# What are the best ultra-low budget movies?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 10, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006 "2008-02-10T05:34:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/41 "2008-02-11T15:57:17Z")
“Manos” The Hands of Fate.
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### Author:  [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/42 "2008-02-11T16:05:49Z")
Not to get too “meta” on this topic, but how about a low-budget film _about_ making a low-budget film? I have a fondness for [The Wizard of Speed and Time](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0081766/). Lighthearted and quirky.
Sailboat
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/43 "2008-02-11T16:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic]
“Manos” The Hands of Fate.
[/QUOTE]
I assume tongue is firmly implanted in cheek here, since this movie is the generally considered the appropriate counter when someone states “ **Plan 9 From Outer Space** is the worst movie ever made.”
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/44 "2008-02-11T16:57:34Z")
[QUOTE=motomoon]
I believe that [Primer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/) wins some sort of Plot:Cost ratio, it had me mentally and emotionally involved the entire length of the film and only cost $7000 to make. A time travel movie with solid acting, solid technobabble, and just plausible _enough_ time travel, it’s really only detractor is the viewer needed a flowchart to [explain the timelines](http://www.cs.montana.edu/~arnone/pics/primer_timeline.jpg).
[/QUOTE]
Ditto on Primer.
And might I also recommend \*[The Hall Monitor](http://www.amazon.com/Hall-Monitor/dp/B00008O2Z6) \*in which I am happy to say that I am the first person to be killed. It’s a kooky comedy about an overzealous high school Hall Monitor who carries a gun. Dirty Harry meets Sixteen Candles.
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### Author:  [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/45 "2008-02-11T19:42:57Z")
_Manos: The Hands of Fate_ is a terrible, terrible movie, but people who say it is the worst movie ever are apparently unaware that countless terrible, terrible movies are produced every year by amateurs whose ambition far outstrips their skills or resources. Until the advent of the Internet (and especially widespread broadband access), most never reached a large audience. _Manos_ was languishing in obscurity with the rest of them until “rescued” by “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”
In the case of _Plan 9 From Outer Space_, “worst movie” is more an honorific (dishonorific?) than an accurate description. Unlike Manos or the Star Wars Holiday Special, which are just painful to watch, _Plan 9_ is actually entertaining, although maybe not in the way the filmmaker intended. (I believe Ed Wood had a better idea what was going on then most people give him credit for.) He just seems to go out of his way to get _everything_\* wrong, and the result is delightfully goofy.
\*Well, not everything. Unlike a lot of ULB indies, you can actually see and hear what’s going on, for better or worse.
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### Author:  [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/46 "2008-02-11T20:06:05Z")
While I can’t seem to find any official quote on the budget, I’m quite sure that Christopher Nolan’s first film, “Following”, would qualify for this list. Like “Clerks”, it’s filmed in black and white using available light, which helped to keep costs down, and IIRC Nolan did most of the filming himself using minimal crew.
There’s also the more recent gem “Once”, which according to Wiki cost only $160K to film, which squeaks it into the \<$200K range. It’s a charming, unassuming film and seems to gain a lot from its stripped down production values and use of unknown actors.
I’m surprise neither has gotten a mention yet, actually. Both are miles better than “Clerks”, which IMO would’ve been a great film if only Kevin Smith had known some decent actors. As it is, it’s merely a demonstration of what he could do as director and screenwriter once given more money and resources.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/47 "2008-02-11T20:20:34Z")
[QUOTE=Mahna Mahna]
I’m surprise neither has gotten a mention yet, actually. Both are miles better than “Clerks”, which IMO would’ve been a great film if only Kevin Smith had known some decent actors. As it is, it’s merely a demonstration of what he could do as director and screenwriter once given more money and resources.
[/QUOTE]
Well, we all have our own opinions, but great dialog can and did make up for bad acting. I fully admit the actors were of Brookdale Community College skill level, but damn the movie was funny and enjoyable anyway. In fact I have enjoyed a few plays at Brookdale Community College.
Jim
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/48 "2008-02-11T20:22:25Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire]
The sci-fi thriller [Cube](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0123755/) was done cheaply if I remember correctly. The entire movie was shot on a 14’ x 14’ set
[/QUOTE]
You mean 14’ x 14’ x 14’.
It’s a cube, after all.
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### Author:  [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/49 "2008-02-17T05:55:20Z")
I’m stunned that nobody’s mentioned John Waters’ early efforts. “Pink Flamingos” was done on $12,000, and “Desperate Living” and “Female Trouble” weren’t too different, as far as budget goes.
How much did “Liquid Sky” cost? It might be within the stated range.
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### Author:  [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/50 "2008-02-17T06:26:29Z")
“Hester Street” is a wonderful little movie about Jewish life on the lower east side around the turn of the century. The budget was $350,000. A little high for the OP, I guess, but still pretty darn cheap.
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### Author:  [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-ultra-low-budget-movies/437006/51 "2008-02-17T20:30:03Z")
[_Return of the Secaucus Seven_](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0081420/) (1980) — $60,000.
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