Buzz
Art the Clown isn't the sole option for those seeking an affordable scare. The Terrifier series, which started with a modest $35,000 budget, has grown significantly, with the latest installment costing approximately $2 million. Despite the increased budget, the third film debuted at the top of the U.S. box office, outperforming the high-budget disappointment Joker: Folie á Deux, which cost around $200 million and dropped to fourth place in its second weekend. Horror films have a rich tradition of delivering maximum impact with minimal resources, often relying on creativity, fake blood, and daring stunts to captivate audiences.
To honor Art the Clown's victory over the Joker and Harley Quinn, here are 18 other films that achieved remarkable horror effects with limited budgets.
Creep (2014)
Rumors suggest that Creep was made on a shoestring budget of $500, which seems unbelievable, but the found-footage film was undoubtedly low-cost. It launched the careers of director and co-star Patrick Brice, as well as co-writer and co-star Mark Duplass. The story follows videographer Aaron (Brice) as he arrives at a remote cabin to assist Josef (Duplass) in creating a video diary for his unborn child, as Josef claims to be terminally ill. What begins as a heartfelt project turns eerie when Aaron's car keys vanish and Josef's behavior grows increasingly bizarre, shifting from awkward to menacing. The film excels in its simplicity, delivering a chilling two-character narrative with a horror twist. The sequel, made on a similarly tiny budget, is equally effective.
Where to stream: Netflix, digital rental
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
With an initial budget of $60,000, the original Chain Saw film reportedly exceeded this amount, with estimates placing the final cost around $140,000. While not insignificant for 1974, it remains a low-budget masterpiece. The film's effectiveness lies in its ability to make viewers feel they've witnessed more violence than is actually shown. The grimy, oppressive atmosphere of Leatherface's family home leaves a lasting impression. However, the low budget came with risks, including on-set injuries. Director Tobe Hooper mentioned that every cast member was hurt during filming, with one actor even suffering a real cut when fake blood failed to achieve the desired effect—realism taken to an extreme.
Where to stream: Tubi, Peacock, Prime Video
Skinamarink (2022)
Writer and director Kyle Edward Ball's debut feature, Skinamarink, is less about plot and more about eerie, unsettling atmospheres. Made for just $15,000, the film draws inspiration from Ball's YouTube channel, where he recreated users' childhood nightmares. The story loosely follows four-year-old Kevin and his six-year-old sister, Kaylee, who find themselves alone at home after Kevin gets hurt. The film lacks traditional narrative structure, which divided audiences expecting a clear storyline. However, it excels in capturing the disorienting, frightening perspective of a child, transforming a familiar home into a surreal and terrifying space. Ball masterfully evokes a haunting mood, reawakening long-forgotten childhood fears.
Where to stream: Hulu, AMC+, Shudder, digital rental
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Despite the numerous sequels and spin-offs, the original Paranormal Activity was a groundbreaking horror phenomenon. Made for around $15,000 with a minimal cast and fixed cameras, it tells the story of a young couple in San Diego experiencing a haunting in their home. The film relies on subtle, chilling events rather than gore, capturing eerie occurrences that happen while they sleep. After being picked up by a studio, the budget was increased to approximately $200,000 for reshoots and enhancements, but it remains a remarkably low-cost production for a movie that grossed nearly $200 million. Its effectiveness lies in its simplicity, leaving even seasoned horror fans sleepless.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Psycho (1960)
At the peak of his fame and creative prowess, Alfred Hitchcock faced resistance from studios unwilling to back Psycho, deemed too scandalous and lowbrow. Paramount, his usual studio, feared it would tarnish his reputation. Undeterred, Hitchcock struck a deal with Universal, utilizing his TV crew from Alfred Hitchcock Presents and opting for a profit-sharing arrangement instead of his usual salary. With a budget of $800,000—modest compared to his previous $4.5 million film, North by Northwest—Hitchcraft crafted a masterpiece. Featuring shocking elements like corpses, a cross-dressing killer, and psychological depth, Psycho became one of his most successful films, earning him immense wealth through the profit-sharing deal.
Where to stream: Netflix, digital rental
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Herk Harvey, known for producing and directing educational and industrial films, was inspired by an abandoned resort pavilion he rented for just $50. His film, Carnival of Souls, follows a woman (Candace Hilligoss) who encounters a strange carnival after a car accident. The movie, made on a $30,000 budget, is filled with eerie atmospherics and existential dread, reminiscent of Jean Cocteau's work. Though it lacks a polished look, its depth and haunting tone set it apart, predating George Romero's Night of the Living Dead by six years.
Where to stream: Max, AMC+, Tubi, Shudder, Crackle, the Criterion Channel, Prime Video
Spider Baby (1967)
The opening narration describes Spider Baby as "this cannibal orgy," setting the tone for this southern Gothic cult classic. The story revolves around Bruno (Lon Chaney Jr.), the caretaker of three siblings afflicted by a fictional disease that causes them to devolve evolutionarily after puberty. Ralph is overly naive yet aggressively lustful, Virginia is obsessed with spiders and murders visitors using her handmade webs, and Elizabeth, though less violent, aids in covering up the family's crimes. When distant relatives arrive to claim the family home, Bruno struggles to maintain control. Filmed three years before its release, this was one of Lon Chaney Jr.'s final roles, for which he was paid only $2,500, reflecting the film's low-budget ingenuity.
