Highest-Grossing Independent Movies

Good Will Hunting, starring and written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, features Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard and Casey Affleck. The movie was released in 1997 and is one of the highest-grossing independent movies of all times. It was a critical and commercial success, nominated for multiple Oscars, though ultimately it lost in most categories to Titanic. The legendary Robin Williams received his first Oscar for the movie for his exceptional supporting role. Good Will Hunting is an emotional experience that deals with many facets of life in simple yet meaningful context. The coming of age young man finally realizes his sense of responsibility made for a compelling drama. The beauty of this movie is in its simplicity. It touches the heart and reaches out to the audience. Gus Vant Sant, the director of Good Will Hunting, known as the calmest men in Hollywood, was also nominated for an Oscar, his first nomination. This movie sheds light on the fact that how successful people identify and triumph over hardships in life. This movie has wit and vigor, and at the same time makes an impact on the viewer's mind. This movie is wickedly humorous and beautifully touching. It is a must-watch for every movie lover.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, featuring Chow Yun-fat and, Michelle Yeoh, is one of the top-grossing independant movies of all times. It won an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film and raked in a whopping $213 million at the Box-Office. The movie was also adapted for a comic series and video game. The movie broke all box-office records in China on the day of its release. The director Ang Lee dealt beautifully with repressed emotions in the movie. This movie transcended all cultural and linguistic barriers due to its gripping theme. The sets and costumes in the movie attracted massive appreciation. This movie emphasizes love without barriers. If you have not seen this beautiful piece of cinema, you need to. Enjoy the sensitivity and engaging script of this blockbuster.

Pulp Fiction gave John Travolta's fledgling career a shot in the arm, launched Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman to stardom, and consolidated the star power of Bruce Willis. This movie also brought the beast known as Quentin Tarantino into the limelight. Garnering 7 Oscar nominations and winning one for Tarantino's screenplay, the movie became a box office smash, grossing over $200 million on a budget under $10 million. Today, Pulp Fiction is considered one of the greatest movies ever made. For a movie with an A-list star cast and crew, it is surprising to know it was an independent production, so much so that Travolta was paid less than $150,000 for his performance. Be it Marvin's death, Jules spouting verses from the Book of Ezekiel, or Vincent and Mia's jig, the movie is a part of pop culture today and if you haven't watched it yet, you don't know what you are missing.

Slumdog Millionaire is a one of its kind movie. Shot in India but produced by a British company, 33% of the film's dialogue is in Hindi. But, the movie transcended its geographical and cultural restrictions to become a global smash. Made on a budget of just $15 million, the film grossed $360 million at the box office globally, in addition to winning 8 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film is based on Vikas Swarup's book Q & A and narrates the tale of a slum dweller in Mumbai who, after his losing his mother during the riots, escapes with his brother and then goes on to fall in love, culminating in an appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The gripping storyline and screenplay have a universal appeal and you will love watching how Jamal goes from being a slumdog to a millionaire.

Criticized though it may be, no one can deny the fact that The Blair Witch Project was a groundbreaking movie. Made for a few thousand dollars, the low-budget horror became a blockbuster, eventually grossing over $200 million. The movie features a group of friends in mortal danger. The documentary-style filming technique gave birth to the 'Found Footage Horror' genre, which has become quite popular over the years. The movie also spawned a sequel but it was critically and commercially panned, but The Blair Witch Project became the forebearer for dozens of similar movies.