Mad Max
Budget – $200,000
Worldwide Gross -$ 99,750,000
Return – 24,838%
George Miller’s dystopian action flick Mad Max made a mere $8.75 million in the United States, but in other countries, and especially its origin country of Australia, it made a killing. For a long time this film held the Guinness record for most profitable film, and it is still loved passionately by its dedicated fans.
It received three awards from the American Film Institute, and was also nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. It’s also the film that jump started Mel Gibson’s illustrious career, and rightfully so. His character has become one of the most iconic action stars of all time thanks to some epic car stunts and a ton of bad-ass action.
The original film spawned two sequels and now a fourth installment to the series, Mad Max: Fury Road, is currently in production starring Tom Hardy.