StephenFollows.com - Using data to explain the film industry

StephenFollows.com - Using data to explain the film industry

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Are movies based on video games still 'the worst'?
I crunched the numbers on over 14,000 films to see if video game movies are still the worst rated and to uncover why that is, including whether Uwe Boll…
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Stephen Follows
Why your film can't secure distribution (from 300+ brutally honest film market professionals)
I interviewed 327 film professionals about what filmmakers get wrong when trying to secure a film distribution deal and then did not hold back with the…
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Stephen Follows
1
Nine lessons filmmakers can learn from Annapurna Pictures
Annapurna supports ambitious directors and unusual projects
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Stephen Follows
What is replacing love as the dominate theme of movies?
What do 25,353 films reveal about the quiet transformation of movie storytelling over the past century?
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Stephen Follows
6
What types of horror movies are the most investor-friendly?
Investing in movie comes down to two key factors: ensuring a strong chance of breaking even and identifying projects with breakout potential for high…
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Stephen Follows
What filmmakers can learn from Tyler Perry’s incredible self-made empire
Tyler Perry rewrote the rules of independent filmmaking, building his own audience studio and creative system from the ground up. Filmmakers can learn…
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Stephen Follows
2

March 2025

Is George Clooney right that he’s too old for romance?
How 4,325 romantic films handle big age gaps, and how it's shifting over time.
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Stephen Follows
4
Can horror movies be made on tiny budgets and still succeed?
How micro-budget horror films use creativity over cash to scare audiences, and why some of the most effective horror stories thrive on shoestring…
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Stephen Follows
What Hollywood wants from entry-level assistants
Insights from studying almost two thousand real Hollywood assistant jobs, and how to position yourself as their ideal candidate.
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Stephen Follows
What film professionals can learn from A24's business model
How a carefully balanced mix of creative risk-taking, financial discipline and audience-first thinking turned an indie studio into a cultural…
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Stephen Follows
1
When was the Visual Effects business not in crisis?
From bankruptcies to breakthroughs, I crunched the numbers to find out when, if ever, VFX caught a break.
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Stephen Follows
Which horror movies have been the most expensive to make?
The most expensive horror films ever made (including a few you might not consider horror at all).
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Stephen Follows
Is the influx of Hollywood money boosting or breaking the UK film industry?
Hollywood cash has fuelled a record-breaking recovery for UK film and TV production, but beneath the headline figures, independent producers…
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Stephen Follows
What really drives success in indie filmmaking
Money matters in indie film, but so do art, industry buzz, and patronage. Here’s how filmmakers can use them.
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Stephen Follows
1
22:53
Do movies with numbers in their titles perform worse than those without?
Movies have been using numbers in their titles for over a century, but their impact on box office success and audience perception is more complicated…
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Stephen Follows
2
The biggest forces reshaping the film business right now
From streaming upheavals to AI-driven production, these interconnected shifts define where the business of film is headed, and the opportunities (and…
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Stephen Follows
What happens after 'I Love You' in movies?
I analysed 72,000 movies to find out how often characters say "I love you" and what happens next. The results reveal how films express love, when they…
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Stephen Follows
2
What types of horror movies are made on the biggest budgets?
Exploring how big budgets shape horror films, from monstrous creatures to apocalyptic nightmares.
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Stephen Follows
Practical advice for indie directors who want to keep making films
How to build a sustainable career as an indie director in a constantly evolving industry.
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Stephen Follows
3
The shifting economics of theatrical cinema and what it means for the film business
Theatrical cinema is evolving. Shrinking windows, hybrid releases, premium formats, event films, Gen Z trends, and AI-driven strategies are reshaping…
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Stephen Follows
1

February 2025

Was Harvey Weinstein thanked more often than God at the Oscars?
I analysed almost 2,000 Oscar speeches to discover if the claim that Harvey Weinstein was thanked more often than God is true. Plus, we'll find out…
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Stephen Follows
17
Who does what on a film set -118 film crew jobs explained
A clear and practical guide to all the key on-set film jobs, from the biggest roles to the smallest details.
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Stephen Follows
The ultimate guide to surviving and thriving at SXSW
I spoke to 213 past SXSW attendees to collect top tips on how to get the most out of South by Southwest.
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Stephen Follows
2
Is horror the most profitable genre?
An analysis of a quarter-century of data shows horror’s consistent ability to turn a profit.
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Stephen Follows
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