Unveiling the Horror Reign of Blumhouse Productions: From 'Paranormal Activity' to 'Night Swim'
Blumhouse Productions, led by Jason Blum, is the force behind iconic horror hits like 'Paranormal Activity,' 'Halloween,' and more Explore their spine-chilling empire from 'Insidious' to 'Us' and prepare for sleepless nights
Blumhouse Productions, founded in 2000, has made a significant impact in the horror genre, producing iconic films from Paranormal Activity to Night Swim. The company's focus on creating high-quality films on a micro-budget has led to success, with Paranormal Activity becoming their first major box office hit in 2007. This found-footage film followed a fictional couple as they were haunted by a supernatural presence in their home.
The movie "Paranormal Activity" was produced for $15,000 and ultimately grossed nearly $200 million worldwide after its theatrical release. According to Blum, the best approach to producing is acquisition, emphasizing the success of acquiring finished films and making final adjustments for release. This method was also utilized for "Unfriended" and "The Visit."
Blum emphasized his focus on investing in people he believed in, stating, "Our top priority is to use the Blumhouse brand to shine a spotlight on shows and movies that may otherwise go unnoticed. This is a major part of our company's mission now."
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Blumhouse Productions has since produced nearly 200 movies. The company has also expanded to TV shows, shorts, documentaries, books, comics and podcasts.
Keep scrolling for just some of Blumhouse Productions’ greatest hits over the years:
Credit: Youtube(4)
Biggest Movies From Blumhouse Productions' Horror Empire: From 'Paranormal Activity' to 'Night Swim'
Blumhouse Productions, founded in 2000, has been involved in producing some of the most iconic horror movies, from Paranormal Activity to Night Swim.
The production company, known for its focus on high-quality films on a micro-budget, found its first major box office success with Paranormal Activity in 2007. The film, which utilized a found-footage concept, follows a fictional couple haunted by a supernatural presence in their home.
The film Paranormal Activity was produced with a budget of $15,000, yet it earned nearly $200 million globally after its theatrical release. Blum, speaking to Film Speak in 2020, emphasized the strategy of acquiring finished films and making minor adjustments, citing Paranormal Activity, Unfriended, and The Visit as examples.
Blum emphasized that his main focus was on investing in people he trusts. He also mentioned using the Blumhouse brand to elevate shows and movies that may not receive much attention otherwise, a significant aspect of the company's work. To date, Blumhouse Productions has produced close to 200 movies, and has diversified into producing TV shows, shorts, documentaries, books, comics, and podcasts.
Keep scrolling for just some of Blumhouse Productions' greatest hits over the years:
Credit: Youtube
'Paranormal Activity'
After the initial film became a commercial success, the Paranormal Activity series produced an additional six movies centered around families experiencing haunting by a demon known as Asmodeus "Tobi" from the Book of Tobit. (2007)
Credit: Youtube
'Insidious'
Blumhouse Productions expanded their horror repertoire with the Insidious franchise, focusing on demonic entities that take over their victims from an astral plane. The first film spawned two sequels and two prequels, up to now. (2011)
Credit: Youtube
'The Purge'
The Purge franchise explores the idea of a 12-hour period during which all crimes, including murder, are decriminalized. Over the course of five movies and a short-lived TV series, horror fans witness the consequences of this dystopian scenario from various perspectives. (2013)
Credit: Youtube
'Oculus'
Mike Flanagan, renowned for his own horror empire at Netflix, has created a multitude of memorable projects, including a film about an antique mirror that brings death and misfortune. In 2013, the filmmaker also collaborated with Blumhouse Productions to produce several more films.
Credit: Youtube
'Ouija'
For horror movie enthusiasts, few things are as chilling as a Ouija board. Luckily, Blumhouse Productions tapped into that fear by creating two films centered around spirits released from a haunted board. The inaugural installment featured Olivia Cooke, Daren Kagasoff, Douglas Smith, and Bianca Santos. (2014)
Credit: Youtube
'Hush'
Flanagan re-teamed with Blumhouse Productions for a film centered around a deaf and mute author who relocates to a secluded forest. When a masked assailant emerges, the woman must struggle to survive. (2016)
Credit: Youtube
'Get Out'
Jordan Peele's first film as a director featured a cast including Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, LaKeith Stanfield, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, and Catherine Keener. Get Out successfully blended elements of horror and comedy while addressing the issue of racism. The film has garnered significant recognition, including an Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2017.
