Horror
|
2007
|
United States
Director:
Oren Peli
Starring:
Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat
Distribution:
Paramount Pictures (after being acquired at Slamdance)
Platform:
Available on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV (rental)
Budget:
$15,000
Gross:
$193,000,000
ROI:
12,867×
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:
6.3
/ 10
📊
266700
+
Audience Ratings
The micro-budget was about $15,000, shot largely in the director’s home.
It grossed roughly $193 million globally, one of the highest ROI films ever made.
Its slow-burn suspense, limited release rollout, and social-proof campaign through midnight screenings.
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