Blumhouse Marks 15 Years of Bringing Horror to the Masses

On October 17th, 2025, the inaugural Hollywood & Horror event hosted by Variety brought together leading producers, executives, and creatives to discuss their impact on genre storytelling. The highlight was a keynote conversation with Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum, who reflected on the company's 15-year journey.

Blum shared how Blumhouse's business model of not taking upfront fees, but instead profiting only if the films succeed, has allowed them to take risks on subversive, independent-style horror projects released through major studios. Other panels featured Shudder's programming chief Samuel Zimmerman, who revealed the platform's strategy for discovering breakout international genre filmmakers, as well as a discussion on the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, which this year focused on thriller and suspense projects showcasing diverse disability representation.

The event underscored how Blumhouse, Shudder, and initiatives like the Easterseals challenge are revolutionizing horror and genre storytelling by empowering independent voices and expanding the boundaries of what mainstream audiences will embrace.