Comedy
|
1988
|
United States
Director:
Michael Lehmann
Starring:
Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Kim Walker
Distribution:
New World Pictures
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Peacock
Budget:
$3,000,000
Gross:
$1,096,000
ROI:
0×
You don’t need big stars or gear — you need tension, timing, and a story people talk about. Peli shot this entirely in his home with a consumer camcorder and built terror from atmosphere. The film’s viral word-of-mouth campaign redefined how indie horror could reach audiences.
Spawned a billion-dollar franchise, revived found-footage horror, and proved that creative storytelling can outperform CGI-heavy blockbusters. A landmark example for filmmakers on how to leverage simplicity and authenticity into massive profit.
⭐ IMDB:
/ 10
📊
+
Audience Ratings
Its witty, nihilistic take on teen life and unapologetically dark humor resonated with audiences who found it too bold for its time but brilliant in hindsight.
About $3 million — though it earned just over $1 million in its initial run, its long-term cultural impact was priceless.
It’s available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Peacock.
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