Biggest Indie Films of All Time

By: Anne C. LeeTue Nov 25, 2008 at 5:00 AM

Indie films are notoriously risky investments, but when the stars align, they pay out big. These are the three biggest indie films of all time.

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The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Production budget: $30 million
Worldwide gross: $611.9 million
Mel Gibson's pet project targeted churchgoers and became the only indie in the 100 top-grossing U.S. films.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Production budget: $5 million
Worldwide gross: $368.7 million
Nia Vardalos's one-woman play wowed Rita Wilson, who wooed her husband, Tom Hanks, to turn it into a movie.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Production budget: $60,000
Worldwide gross: $248.6 million
The shaky-cam horror flick pioneered Internet movie marketing with intriguing Web footage a year before release.