Indie Film 'Hundreds of Beavers' Redefines Microbudget Success

The wordless black-and-white slapstick comedy has become a cult hit through self-distribution and inventive roadshow screenings.

Made for just $150,000, 'Hundreds of Beavers' is a wordless slapstick comedy about a 19th-century applejack salesman battling beavers in mascot costumes.
The film, created by Mike Cheslik and Ryland Tews, was shot over two Wisconsin winters and features over 1,500 effects completed on a home computer.
After failing to secure a major distributor, the filmmakers embraced self-distribution, with theatrical roadshows combining screenings and vaudeville-style performances.
Since its January release, the movie has played weekly in theaters, grossing around $500,000 and earning acclaim as a creative alternative to big-budget Hollywood productions.
An encore theatrical tour, 'A Northwoods Christmas,' will expand the film to 70 theaters in December, marking its widest release to date.