Budget: $20 million
Release date: Nov. 18, 2011
Box office gross: $144,462,423
Profit: $124,462,443
The first film on our list to make nine figures, "The Descendants" had a modest budget that included a considerable pay cut for Best Actor nominee George Clooney, who usually makes $15 million per film. Clooney is a favorite to pick up the Best Actor trophy.
Fun "The Descendants" fact: When Clooney's character, Matt, says, "I don't want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father: You give your children enough money to do something but not enough to do nothing, " he is paraphrasing a famous quote from billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
