(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
Horror movies might be snubbed by snobs and ignored by the Oscars, but they've never gone out of fashion for one simple reason: horror makes money. Other genres, from westerns to rom-coms, have risen and fallen at the box office, but horror is the true final girl of cinema. That's a lesson that Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum took to heart after "Paranormal Activity" became the most profitable horror movie of all time, building his studio up around a model of producing low-budget horror movies with massive returns at the box office.
It's a model that has taken Blumhouse from strength to strength over the last decade, and yet Blum still had doubters when he set his sights on an adaptation of...
Horror movies might be snubbed by snobs and ignored by the Oscars, but they've never gone out of fashion for one simple reason: horror makes money. Other genres, from westerns to rom-coms, have risen and fallen at the box office, but horror is the true final girl of cinema. That's a lesson that Blumhouse Productions founder Jason Blum took to heart after "Paranormal Activity" became the most profitable horror movie of all time, building his studio up around a model of producing low-budget horror movies with massive returns at the box office.
It's a model that has taken Blumhouse from strength to strength over the last decade, and yet Blum still had doubters when he set his sights on an adaptation of...
- 10/30/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
This summer, the fine folks over at Chiller Films will release Aaron B. Koontz's feature directorial debut, Camera Obscura, in theaters on June 9th and on VOD and Digital on June 13th. In today's Horror Highlights, we also have release details for The Bigfoot Project, Justice Served, and Black Rose, as well as information on Splathouse Productions' Blue Caveman Indiegogo campaign.
Camera Obscura Release Details: Press Release: "New York, NY – April 11, 2017 – Chiller Films is pleased to announce the release of the anticipated horror thriller Camera Obscura, in theaters on June 9 and on VOD and Digital HD on June 13. The film is written by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns and marks the theatrical directing debut of Koontz. The cast includes Christopher Denham (“Billions,” “Argo”), Nadja Bobyleva (“Bridge of Spies”), Catherine Curtin (“Stranger Things,” “Orange is the New Black”), Chase Williamson (Siren, “Beyond the Gates”) and Noah Segan (“The Mind’s Eye,...
Camera Obscura Release Details: Press Release: "New York, NY – April 11, 2017 – Chiller Films is pleased to announce the release of the anticipated horror thriller Camera Obscura, in theaters on June 9 and on VOD and Digital HD on June 13. The film is written by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns and marks the theatrical directing debut of Koontz. The cast includes Christopher Denham (“Billions,” “Argo”), Nadja Bobyleva (“Bridge of Spies”), Catherine Curtin (“Stranger Things,” “Orange is the New Black”), Chase Williamson (Siren, “Beyond the Gates”) and Noah Segan (“The Mind’s Eye,...
- 4/12/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Separately, Chiller Films unveils release strategy for Camera Obscura.
Saban Films has picked up North American rights to Shot Caller by Bold Films and Participant Media starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lake Bell, and Jon Bernthal.
Ric Roman Waugh directed the crime drama about an ex-con forced by gang leaders to orchestrate a major crime with a rival gang in Southern California. Emory Cohen, Omari Hardwick and Benjamin Bratt round out the key cast.
Waugh produced through his Cadre Filmworks alongside Jonathan King of Participant Media, and Bold Films’ Michel Litvak and Gary Michael Walters.
Bold Films’ Jeffrey Stott and Lisa Zambri, Rhodes Entertainment’s Matthew Rhodes, and Participant Media’s Jeff Skol serve as executive producers.
“Shot Caller is raw, gritty, expertly crafted and perfectly cast,” Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley, who brokered the deal with Wme Global, said. “We could not be more proud to partner with Bold Films and Participant Media to bring this important film to...
Saban Films has picked up North American rights to Shot Caller by Bold Films and Participant Media starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lake Bell, and Jon Bernthal.
Ric Roman Waugh directed the crime drama about an ex-con forced by gang leaders to orchestrate a major crime with a rival gang in Southern California. Emory Cohen, Omari Hardwick and Benjamin Bratt round out the key cast.
Waugh produced through his Cadre Filmworks alongside Jonathan King of Participant Media, and Bold Films’ Michel Litvak and Gary Michael Walters.
Bold Films’ Jeffrey Stott and Lisa Zambri, Rhodes Entertainment’s Matthew Rhodes, and Participant Media’s Jeff Skol serve as executive producers.
