Top 10 Insane Ways Movies Tried to Save Money

"Psycho" (1960)
A trip to the Bates Motel saw visitors disappear left and right, in the Alfred Hitchcock classic "Psycho." Hitchcock was left to finance the film himself, and shoot back at Universal where he also made "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" for TV. In an effort to keep costs low, he recycled much of that show's production crew, and reportedly approached the movie like an episode. Hitchcock additionally took an upfront cut on pay to get Paramount to distribute the film, and instead opted for a larger part of the backend profits. Even the choice to film in black-and-white was itself done in-part to trim expenses. But given the millions that "Psycho" earned at the box office, Hitchcock made all the right moves.

"Dr. No" (1962)
James Bond's first official film outing took him into the surprisingly charming lair of the evil Dr. No. But as the Bond franchise was still new, only one per cent of its already meager one million dollar budget was allocated to sets. No's rooms still appeared stylish due to production designer Ken Adam, who mixed in cheap vintage pieces to create an eclectic aesthetic. Adam was also tasked with copying a stolen Goya painting for No to possess, just to enhance the villain's aura of power. Stock footage of tiny fish was magnified to save money, which was itself written in as a display of No's unusual persona. So, given that later Bond films received huge budgets for set-pieces alone, Dr. No’s smooth look was an impressive achievement.

"Dallas Buyers Club" (2013)
This movie’s funding was slashed right before filming started, leaving just a few hundred or so dollars to transform Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto into ill patients. Makeup head Robin Mathews claimed bones and veins had to be highlighted repeatedly, in place of prosthetics. Rashes were created with grits and other foods to drive costs down more, and those were reportedly donated by Mathews' mother! The situation was dire enough that a producer reportedly pitched in their own money to feed crew members. Mathews' hard work paid off however, as "Dallas Buyers Club" won the makeup Oscar that same year.

"Rocky" (1976)
In the midst of Rocky Balboa's journey to become a famous boxer, he asked Adrian out on a date. Initially this scene was set to occur in either a restaurant, or an ice rink packed with skaters. But as the large amount of extras proved to be an expensive choice, it was suggested to set the moment after hours. With Rocky and Adrian alone, the camera focused on them for an intimate conversation. Rocky's access to the closed rink also helped him appear more dedicated to impressing Adrian. The decision solidified their relationship so that it was all the more emotional as Rocky called for her in the finale.

"The Purge" (2013)
The home-invasion-terror of "The Purge" was touch-and-go in the financing department. BUt producer Jason Blum secured interest in a low-budget approach to the story, and filmed it in a house rather than the streets. Ethan Hawke and crew members were asked to waive larger paycheques and instead opt for part of the profits instead. Hawke also skipped on accommodations, and slept on his friend Blum's sofa to reduce the costs of production. The home setting put the danger in a place that viewers understood, and grounded a high-concept plot. Five films and a TV show later, Blum's early penny-pinching has allowed "The Purge" to get more ambitious.

"Monsters" (2010)
Gareth Edwards' "Monsters" took viewers through a desolate Mexico filled with infectious aliens. But less than five hundred thousand dollars was allocated to achieve this futuristic vision. This forced director Gareth Edwards to use mostly consumer level equipment and editing software, which reportedly cost only about fifteen thousand dollars. Random locals were recruited as extras, while the crew was just four people. Edwards even ended up serving as the cinematographer and production designer, while he added all the visual effects himself on a laptop. Despite the meager resources, "Monsters" still looked way better than movies with ten times the budget.

"Jurassic Park" (1993)
A T. Rex chases down a car of patrons, after a dinosaur theme park has its beasts set loose. This moment wasn't originally in "Jurassic Park," as the book actually saw the protagonists fleeing the Rex in a raft. Though the scene was storyboarded and reportedly partially filmed, it was cut due to the very large costs it would've incurred. And even money aside, it was also unclear how a rafting chase with a massive dinosaur would've looked with their special effects. This led to adapting the scene with a Jeep, which has helped "Jurassic Park" hold up visually throughout the years.

"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982)
Three years on from their first film outing, the crew of the USS Enterprise were pitted against an intergalactic villain. But "The Wrath of Khan" was a sequel with a reduced budget, so the crew — the film crew that is — was forced to cut corners wherever they could. The set of Khan's USS Reliant was recycled from the Enterprise, much like several space stations and miniatures were reused from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Costumes were too costly to throw out, so many were either dyed or trimmed to look new. Worst of all was the docking sequence, which essentially just re-edited shots directly from the first film. Though "Wrath of Khan" was celebrated, it was a testament to the strong designs of the original movie.

"Deadpool" (2016)
Wade Wilson was dying from cancer, when an experiment turned him into an invincible but unhinged mutant. This X-Men spin-off was already facing minimal financing, but it faced additional million dollar cuts right before it was green-lit. The reduced cash meant that preferred characters like Garrison Kane and Wire were unable to be featured. Defeated by the budget! An otherwise strange cast of characters did allow for plenty of meta jokes, which was classic Deadpool humor. And the lack of funds for a massive gunfight finale was salvaged by making fun of Wade's own stupidity. So by playing to the self-aware voice of their own source-material, "Deadpool" turned major setbacks into opportunities.

"The Terminator" (1984)
A time-travelling, robot assassin sounded like a low-budget movie plot, so director James Cameron was given the funds to match for "The Terminator." Luckily Cameron had learned tricks from his previous cheap films, so he decided to avoid paying for film permits. This prompted a lot of night-time filming to avoid detection. Mercury-vapor street lights were sought out by the crew to reduce electrical costs for the moonlight shoots. Cameron actually had to lie about studying at UCLA when a cop busted him. And another scene had Arnold Schwarzenegger punch in a real car window just to get a shot. All the workarounds gave the "Terminator" a dark and gritty look, which stays terrifying all these years later.