Credit: Youtube
'Happy Death Day'
The slasher orchestrated a scenario reminiscent of Groundhog Day, in which a college student repeatedly experienced her birthday night until she uncovered the identity of her would-be killer. (2017)
Credit: Youtube
'Amityville: The Awakening'
Bella Thorne starred in the newest Amityville film about a demonic entity that tormented a family who moved into a new home. (2017)
Credit: Youtube
'Truth or Dare'
The landscape of party games will be forever changed after the release of Truth or Dare, a chilling movie that follows a group of college students as they encounter deadly repercussions from their game. The star-studded cast includes Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane, Hayden Szeto, and Landon Liboiron. (2018)
Credit: Youtube
'Halloween'
The iconic horror series began in 1978 with Jamie Lee Curtis in the role of Laurie Strode, battling the relentless masked murderer Michael Myers. After seven sequels from 1981 to 2002, along with a remake of the original film, Halloween was resurrected as a modern trilogy following Laurie and her family. (2018)
Credit: Youtube
'Us'
Peele dismissed worries about facing a sophomore slump when he released his psychological horror film depicting a family abducted by frightening doppelgängers. Us boasted a cast featuring Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke as the central couple pursued by the "Tethered." (2019)
Credit: Youtube
'Black Christmas'
In 2019, director Sophia Takal and screenwriter April Wolfe joined forces to bring a fresh and memorable addition to the Black Christmas franchise, featuring a group of sorority sisters being targeted by an unknown stalker.
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'The Invisible Man'
Elisabeth Moss gave a haunting portrayal of an abuse survivor whose husband appeared to have died by suicide after her escape. But she soon discovered that he had actually found a way to become invisible and continued to torment her. (2020)
Credit: Youtube
'Nocturne'
Blumhouse Productions and Prime Video collaborated to launch the film series Welcome to the Blumhouse in 2020. The initial collection featured The Lie, Black Box, Evil Eye, and Nocturne, the latter starring Sydney Sweeney as a talented pianist who begins to overshadow her twin sister at their prestigious arts academy after finding a cryptic notebook that belonged to a deceased classmate. A year later, the inclusion of Bingo Hell, Black as Night, Madres, and The Manor completed the Welcome to the Blumhouse series.
Credit: Youtube
'Freaky'
Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton were perfectly cast for a movie where a teenage girl switches bodies with male serial killer. (2020)
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'The Black Phone'
A kidnapped teenager used a mysterious phone to connect with the previous victims of his abductor in the film. Ethan Hawke, who portrayed The Grabber, is set to return in the sequel. (2021)
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'M3GAN'
The film stood out thanks to the iconic performance of M3GAN, also known as the Model 3 Generative Android. With her impressive dance moves and inclination for murder, M3GAN secured Blumhouse Productions another successful franchise. (2022)
Credit: Youtube
'Totally Killer'
The Sweet Sixteen Killer was brought into popular culture by the Prime Video movie. This masked serial killer was originally responsible for the deaths of multiple teenagers in the 1980s. After three decades, the Sweet Sixteen Killer resurfaced to claim more victims, prompting Jamie (played by Kiernan Shipka) to unintentionally travel back in time and join forces with her mother, Pam (played by Olivia Holt), as a teenager in order to stop the murderer. (2023)
Credit: Youtube
'The Exorcist: Believer'
The Exorcist's direct sequel features Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair returning to their roles from the original film released in the ‘70s. In this latest installment, two girls fall victim to possession, placing their parents in a race against time to save them. (2023)
Credit: Youtube
'Five Nights at Freddy's'
Adapted from the popular video game franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's takes place in a deserted pizzeria and family fun center inhabited by murderous animatronic characters. The film features a talented cast including Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard. (2023)
Credit: Youtube
'Night Swim'
Released in January 2024, the horror film revolves around a family and their haunted backyard swimming pool. The notable cast member, Wyatt Russell, portrays the patriarch who confronts the mysterious supernatural presence. (2023)
