Major Hollywood studios are investing in a new crop of horror films. According to Comscore data, at least 29 such productions will be released by the end of 2023.
Historically, the genre has suffered a cycle of ups and downs. When a horror film becomes an unlikely hit, studios try to replicate it with a flurry of similar titles.
After the boom comes the inevitable hangover. The quality of feature films declines and audiences get tired of so many mediocre films, forcing studios to back down.
2023, it seems, is a boom year ahead of us. Major studios including Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema (owned by Warner Bros. Pictures) and Universal Pictures have recently recruited top notch writers and directors.
Typically, horror films are made on much smaller budgets than superhero epics or science fiction sagas. When they score, they can represent a very large profit.
Last year, Paramount Pictures managed to score “Smile.” Initially, this Parker Finn psychological thriller was going to be released only in streaming. But at the last minute, they rushed the film to theaters, where it grossed $217 million on a production budget of just $17 million, making it one of the studio’s highest-grossing releases last year.
Other productions also had surprising box office receipts. See some examples:
This year, horror got off to a flying start with “M3GAN,” about a killer doll animated by artificial intelligence. The film was produced by Blumhouse Productions, a pioneer in taking low-budget horror films and turning them into profitable franchises including ‘Paranormal Activity’, ‘Insidious’ and ‘The Purge’.
Since its debut in January, “M3GAN” has grossed $175 million worldwide. Meanwhile, “Scream VI” opened in March to $44.5 million in its opening weekend in the United States.
through The Washington Post.
The post that Hollywood Studios has invested in a new crop of horror films first surfaced on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
