Best Low Budget Films To Watch on Reveel

In the midst of Hollywood film releases with million-dollar budgets and loaded with high-quality SFX, it can be easy to forget about the humble beginnings of filmmaking. These days, anyone with a smartphone can shoot and edit a film, so it’s no surprise that some pretty notable films have been made on shoestring budgets. Some of the best low-budget films are short films that create a compelling cinematic experience with minimal resources. Famous filmmakers like Ari Aster, George Lucas, and Martin Scorcese started out making short films with little to no budget, and they went on to become some of the most celebrated directors in the world. Here are some of the best low-budget short films available to watch for free on Reveel.

8 Best Low Budget Indie Short Films on Reveel

8. Stay

Stay is a short film created at the early stages of the COVID-19 quarantine. It was made with a minimal cast, locations, and budget. The short film is about the horror of being trapped within the four walls of your house and the descent week by week into madness. Stay is a testament to the fact that you don’t need anything to create a good film but an entertaining story.

Watch Stay For Free on Reveel

7. Guesthouse

Guesthouse is a short film directed by Periklis Tsintzas with only one location and four actors. Despite its limited resources, Guesthouse is a well-crafted mystery thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. The film is about a mother and his son who after being lost on a road trip end up in a guesthouse where they spend the night, but there is a dark secret waiting for them inside. Guesthouse is a must-watch for any fan of the mystery genre.

Watch Guesthouse For Free on Reveel

6. Payload

This action short film takes a lot of inspiration from James Bond films and spy thrillers. The film has a low budget but still manages to convey a high production value with great visual effects and thrilling action sequences. Payload is about a mysterious high-value item (the payload) that must be delivered to a buyer. However, things take a turn when the supposed routine exchange turns into a crazy all-out hunt. Action blockbusters are seen as some of the most expensive films to produce, but Payload shows that you don’t need a huge budget to make action entertaining.

Watch Payload For Free on Reveel

5. The Routine

Science fiction isn’t a genre that is traditionally associated with being low budget but The Routine shows that you can create a compelling and entertaining sci-fi film without breaking the bank. The Routine is set in the future where everything is just a click away and we no longer need to even leave our homes. It may be bliss for some, but for others, the reliance on modern technology may have dire consequences. Starring Tara Price, the short film has only two actors in a single location.

Watch The Routine For Free on Reveel

4. Sitting

Allyson Morgan created a low-budget short film that explores the themes of grief and loss in a darkly comedic way. Starring Louis Ozawa Changchien and Allyson Morgan herself, the short film follows a woman whose week goes from bad to worse when her latest babysitting gig turns out to be for a grown man. Sitting has only two actors and takes place in one house.

Watch Sitting For Free on Reveel

3. Blackbird

Another sci-fi short film makes it to our list of best low-budget indie films. Blackbird was made on a budget of $750 and yet pulls viewers into their dystopian and grim world. The short film is about a husband and wife who debate the idea of uploading her consciousness to an AI after she’s impaired in a severe car accident. Director Mike Thompson gives us more insight into the techniques used to make Blackbird appear like it had higher production value in our interview with him.

Watch Blackbird For Free on Reveel

2. Sam Did It

Alfred Molina, Doctor Octopus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stars in this low-budget indie in the perfect role… as the corpse-version of himself. This short film takes place in a morgue and only has a small number of actors. Sam Did It is about Sam, who is about to meet his celebrity idol. The only problem is that Sam works in a morgue… and his idol is dead. The comedic acting is top-notch and the film’s clever story will have you entertained from beginning to end.

Watch Sam Did It For Free on Reveel

1. Hang Up!

There aren’t a lot of stories that can stay compelling and engaging while taking place in one location with one actor and only one monologue, but Hang Up! does just that. From the premise, it doesn’t seem like there would be much room for a story but the film’s writer and director, Richard Powell, manages to take us on an emotional roller coaster for the entirety of its 13 minutes. Hang Up! also serves as an exploration of the anxieties and fears of the modern marriage and operates as a waking nightmare where the unsuspecting spouse’s deepest paranoia comes to life.

Watch Hang Up! For Free on Reveel

Watch More Low Budget Films on Reveel

Reveel is a streaming platform that is filled with only independent films from all over the world. The streaming platform was created to empower both indie filmmakers and audiences to have alternatives to the predictable sequels, remakes, and reboots coming out of Hollywood. Reveel only hosts original content, has absolutely no disruptive ad breaks, and is completely free to anyone who signs up. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up and explore our library of independent films!