Where to stream: The Criterion Channel, Prime Video
Open Water (2003)
Daniel and Susan, a hardworking couple, decide to reconnect with a scuba-diving trip, but their plans take a terrifying turn when they are accidentally left behind in the ocean. Surrounded by jellyfish and real sharks, the film's premise is both simple and harrowing. The use of actual sharks, which consumed much of the modest budget, adds to the film's realism and intensity. While the couple's relationship isn't deeply explored, the focus remains on their fight for survival in a perilous environment.
Where to stream: Max, digital rental
Halloween (1978)
Directed by John Carpenter and produced by Debra Hill, Halloween became a landmark in independent filmmaking. Inspired by Carpenter's low-budget success with Assault on Precinct 13, producers Irwin Yablans and Moustapha Akkad funded a stalker horror film reminiscent of Black Christmas. Carpenter handled the suspenseful elements, while Hill crafted authentic teenage characters. The film was a box office sensation and a critical triumph, cementing its place as one of the most profitable independent films ever, even before its numerous sequels and reboots.
Streaming options: AMC+, Shudder, digital rental platforms
Friday the 13th (1980)
While it had a slightly higher budget than Halloween, Friday the 13th doesn't show it on screen. This film capitalized on the slasher craze ignited by Carpenter and Hill's work, achieving massive box office success and spawning a franchise. Interestingly, Jason, the iconic killer, only becomes the central threat in the sequel. Sean S. Cunningham's summer-camp horror is a straightforward, no-nonsense slasher flick where camp counselors are introduced only to meet gruesome, creatively staged deaths. It may not be cinematic art, but it delivers precisely what it promises.
Available to stream on: Paramount+, AMC+, Shudder, digital rental services
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The indie sensation Blair Witch revolutionized low-budget horror by popularizing the found footage genre, for better or worse. Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez crafted a loose framework, allowing actors Heather Donahue, Michael Williams, and Joshua Leonard to improvise their dialogue while navigating the woods. Despite its unconventional approach, the film feels authentic, partly because the cast endured genuine hardships during and after production. Starting with a modest budget of around $25,000, the movie went on to earn hundreds of millions and continues to unsettle audiences.
Streaming platforms: Peacock, digital rental services
The Innkeepers (2011)
Long before the X series, Ti West helmed several underrated horror gems that, while not box office hits, were budget-friendly and critically praised. Among these, The Innkeepers stands out. Featuring Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, and Kelly McGillis, the film unfolds during the final days of the historic Yankee Pedlar Inn, a real-life haunted hotel in Torrington, Connecticut, where parts of the movie were shot. Two laid-back clerks manage the inn while secretly hoping to encounter ghosts. As expected, their wish is granted. This haunted hotel tale delivers chills and a few clever surprises.
Available to stream on: Peacock, Tubi, Shudder, Prime Video
The Evil Dead (1981)
While it primarily served as a precursor to the more polished and costly Evil Dead II (essentially a reimagining), Sam Raimi's original Evil Dead offers its own raw charm, devoid of the dark humor that later defined the franchise. The story follows five Michigan State University students, including the iconic Ash Williams (played by Bruce Campbell), as they retreat to a remote Tennessee cabin, only to face a barrage of demonic chaos. Despite its modest budget, the film boasts impressive practical effects that remain a standout feature.
Streaming options: Tubi, AMC+, digital rental platforms
Cannibal Holocaust (1978)
The realism of Cannibal Holocaust was so convincing that director Ruggero Deodato faced obscenity and even murder charges, as audiences believed the film depicted actual cannibalistic killings. The marketing strategy, reminiscent of viral campaigns decades before Blair Witch, added to the confusion by keeping the actors hidden until their appearance was necessary to exonerate Deodato. All this was achieved on a budget of just $100,000.
Streaming platform: Peacock
Hush (2016)
While Mike Flanagan's first feature, Absentia, was equally impressive and produced on a tight budget, my top pick from his early low-budget projects is this gripping slasher film. Released shortly before his rise to fame with works like Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass, this movie stars co-writer Kate Siegel as a deaf horror novelist pursued by a relentless killer. The film is tense and clever, leveraging the protagonist's deafness in innovative ways while portraying her as a strong, resourceful character rather than a figure of sympathy.
Available to stream on: Shudder, AMC+, digital rental services
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
While I aimed to limit budgets on this list to around a million dollars, I’m making an exception for Wes Craven’s iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street, which cost approximately $1.8 million. Despite the slightly higher budget, the film remains a marvel of resourcefulness, featuring intricate dream sequences, blood-soaked set pieces, rotating rooms, intense fights, and even notable actors like John Saxon and Ronee Blakley, an Academy Award nominee for Nashville. Robert Englund’s unforgettable portrayal of Freddy Krueger, complete with his legendary makeup, adds to the film’s enduring legacy. It’s astounding how Craven achieved such a polished and influential horror classic on such a modest budget, drawing from his earlier low-budget successes like The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes.
Streaming options: Max, digital rental platforms
You're Next (2011)
Erin (Sharni Vinson) joins her boyfriend at his family’s remote Missouri reunion, a situation that quickly spirals into chaos. Masked intruders—one wearing a fox mask, the other a lamb mask—begin slaughtering family members, forcing the survivors to fight back with Erin’s resourceful help. Directed by Adam Wingard, this sharp and suspenseful slasher delivers a clever twist and stands out as a modern horror gem.
Available to stream on: Netflix, digital rental services
Terrifier (2016)
The infamous Art the Clown makes his debut in this $35,000 slasher, marking the start of his gruesome, multi-film rampage. Each subsequent installment in the series has seen a rise in budget and box office success. With Terrifier 3 already generating impressive revenue and earning positive reviews, plans for a fourth film are underway.
Streaming platforms: Peacock, Tubi, Prime Video
