8 Budget-Friendly Movie Scenes That Became Iconic

Sometimes lack of funds makes us think outside the box.

Damjan

• Published in Cartoons / Anime
• February 15, 2023

When it comes to making a movie, budgeting is a huge part of the process. A movie’s budget is essentially the total amount of money available to bring the project to life.

This money is used to cover the costs of production, marketing, distribution, and more. Unfortunately, the budget is often not enough to cover all the items that the creators had in mind, which means that cost-cutting measures have to be taken.

Cost-cutting can take many forms. One of the most common ways to save money is to reduce the number of cast members or locations used.

This can be a difficult decision to make, as it could mean cutting down on the scope of the story, but it is a necessary step in order to stay within the budget. Another way to cut costs is to opt for lower-cost equipment or special effects.

For example, if the budget doesn’t allow for the use of CGI, filmmakers may opt for practical effects instead. It is a well-known fact that not all Hollywood movies are endowed with the same amount of financial backing.

While some, such as Avengers: Endgame, have a huge budget, others have to make do with a limited budget. Yet, the size of the budget doesn't necessarily determine the success of a movie. A film with a large budget can turn out to be a complete disaster, and one with a smaller budget can become a hit.

Let's take a look at 8 iconic movie scenes that were only made possible due to budget constraints.

1. Deadpool left behind his bag of guns in the cab he took.

Although $58 million may seem like a large sum for making a movie, it is actually quite small for a superhero film. This leaves the producer in a difficult position, as they must work within a strict budget.

For example, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice had a budget of over $260 million, much more than Deadpool's budget of $58 million. This is why in one scene, Deadpool "forgot" his gun bag in Dopinder's cab; it was a way to save money by needing fewer weapons.

2. The characters in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' are famously known for using coconuts as horses.

For over 40 years, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has remained an iconic comedy classic. But do you know it was a real challenge to make this movie? Filming a medieval farce in the 1970s Scottish countryside on a budget of only $400,000 was no easy feat.

Horses were obviously necessary in the medieval world, and the filmmakers had no money to acquire them for King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This was when Michael Palin came up with the clever solution of using coconuts instead. Although it sounds absurd, his plan ended up working out perfectly.

3. Marshmallow Man In ‘Ghostbusters’

Dan Aykroyd's original concept for Ghostbusters was so distinct from the 1984 final product that it's almost unrecognizable. Whereas the finished film was a comedy classic, Aykroyd's vision was much darker.

His plan was for the Ghostbusters to travel through time and space, something that was out of the question in the 1980s. If the budget had allowed it, the original introduction featured a 300-foot tall version of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man emerging from the Hudson River next to the Statue of Liberty.

While this idea was too expensive to execute, the smaller-scale version that eventually showed up still looks great!

4. The Opening Scene Of ‘Halloween’

Without a doubt, the iconic slasher genre was launched with a captivating Halloween. In the unforgettable opening scene, the camera follows a six-year-old boy, Michael, as he stealthily wanders throughout the house and uses a kitchen knife to murder his sister.

To complete the scene in one evening, the director opted to utilize the Steadicam tracking shot without any cuts. An adult man operated the Steadicam, which is why Michael appeared to be much taller in the movie.

5. Every Scene Set In ‘Mad Max’

Producers of the iconic 1979 sci-fi dystopian movie Mad Max managed to stay within a tight budget by setting the film on the deserted outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. This avoided unnecessary costs that would have been incurred if the movie had been set in a bustling city.

With the desolate and run-down backdrop, the producers only had to worry about a few things, including extras. Little did they know at the time that this creative solution for their minuscule budget would spark an eclectic franchise!

6. House Party Scene In ’Swingers’

With a budget of only $200,000 for filming in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Swingers' producers had to be creative to reduce costs. A way to do this was to minimize expenses on extras.

The crew managed to do this brilliantly in the party scene by actually inviting their friends to the set and providing the alcohol and beer themselves. This was a great move, as it saved a lot of money compared to paying people to be extras.

7. Rocky And Adrian In An Empty Rink In ‘Rocky’

In the 1976 original movie, the original script called for the skating rink to be full of people, but the filmmakers couldn't afford the extras. Surprisingly, this created a more intimate atmosphere for the touching scene between Rocky and Adrian. The absence of extras made the scene even better.

8. Shark Scenes In ‘Jaws’ Without The Shark

If the production team had utilized the three sharks they prepared for shooting, Jaws might not have been as successful. Surprisingly, the sharks were unable to perform in their unnatural environment, which ultimately worked out in the producer's favor.

Director Steven Spielberg acknowledged that if the sharks had been in working order, the movie likely would have earned less money and been less frightening.

Cost-cutting measures can also be taken by cutting back on the amount of time spent on certain scenes or shots. This means that some of the more complex scenes may have to be simplified or cut entirely.

Do you have any other great examples of creative movie moments that were created with a tight budget? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also, be sure to check out our website for more amazing stories!

Damjan