9 Low-Budget Action Movies We’ll Remember Forever

Action movies are synonymous with over-the-top sequences and elaborate special effects that typically require a large budget, but there have been several low-budget films in the genre that are just as memorable. Such films prove that a lot can be done with limited money and resources, and that it takes more than a costly spectacle to impress and leave a mark on audiences.

Compared to action films like John Wick and The Fall Guy, with budgets of approximately $20 million and $130 million, these low-budget action movies were made for significantly less. These movies find creative ways to navigate the cost of big-name actors and CGI, while still delivering the showy action sequences fans of the genre have come to expect. Movies like The Raid and Oldboy are celebrated for their larger-than-life thrills, but are also praised for their creative storytelling and dramatic performances.

9

Upgrade (2018)

Budget: $3 million

Produced by Jason Blum under Blumhouse Productions, Upgrade is the most recent low-budget action release mentioned. Still, it has a comparable memorability to older releases, which can be credited to the clever choices made throughout the film to conceal its low budget. Upgrade fuses science fiction and action for its story centered around Logan Marshall-Green’s Grey Trace.

Following his wife’s death and an accident that leaves him paralyzed, Grey is implanted with a chip that gives him enhanced fighting skills, which aids him in his revenge mission. Upgrade is intense and gory at times, but doesn’t take itself too seriously, implementing a healthy amount of dark humor. The film’s relevant exploration of artificial intelligence and its energetic action sequences make it a film worth remembering for many years to come.

8

Mad Max (1979)

Budget: $350,000

The success and quality of the Mad Max films have only grown as the franchise has expanded over the years. While the first installment in the series, 1979’s Mad Max, isn’t as beloved as later entries, it’s not a film action aficionados choose to ignore. Mad Max is set in a dystopian Australia and introduces audiences to its title character, an officer turned vigilante, for the first time.

Though the limited budget and resources of Mad Max result in a film that is much more character-focused than later entries in the franchise, there is still an undeniable thrill present. George Miller’s feature film debut isn’t perfect, but it struck a chord with audiences at the time. Setting the record for the most profitable film, Mad Max found success at the box office.

7

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)

Budget: $1.1 Million

One of the greatest non-American action movies filled with thrilling martial arts sequences also happens to have a low budget. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is an exciting martial arts film starring Tony Jaa in what is recognized as his breakout role. The film follows Jaa as Ting, a villager and Muay Thai expert, who goes on a mission to retrieve a stolen statue.

The limited budget of Ong-Bak does not diminish the excitement and larger-than-life quality of the film’s action. Ong-Bak and its sequel films are beloved for their risky stunts that Jaa makes look effortless. The overall hero’s journey Ting embarks on isn’t anything unlike the martial arts films that came before it, but Jaa’s athleticism and Panna Rittikrai’s action choreography help turn Ong-Bak into something audiences will always remember.

6

Escape From New York (1981)

Budget: $6 Million

One of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s best movies together, Escape from New York had a budget of approximately $6 million. The ’80s action film is tons of fun to revisit and features an innovative display of world-building by Carpenter. The gritty, low-budget aesthetics of the movie, paired with thrilling action set pieces, make it thoroughly unforgettable.

Escape from New York takes place in the near future where Manhattan has become a high-security, futuristic prison. The film sees Russell’s Snake Plissken, a former Special Forces soldier, given the opportunity to save the President of the United States from the city. Despite its low budget, Carpenter’s film was a box-office success. Escape from New York is a strong piece of escapist entertainment that is seen today as a cult classic.

5

Duel (1971)

Budget: $450,000

Steven Spielberg has made several big-budget movies throughout the years, with the cost of the film being apparent in its scale and quality. However, in terms of what Spielberg can accomplish with a lower budget, one of the first films that comes to mind is the made-for-TV road thriller, Duel. With a budget of approximately $450,000, the director effectively crafts an action-horror hybrid that sticks with audiences for a long time.

Duel, which initially premiered on ABC before earning a theatrical release, follows Dennis Weaver’s character David, whose only constant companion on his long drive is a malicious semi-truck driver. Though the identity of Duel‘s antagonist is never revealed, the suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic between them and David is enough to get the audience’s hearts racing.

4

The Raid (2011)

Budget: $1.1 million

Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption revitalized the action genre in the early 2010s with its simple set-up and incomparable martial arts sequences. The film stars Indonesian actors and martial artists Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim as members of a police squad tasked with raiding the apartment building that’s home to a dangerous drug lord. Praise for The Raid over the years is a result of the film’s well-crafted tension and shocking violence.

With the invading police squad members trapped by the drug lord, The Raid takes place mostly within the confines of the apartment building where the men must fight to make it out alive. The Raid‘s characters are fascinating, and there is an appreciated amount of growth, especially for Uwais’ Rama, but the film’s strongest and most memorable component is its non-stop action.

3

El Mariachi (1992)

Budget: $7,225

The start of Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy, El Mariachi began with a budget of $7,225 before a larger sum was spent by Columbia Pictures for post-production work and marketing. The film is made up of mostly amateur actors, including Carlos Gallardo, a frequent collaborator of Rodriguez, who plays the film’s title character. El Mariachi follows Gallardo’s character as he makes his way into a small Mexican town with dreams of becoming a mariachi.

However, following a misunderstanding, El Mariachi finds himself caught up in a drug lord’s heated pursuit of a dangerous criminal. Many of Rodriguez’s signature filmmaking techniques are on full display in El Mariachi, elevating the film’s familiar premise and giving it a needed boost in energy. Rodriguez’s innovation and his ability to work around such a low budget make El Mariachi a considerably impressive and memorable movie.

2

Train To Busan (2016)

Budget: $8.5 Million

The action in Train to Busan is just as memorable as the emotional story at its center. Being one of the best non-American zombie movies, Yeon Sang-ho’s action horror film takes place on a train traveling from Seoul to Busan, where Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) and his daughter find themselves in the middle of a sudden zombie outbreak. Train to Busan combines smart social commentary with action-packed thrills and gore, all with a budget of roughly $8.5 million.

The confined setting in Train to Busan, where its characters must fight for survival, adds a great deal of suspense to the already frightening scenarios unfolding on screen. While the action throughout the film is certainly worthy of praise, it’s the growth of Seok-woo as a character that sticks with audiences the most —luckily, a large budget isn’t necessary for such emotional resonance.

1

Oldboy (2003)

Budget: $3 Million

Both an electrifying action film and a psychological thriller that messes with the audience’s heads, Oldboy is an unforgettable movie about one’s need for revenge. The film is among Park Chan-wook’s best works and sees Choi Min-sik lead the film with a stirring performance as Oh Dae-su. Throughout the film, Dae-su seeks vengeance against the mysterious figure who held him captive in a cell for 15 years.

Oldboy is brutal with its action and depicted violence, but the film doesn’t solely rely on such scenes to make an impact on audiences. Not only does Oldboy satisfy thriller fans’ desire for heart-pounding action set pieces, but the film also presents a twisted narrative that makes one think deeply about Dae-su’s circumstance and course of action.

Source: The Numbers