Saw

James Wan's Saw launched in 2004 as a low-budget shocker that exploded into a global sensation. The film introduced audiences to the twisted world of John Kramer, known as Jigsaw, who traps unsuspecting victims in elaborate deathtraps to test their will to survive. Tobin Bell anchors the series as the silent, calculating killer, while Leigh Whannell and others portray the desperate individuals forced to play his grim games. Produced on a shoestring budget of roughly $1.2 million, the movie grossed over $103 million worldwide, proving that fresh ideas could outperform big studio spectacles. This success birthed one of horror's most enduring franchises, spanning multiple films, video games, and theme park attractions. Critics initially divided on its graphic violence, yet the box office numbers told a different story about audience appetite for intelligent terror.[edit]