The Evolution of the Found Footage Horror Subgenre

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In the horror realm of filmmaking, the found footage subgenre is an ever-growing genre.  It all started in 1980 with the film Cannibal Holocaust directed by Ruggero Deodato.  After Cannibal Holocaust there wasn’t many found footage films being made.  It would take almost two decades for another big step in the evolution of this subgenre.  

In 1999, two University of Central Florida film school graduates, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez burst onto the film scene with The Blair Witch Project.  This film broke many molds and showed that independent films could make a big splash in the world of filmmaking.  Mainly due to its ingenious marketing and promotion, The Blair Witch Project went on to become one the highest grossing independently produced film in history.  This film had a production budget of a mere 60 thousand dollars and went on to gross over an astounding 248 million dollars worldwide.  With the huge success of The Blair Witch Project, independent producers took more chances on found footage films trying to recapture the success. 

It wasn’t until 2007 when Oren Peli brought his highly successful film Paranormal Activity to theaters that any other found footage film would come close to reaching the heights set by The Blair Witch Project.  Paranormal Activity had a production budget of what some would consider spare change, a minimal 15 thousand dollars.  It would go on to gross over 193 million dollars worldwide.  While it didn’t reach the heights of The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity definitely made its mark in film history. Paranormal Activity also spawned three very profitable sequels, with a forth one coming out later this year.  Between all four films in the Paranormal Activity series, they have grossed over 717 million dollars worldwide. 

During the 19 years between Cannibal Holocaust and The Blair Witch Project there were only three found footage horror movies; between The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, there were 11 and since Paranormal Activity there have been over 50 with more on the way.  Whether you love them or hate them, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.