The Horror Report

The most comprehensive case study of the horror genre ever. The horror genre dissected, analysed​ and laid bare. Using data on every horror film ever made, a data-driven dive into everything from development, production and distribution to recoupment and profitability.

To ensure The Horror Report is accessible to everyone, it is being offered on a ‘Pay What You Can’ model. If you’re a struggling filmmaker, then just pay £1.

If you can offer more than the minimum, then please do so.

What’s inside this report

The report is over 200 pages of facts, stats, graphs and charts looking at all aspects of horror movies, including:
  1. Development
    Types of movies made, writers, sources, sequels and titles.
  2. crew
    Directors, producers, cinematographers, editors and crew.
  3. film festivals
    Horror at major festivals and top horror festivals.
  4. film critics
    Most and least horror-friendly publications and critics.
  5. Video on Demand
    Types of movies made, writers, sources, sequels and titles.
  6. Recoupment
    Budget to box office and breakdown of Hollywood costs and income.
  7. Financing
    Budgets, cashflow and crowdfunding.
  8. production
    Countries, shooting time, ratios, formats, cameras and runtime.
  9. posters
    Types of movies made, writers, sources, sequels and titles.
  10. Horror audiences
    Gender, age and social class.
  11. television
    Budgets, preferences, runtime, scheduling and sex / violence levels.
  12. profitability
    orrelations, most profitable movies and future horror income.
  13. cast
    Ages and contingent compensation.
  14. post-production
    3D
  15. censorship
    Around the world and levels of sex and violence.
  16. theatrical
    Types of movies made, writers, sources, sequels and titles.
  17. Other Income
    Soundtrack, merchandising and live cinema.

Pay what you can

To ensure The Horror Report is accessible to everyone, it is being offered on a ‘Pay What You Can’ model. If you’re a struggling filmmaker, then just pay £1. If you can offer more than the minimum, then please do so.

About the Author

Stephen Follows is an established data researcher in the film industry whose work has been featured in the New York Times, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Evening Standard, Newsweek, The News Statesman, AV Club and Indiewire.

He acted as an industry consultant and guest on the BBC Radio 4 series The Business of Film, which was topped the iTunes podcast chart, and has consulted for a wide variety of clients, including the Smithsonian in Washington. He has been commissioned to write reports for key film industry bodies and his most recent study, looking at gender inequity in the UK film industry and was launched on the BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’ program.

Stephen has taught at major film schools, normal business schools and minor primary schools. His lessons range established topics from Producing at MA and BA level, online video and the business of film producing to more adventurous topics such as measuring the unmeasurable, advanced creative thinking and the psychology of film producing. He has taught at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Met Film School, NYU, Filmbase, and on behalf of the BFI, the BBC and the British Council.

Stephen has produced over 100 short films and two features. Past clients range from computer game giants, technology giants and sporting giants but sadly no actual giants. He’s shot people in love, in the air, on the beach and on fire (although not at the same time) across over a dozen different countries in locations ranging from the Circle Line to the Arctic Circle.

When he has the time, he drinks tea at Catsnake in Somerset House, London. Catsnake is a leading story agency where Stephen is the Creative Director. They have created UK-wide campaigns for major charities and their online videos have been watched 35 million ​times.

Leading film data researcher
The Times
Stephen Follows specializes in data-driven analyses of the movie industry
Indiwire
Leading film data researcher
Marketwatch

Where does the money go?

100% of the money goes towards the Film Data Fund.

The Film Data Fund is a nonprofit community project to which will encourage more people to research and write about the film industry.

You can read more about the Film Data Fund at stephenfollows.com/film-data-fund.

How do I get in touch?

You can contact me directly at stephenfollows.com/contact

This report is an experiment to see if I can sustainably produce content like this on a regular basis. If every single person only pays £1 then maybe I can’t.

But if some people give a little more, then maybe I can write more using this distribution model. Let’s see!

Individual Use

Buying the report this way only allows for individual use by the person who purchased it. You may not pass it on to others (either for free or for money), use any part in other works nor publish any part of it. If you require additional usage, please contact me and I’m sure we can figure something out.

Not Advice

Whilst I have done my best to ensure that the report is up-to-date and accurate, the information it contains is not advice, and should not be treated as such. You must not rely on the report as an alternative to legal, accountancy or other advice from an appropriately qualified professional.

EU VAT

If you are in the EU then VAT will automatically be calculated due to EU rules on electronic supplied products. Fear not, the VAT it will come out of my share, and the amount you choose will be the final total. If you need a VAT invoice then look for the link at the bottom of the confirmation email.

Stephen Follows