“Shot Caller is raw, gritty, expertly crafted and perfectly cast,” Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley, who brokered the deal with Wme Global, said. “We could not be more proud to partner with Bold Films and Participant Media to bring this important film to...
- 4/11/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Oren Peli has just seen some new activity.
The "Paranormal Activity" writer-director's follow-up, "Area 51," has been picked up for distribution in the U.S. by Paramount Pictures, which also distributed his mega-successful debut.
"Activity," produced for just $11,000, has grossed $106 million dollars in the U.S. in the last three months. It has just begun its release overseas, grossing $7 million over the Thanksgiving weekend.
"Moviegoers everywhere demanded to see Oren Peli's spectacular debut and we are excited to show them what he's created next," said Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman, who was involved with acquiring "Activity" while at DreamWorks.
Peli wrote and directed "51," a slightly higher budgeted foray into science fiction that reportedly uses a similar "found footage" conceit as "Activity." The film's plot is otherwise shrouded in mystery.
Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions produced "Activity" and "51." Steven Schneider of Room 101, Stuart Ford of Im Global and Amir Zbeda are executive producing.
The "Paranormal Activity" writer-director's follow-up, "Area 51," has been picked up for distribution in the U.S. by Paramount Pictures, which also distributed his mega-successful debut.
"Activity," produced for just $11,000, has grossed $106 million dollars in the U.S. in the last three months. It has just begun its release overseas, grossing $7 million over the Thanksgiving weekend.
"Moviegoers everywhere demanded to see Oren Peli's spectacular debut and we are excited to show them what he's created next," said Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman, who was involved with acquiring "Activity" while at DreamWorks.
Peli wrote and directed "51," a slightly higher budgeted foray into science fiction that reportedly uses a similar "found footage" conceit as "Activity." The film's plot is otherwise shrouded in mystery.
Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions produced "Activity" and "51." Steven Schneider of Room 101, Stuart Ford of Im Global and Amir Zbeda are executive producing.
- 11/30/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Paranormal Activity caused quite the ghostly stir at the box office, giving director Oren Peli some negotiating ammo for his follow up, Area 51. Looks like Paramount wants Oren to stay in their family, having nabbed the distribution rights to Area 51.The trades has more, including news on the Paranormal sequel:Paramount Pictures has landed U.S. distribution rights to “Area 51,” the Oren Peli-directed follow-up to the sleeper hit “Paranormal Activity.” Deal puts the studio back in business with the creative and financing team behind “Paranormal Activity,” the $11,000 budget film which has grossed more than $106 million since Paramount began rolling it out in September. Peli had a much larger budget to work with on this extraterrestrial tale than he did for his ghost story, as sources said he brought the film in at a shade under $5 million. Paramount made a high-seven figure commitment, said sources to become...
- 11/30/2009
- LRMonline.com
Recent film history is littered with exciting and ambitious genre films that wound up bypassing theaters and going straight to video instead; Michael Dougherty’s Trick ’R Treat and Thomas Jane’s would-be 3-D Dark Country are just two of the more recent examples. And for a couple of years after chilling audiences at festivals, Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity seemed destined for the same fate. DreamWorks snapped up the $11,000 production following a Slamdance Film Fest screening in January 2008—and then announced its intentions to remake Activity on a bigger budget, consigning the original to be seen only on DVD, if at all.
All that changed in the last couple of months. After previewing the movie to enthusiastic audience response, Paramount (which had taken over handling Activity) decided to send the movie into high-profile midnight bookings and give the public the chance to Demand It! for their areas via the official website.
All that changed in the last couple of months. After previewing the movie to enthusiastic audience response, Paramount (which had taken over handling Activity) decided to send the movie into high-profile midnight bookings and give the public the chance to Demand It! for their areas via the official website.
- 10/13/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Last night in speaking with a rep from Paramount it sounds like they are going extreme grassroots with the promotion for the upcoming festival favorite Paranormal Activity, a film that was made for a meager $11,000 and is conjuring up comparisons to The Blair Witch Project. However, as I was told last night, the big difference here is that you actually care about the characters in this movie. Today we have received the poster for the Oren Peli-directed supernatural thriller, which was actually filmed at Peli's home during a seven-day sprint in 2006 with a crew of three that included co-producers Toni Taylor, Peli's then-girlfriend, and Amir Zbeda, one of the filmmaker's best friends. Paramount picked up the film following an impressive showing at Slamdance and it is now set to be released into limited theaters across the country on September 25. As a way to get the word out Paramount is...
- 9/15/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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