What Is a Low-Budget Movie Called?
If you love the idea of making movies, then you are probably familiar with no-budget movie making. Long before digital cameras and editing software made filmmaking more accessible, many independent creators began with whatever tools they could afford. My own journey started with Super 8 film, silent and simple, but full of possibility. At the time, just owning a movie camera felt like holding a piece of magic, a doorway into storytelling that didn’t require Hollywood connections, only imagination and determination.
I remember saving every spare dollar to upgrade from my silent Super 8 camera to one with sound. That was the dream. The day I finally walked into Sears to buy the camera I had been eyeing for months is still vivid in my mind. To my shock, the price had somehow dropped by nearly 70 percent. It made no sense. I worried something had to be wrong with it, because such a dramatic reduction felt too good to be true.
After tracking down a salesperson and explaining my concerns, they investigated the pricing and returned with reassurance. The camera was still brand new. Nothing was wrong. The markdown was real. The reason? Sears was clearing out all its Super 8 movie equipment to make room for the new video camcorders that would soon dominate the shelves. Technology had shifted, and suddenly my dream was affordable.
Because I already had a Super 8 film editing setup at home, my only real expenses became the film itself and the cost of getting it developed. That’s when I truly learned what it meant to make movies on a shoestring. My filmmaking funds were so tight that calling it “low-budget” felt generous. In truth, it was closer to what many today would call a “no-budget film.”
So, what exactly is a low-budget movie called? The answer depends on the scale of the project and the resources used. A low-budget film often refers to a production made with significantly less money than a typical studio film, even though in Hollywood, “low-budget” can still mean millions of dollars. For independent creators, however, the terms take on a more personal and practical meaning.
A microbudget film usually refers to a production made with under $100,000, though the exact number can vary. These films rely heavily on creative problem-solving, minimal locations, limited cast and crew, and lots of passion. An ultra-low-budget film is often defined by industry standards, such as those set by SAG-AFTRA, as having a total budget under $300,000, though many come in far below that mark.
Then there is the “no-budget film,” a term often used when the project is funded almost entirely out of pocket, using personal equipment, borrowed gear, and volunteer actors and crew. These films are driven more by heart than by money, proving that storytelling doesn’t always require a massive financial engine to come alive.
The term “B movie” is also closely associated with low-budget productions. Historically, a B movie was the second feature in a double-feature screening, produced at a lower cost and with less financial risk than the main attraction. Over time, the phrase has come to represent films that may lack polish or large budgets but often possess charm, creativity, and cult appeal.
In the end, whether you call it a low-budget film, microbudget film, ultra-low-budget film, no-budget film, or even a B movie, the essence remains the same. These are movies born from passion, imagination, and the refusal to let money dictate creativity. And sometimes, as with that Super 8 camera sitting on a clearance shelf, the magic begins when opportunity meets determination.
