Pedigree: Garth Jennings - who made a decent fist of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy movie. Estimated budget: Less than $1 million. Predicted box office: $15 million (US gross), $100 million (worldwide).

Advertisement

Rather than careen into another big-budget studio movie following the success of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, director Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith (collectively Hammer & Tongs) did exactly the opposite. Son Of Rambow is an '80s-set coming-of-age drama that's miniscule of budget but massive of heart, telling the personal story of two boys' attempt to make a Rambo spin-off.

"When I was about 11, my dad inherited a video camera from a friend," explains the director. "I started making little films with my friends. We were influenced by the Spielberg and Lucas movies and the Vietnam films like Rambo and Uncommon Valour."

The two friends make an odd mix, the school bully and a Plymouth Brethren boy, played without a whiff of sentiment by Will Poulter and Bill Milner. Some have already called it this year's Billy Elliot, but don't let that put you off.

‹ Blindness

The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian ›

The 25 Most Exciting Films Of 2008 ~ Select A Film ~
	Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
	Hellboy II: The Golden Army
	Hancock
	Wanted
	Iron Man
	The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor
	Blindness
	Son Of Rambow
	The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian
	Jumper
	Get Smart
	Frost / Nixon
	The Incredible Hulk
	Burn After Reading
	The Dark Knight
	Speed Racer
	Pineapple Express
	The Happening
	Valkyrie
	Wall-E
	Sex And The City: The Movie
	Quantum Of Solace
	Star Trek
	Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
	Where The Wild Things Are

Want more on the biggest films of 2008? Make sure you pick up Empire magazine every month. Subscribe Today