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Obsession to Backroooms: Small budget indie films that rewrote box office success

Updated On: 03 September, 2026 11:28 PM IST | Amarylisa Gonsalves

The past few years have witnessed a massive resurgence in small-budget indie films going on an absolute box office rampage giving the bigger titles a run for thier money. Be it Obsession, Backrooms or Parasite, heavily driven by viral social media word-of-mouth and smart independent distribution, these films are rewriting box office success stories.

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Superhit indie films. Pics via IMDb
Superhit indie films. Pics via IMDb
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Directed by 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons and produced on a USD 10 million budget, Backrooms eventually grossed a staggering USD 396.5 million worldwide.
Directed by 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons and produced on a USD 10 million budget, Backrooms eventually grossed a staggering USD 396.5 million worldwide.
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Although director Bong Joon-ho was already a established name, Parasite was made on a USD 11.4 million budget. It went to shatter international barriers, grossing a massive USD 262.8 million worldwide and becoming the first foreign-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
Although director Bong Joon-ho was already a established name, Parasite was made on a USD 11.4 million budget. It went to shatter international barriers, grossing a massive USD 262.8 million worldwide and becoming the first foreign-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
04
Ari Aster's feature directorial debut with a modest USD 10 million budget, Hereditary became a massive indie triumph, collecting USD 90.1 million.
Ari Aster's feature directorial debut with a modest USD 10 million budget, Hereditary became a massive indie triumph, collecting USD 90.1 million. 
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Produced on a microscopic budget of just USD 750,000, Obsession became an overnight success grossing over USD 500 million worldwide.
Produced on a microscopic budget of just USD 750,000, Obsession became an overnight success grossing over USD 500 million worldwide.
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Filmed entirely inside director Kyle Edward Ball’s childhood home using borrowed equipment, Skinamarink cost a minuscule USD 15,000. With social media word of mouthm the film completed a highly profitable USD 2.1 million theatrical haul.
Filmed entirely inside director Kyle Edward Ball’s childhood home using borrowed equipment, Skinamarink cost a minuscule USD 15,000. With social media word of mouthm the film completed a highly profitable USD 2.1 million theatrical haul.
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Produced for around USD 14.3 million, Everything Everywhere All at Once concluded its run at USD 141 million globally and swept 7 Academy Awards.
Produced for around USD 14.3 million, Everything Everywhere All at Once concluded its run at USD 141 million globally and swept 7 Academy Awards.
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Co-produced by indie horror titan Blumhouse, M3GAN was shot on a USD 12 million budget, and earned USD 181 million worldwide.
Co-produced by indie horror titan Blumhouse, M3GAN was shot on a USD 12 million budget, and earned USD 181 million worldwide.
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Made on a USD 17 million budget, Smile's viral marketing campaign helped it generate over USD 217 million globally.
Made on a USD 17 million budget, Smile's viral marketing campaign helped it generate over USD 217 million globally.
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Terrifier 2 became an organic word-of-mouth phenomenon with its micro-budget of just USD 250,000, pulling in over USD 15 million at the box office.
Terrifier 2 became an organic word-of-mouth phenomenon with its micro-budget of just USD 250,000, pulling in over USD 15 million at the box office.
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Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017) was solo directorial debut made with USD 10 million budget. Fueled by critical acclaim, the film grossed over USD 79 million worldwide.
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017) was solo directorial debut made with USD 10 million budget. Fueled by critical acclaim, the film grossed over USD 79 million worldwide.
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Helmed by YouTuber twins Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk to Me  is an Australian film made on a USD 4.5 million budget. It went on to earn over USD 92 million globally.
Helmed by YouTuber twins Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk to Me  is an Australian film made on a USD 4.5 million budget. It went on to earn over USD 92 million globally.

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