians as one of the greatest movies ever made . When adapt for pomposity , the motion-picture show ’s total is said to side over the $ 100 million mark .

Rocky (Budget: $960,000. Box Office: $117 Million)

It ’s rare that such a modest yield likeRockycan launch one of the longest - running franchises in movie history . But that ’s just what encounter when Sylvester Stallone took his base screenplay about a down - on - his - fortune boxer to Hollywood .

Rockysurpassed every prospect , and evolved into a worldwide phenomenon that continues evolve and adapt to raw tastes . The latest movie in the franchise , Creed II , came out last year to mouth off reviews and substantial Box Office returns . When adjusted for inflation , Rocky’sbox billet is figure to be over $ 200 million , making it one of the highest grossing movies on this leaning .

NEXT:5 Best And 5 bad American Civil War Movies , accord to Rotten Tomatoes

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Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Low Budget Dramas Feature Image

Lady Bird Entry 10 Cropped

Scene from the Intouchables with two main characters laughing outside.

Big Fat Greek Wedding Entry 8 Cropped

Moonlight Entry 7 Cropped

Boyhood Entry 6 Cropped

War Room Entry 5 Cropped

Cuckoo’s Nest Entry4 Cropped

God’s Not Dead Entry 3 Cropped

Taxi Driver

Sylvester Stallone

Movies