While "Michael Jackson's This Is It" was busy crossing the $200 million box office threshold, director Oren Peli's "found footage" horror flick "Paranormal Activity" quietly slipped past $100 million in box office receipts. Not a bad haul for a movie that cost less than $15,000 to make.
It's been an impressive run from multiple angles, really. "Paranormal" was completed in 2007 and screened for festival audiences in 2008. It was picked up for release, shuffled around as studio forces re-aligned, pegged for a total re-do and ultimately trickled out slowly into theaters by way of an ingenious marketing campaign that ostensibly gave fans the power to bring the movie to their city. Anticipation worked up to a fever pitch and the flick opened wide to unprecedented numbers. Read more...
"Paranormal Activity" is one of the most impressive theatrical releases of the year, what with its miniscule budget and still-rapidly-climbing box office performance. As a result, everyone has been all sorts of curious to hear more about director Oren Peli's next project, titled "Area 51."
Peli has been adamant in his refusal to share any details about the movie, which is described as another "found footage" effort in the vein of "Paranormal." In the two times I've interviewed him, I don't even think he repeated the title; every question on the subject is greeted with a "no comment." Now, the first details have come to light. I hesitate to even post about it, since it falls into the realm of "leak." Needless to say, tread carefully, readers... spoilers lie ahead. Read more...
Big shock there, right? A decade after the release of "The Blair Witch Project," we have director Oren Peli's found-footage supernatural thriller "Paranormal Activity" setting Hollywood ablaze with an record setting box office performance in comparison to its miniscule, sub-$15,000 budget. So it's no wonder that the "Blair Witch" creators, in many ways the progenitors of this sort of phenomenon, are looking to bring it back home to their original success story.
We heard back in August from co-directors Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick that "Blair Witch 3" talk was happening, but Sanchez spoke to The Star last week a little more about how those talks are shaping up so far (via Latino Review). Read more...
As director Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity" continues its seemingly unstoppable march into the Halloween weekend, it's a good idea for us all to take a step back and consider exactly why it is so successful. The horror genre isn't exactly imperiled, but there are those in the fan community -- myself included -- who contend that so much attention has been brought to bear on delivering lifelike special effects and moment-to-moment thrills that the all-important element of suspense has been cast aside.
There's plenty of evidence to support the theory. Whatever your interest level in recent efforts such as "Halloween II" and "Saw VI" may be, they are clearly not subtle. "Paranormal," on the other hand, is highlighted by a slow-building terror. There's nary a drop of blood nor exposed innard to be found, and yet it's hard to sit and watch without squirming uncomfortably as the demon's tortures grow more overt. As Peli told us in a recent interview, that was the plan all along. Read more...
Last week, I asked you "Paranormal Activity" fans to send in some questions that I could put to director Oren Peli during our interview. You obliged, I asked him the questions and I've got the answers now. First, some statistics.
"Paranormal Activity" has performed staggeringly well as its opened wider and wider. With more than $65 million now in the bank on a movie that cost less than $15,000 to make, it is officially the most profitable movie of all time. That's a 434,000 percent return on Peli's initial investment, a number that will likely grow exponentially as we enter the Halloween weekend. You can read more about this record-breaking performance in Eric Ditzian's report on MTV.com. For now though, hit the jump and see your questions answered! Read more...
FROM MTV.COM: "Paranormal Activity" wouldn't have been shown in mainstream theaters if not for movie fans demanding it. But we can also thank one particular movie lover for getting it distributed: Steven Spielberg. A widely circulated part of the film's backstory involves Spielberg viewing — and being terrified by — the low-budget horror flick.
And "Paranormal Activity" writer/director Oren Peli couldn't be happier about his idol's reaction.
Continue reading 'Paranormal Activity' Director Oren Peli Calls Steven Spielberg's Praise 'Amazing'
FROM MTV.COM: Audiences are flocking to "Paranormal Activity" in order to be scared silly and, thanks to the believable performances from the film's two leads, Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, they are getting what they paid for.
Director Oren Peli told MTV News how the actors — who are professionals, just with little experience — were able to play their roles so convincingly.
Continue reading 'Paranormal Activity' Director Oren Peli Says Film Was 'Spontaneous'
Halloween is on Saturday. Most of you probably know this already. What you may not know is that we've got a full week of crazy Halloween coverage for you here on MTV Movies Blog. Exclusive clips and photos. Interviews. Lists. Blog posts from guest writer (and "The Box director) Richard Kelly. Perhaps even a virgin sacrifice or two, provided we can find some willing readers. Note to willing readers: you can volunteer your immortal soul to us at tips@mtvmoviesblog.com.
The week's festivities include daily lists of kickass movies to watch on or around Halloween. I know what you're thinking. "You guys always post lists on the Movies Blog." Well yes, that's very true. But these lists were picked by celebrities! People who understand what real fear is. First up for the week is Oren Peli, director of the hugely successful "Paranormal Activity." Since he's been so busy scaring us all, look at this as an opportunity to find out what scares him. Find the goods after the jump. Read more...
Last week's poll was strange, as it did not really reflect this weekend's box office. The bulk of you picked "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," which saw an 8th place weekend finish and only $6.3 million in ticket sales. "Saw VI" was a close second, and that at least performed well in the number two spot with $14.8 million earned. But the big weekend winner was the low-budg horror flick "Paranormal Activity," directed by Oren Peli, which nabbed $22 million.
The success of this movie has been nothing short of staggering. Last week, with less than 1000 screens running "Paranormal Activity," the movie finished out the weekend at number three with $20 million in ticket sales. Peli's got some stiff competition this week however, as you'll learn soon enough in this week's Box Office Poll. Can found footage ghosts hope to topple a fond farewell to fallen pop star Michael Jackson? Read more...
Tomorrow afternoon, MTV is going to lock me in a room with "Paranormal Activity" director Oren Peli for an interview. I'll be honest with you readers-- I'm terrified. "Paranormal" scared the crap out of me, and the thought of being stuck in a room with the guy who created it... well, really. Who knows what kind and how many spirits he angered in the making of the movie?!
In all seriousness, we love giving you readers the opportunity to have a say in what comes out of our interviews. And given the craze surrounding "Paranormal Activity" -- well-deserved craze, I might add -- I'm sure that at least a few of you have some questions for the newcomer director. I recently had the opportunity to speak to Peli on the phone, so feel free to use his words as a guide to more questions here and here. Send your Qs over to us at tips@mtvmoviesblog.com and stay tuned to MTV Movies Blog to hear what Peli had to say!
