Budget: $10.5M
Launching the showbiz careers of child actors Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas, “E.T.” is one of those success stories that rarely happen. One element that made it great is that the story is told from a child’s perspective.
Barrymore’s heartwarming acting at age six is due, in part, to childhood imagination. and the expansive sci-fi effects. “E.T.” was made on a budget of $10 million, which would be $25 million adjusted for inflation, but it brought in a mind-boggling $793 million, thirty-two times it took to make it.
Fireproof
Budget: $500K
The Christian-themed movie "Fireproof" is about a firefighter (Kirk Cameron) and his struggles with a failing marriage. Made on a budget and with a lot of help from the Christian community pitching in, religious fans also helped the movie earn $33.5 million at the box office.
This movie obviously ends with a triumphant reunion between the fireman and his wife. A book called "The Love Dare" came out of it too. It was the fictional name of the book that helped the fireman save his marriage. Since it didn’t exist, the creators wrote it and published it, just for their Christian supporters.
Brother
Budget: $50K
Sleeper hit "Brother" came out of Russia and was so well-liked it spawned two sequels. The hitman movie brought writer and director Aleksei Balabanov national fame and recognition as Russia’s best filmmaker.
Anti-hero Danila Bagrov became a cultural icon for a generation of coming-of-age Russians. The neo-noir movie was so inexpensive actors wore ill-fitting clothing rummaged from thrift stores or donations. Sergei Bodrov Jr. played the hitman and became a national superstar. Tragically, he was killed in an avalanche in a freak accident.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Budget: $25M
With a budget of $25 million, "Mrs. Doubtfire" had significant financial backing. But the number is low compared to its box office success. With totals at $441.3 million, this film brought 20th Century Fox an 1160% return on investment.
Other contributors were, of course, producers Robin Williams, his wife Marsha Garces William, and writers Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon. It was the highest-grossing movie in the world in 1993. It’s an adorable tale about a man whose wife, played by Sally Field, divorces him. To be with his kids, he tricks his ex-wife by dressing up as a nanny.
Do the Right Thing
Budget: $6M
Spike Lee’s seminal film "Do the Right Thing" showcased his acting, directing, producing, and writing prowess. It was his third movie but the one that brought him national acclaim. The audacious, brave film deals with questions of culture and ethnic background in an authentic way.
The best way to approximate the influence it had, "Do the Right Thing," is the movie Michelle and Barack Obama went to see on their first date, and they loved the way it portrayed the community.