Halloween (1978)

Halloween launched one of horror's most enduring franchises, grossing $47 million worldwide from a mere $300,000 budget—a 156x return that outperforms #6 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's box office multiplier. John Carpenter's iconic Michael Myers mask was a $1.98 Captain Kirk mask spray-painted white, making it cheaper than the typical rival's custom design. The film's single-night narrative and 78-minute runtime set a benchmark for efficiency, with its silent killer motif replicated in over 90% of later slashers.