6. Get Out
Get Out tells the story of an African-American boy named Chris who visits his white girlfriend’s family. Instead of enjoying the family’s warm welcome, he discovers an evil conspiracy. Chris was trying hard to get out of the house quickly. This film was directed by Jordan Peele with the horror-thriller genre. This film is a commentary on the themes of racism, oppression and exploitation of the body and mind.
Despite receiving positive reviews, this film was made on a shoestring budget with a provocative premise. So, Get Out wasn’t expected to be a hit at the box office. Moreover, this film is Jordan’s directorial debut and stars a less well-known actor. However, the film was a surprise by grossing USD255 million. This film also won an Oscar.
5.District 9
District 9 tells the story of an alien race that is forced to live in slum conditions on earth. This sci-fi film directed by Neill Blompkamp is a commentary on the treatment of marginalized groups in society and the abuse of power. The film was not expected to be a big hit at the box office.
The main reason, this film is a low-budget sci-fi film withunknown cast and crew. District 9 also marks Neill’s feature film directorial debut. However, this film instead received positive reviews and became a box office hit by grossing USD 210 million from a budget of USD 30 million. This film became one of the director’s most successful debut films and a perfect example of an unexpected hit.
4. Gravity
Gravity is a sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuaron starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Both play two astronauts stranded in space after a major incident. The film explores the intense physical and psychological challenges of trying to survive in a vacuum while also exploring the deeper themes of human connection and the fragility of life.
Even though this film has a big name, the director is not well known and the marketing campaign is not massive either. Not much hope for this film. Surprisingly, from a budget of USD 100 million, this film was a hit at the box office and received positive reviews. This film managed to gross USD 723 million and won many awards.