Blockbuster movie franchises have raised the bar for profitability in Hollywood – with certain series pulling in multi-billion dollar returns. In spite of mostly negative reviews, and skepticism from series fans, Transformer movies remain some of the most reliable money-makers in Hollywood – joined by countless young adult adaptations, comic book films, and kid-friendly animated movie sequels, among others.
However, while it’s no surprise that established IPs like The Avengers or Harry Potter could pull in record-breaking numbers, what about the films that came out of nowhere, with small budgets, bad reviews, or a niche setup, but managed to strike a chord with audiences – and become some of the most successful series in movie history? In an industry that’s increasingly dependent on tentpole popcorn movies, where studios and pundits often have a very clear idea of how a film will perform in theaters weeks ahead of release, box office Cinderella stories have become less frequent.
