Modest Budgets, Big Summer: Local Movie Screens Show Ticket Sales Don't Require a Blockbuster Price Tag

Box office receipts climbed 25 percent this summer compared with the prior year, according to industry figures cited by The Hollywood Reporter. Part of that gain came from films made for under $25 million, a fraction of what studios typically spend on their largest releases. The results challenged the long-held assumption that only the costliest productions can reliably fill theater seats. For moviegoers across Los Angeles, the season's lineup offered proof that a smaller budget can still translate into a full house.

With reporting from The Hollywood Reporter.