When most people think science fiction, aliens, spaceships, and life-altering creatures come to mind. But to have these otherworldly experiences in a film is an extensive, and expensive task. Money isn't grabbed solely for costumes or visual effects though. Some films have stars at the top of their fame or a director creating their dream project with a blank check.
A large budget doesn't guarantee a great film, though. Oftentimes, science fiction with a grounded perspective and a smaller budget can be the means for amazing storytelling. But how little can a great film be made for? Here are a few great science fiction films made for under a million dollars each.
Primer (2004)
Starting out with the most inexpensive film on the list, Primer is a science fiction drama that refuses to shy away from technical terms and science in general. Directed, written, edited, and even composed by Shane Carruth, Primer follows the story of Abe and Aaron, two engineers. With no fulfillment in their day Jobs, the two start their own tech projects, working out of Aaron's garage. Through their work and experiments, Abe and Aaron stumble onto a life-changing discovery: they've accidentally figured out time travel.
As with all good films with time travel, the two friends don't see eye to eye on what they should do with their new discovery and their friendship suffers the consequences. Made for a shocking $7,000, Primer sets itself apart with its complex dialogue focused on the technical jargon of the time machine, made possible by Shane Carruth's background as a real-life engineer. With its simple settings and set dressings, Primer's science-driven story is able to shine through without getting lost in visual effects or convoluted plotlines.
Monsters (2010)
Before he was tasked with rebooting the Godzilla series, Gareth Edwards was proving his worth with this low-budget and aptly named film. Shot for just around $500,000, Monsters focuses on life after a NASA probe has crashed in Mexico, unleashing tentacled alien monsters. Andrew (Scoot McNairy), a photojournalist, is tasked with escorting his boss's daughter Samantha (Whitney Able) to the United States, passing through the infected areas of Central America.
The film is very minimalistic, with its improvised dialogue between the two leads and its filming crew of just six. While the titular creatures are not seen often (in favor of developing the dynamic between McNairy and Able), they are truly a sight to behold. This is in no small part thanks to Gareth Edwards' work on the film's visual effects, a skill he honed for years before this directorial debut. Quiet, creepy, and downright impressive, Monsters is definitely worth checking out.
Another Earth (2011)
This film is a slow burn with a mysterious but impressive ending. Written by and starring TheOA's Brit Marling, AnotherEarth follows Rhoda (Marling), a brilliant woman who causes a life-altering accident the night a twin Earth-like planet is discovered. The accident kills a pregnant woman and her son, while putting her husband John in a coma.
After Rhoda serves time, she plans on apologizing to John, who has survived but lies about her identity at the last minute. The film tracks this messy dynamic while the other Earth looms in the background and discoveries are made about life on the planet. While it may not be for everyone, the film tells a great story and has awesome effects for a budget of just $100,000.
Cube (1998)
This next film has garnered a cult following and even a Japanese remake released in late 2021. Cube centers on five people — all with drastically different backgrounds — who are trapped inside a never-ending maze of cube-shaped rooms that are set out to kill them.
Paving the way for puzzle-driven horror like Jigsaw and the Saw franchise, Cube's characters are given a depth of humanity needed in science fiction, all while being surrounded in a world of complex math and systems. The film was wildly successful — with a profit of 9 million dollars after a budget of just under $400,000 — but its sequel and prequel couldn't live up to the hype of the original.
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
The best way to not have a large budget, especially when shooting science fiction, is to not explicitly show any mythical tech on screen, like a time machine. By following this rule and leaning towards a more grounded and humanistic approach, SafetyNotGuaranteed is able to tell a fantastic and intimate story about time travel and the human condition for only $750,000.
Directed By Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow, the film stars ParksandRecreation's Aubrey Plaza as an intern at a magazine that investigates a man (Mark Duplass) who has put out an ad asking someone to time travel with him. What starts as a comedy slowly morphs into a meditative piece about fading dreams and one's purpose, with some romance sprinkled in.