# Spooky Pictures
**Spooky Pictures** is an American horror-focused film and television production company co-founded on March 2, 2020 by producers [Roy Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/roy-lee) and [Steven Schneider](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-schneider), operating as a division of Lee's Vertigo Entertainment.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) The company specializes in high-concept, independent, and low-budget horror and genre films, backed primarily by a long-standing first-look deal with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, and its produced credits include *Watcher*, *Late Night with the Devil*, *Strange Darling*, *The Plague*, *[Undertone](https://www.edgepedia.org/undertone-film)*, and *Hokum*.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 2, 2020, by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider; a division of Vertigo Entertainment[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) |
| Base | 2700 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, California[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) |
| Financing | Long-standing first-look deal with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, led by Ben Ross[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) • [2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull) |
| Budget model | Usual threshold under $10 million per film, except *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre* for A24[3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata) |
| Notable result | *Hokum*, released by Neon, grossed $25 million on a $5 million budget[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull) |
| Franchise rights | Acquired the V/H/S franchise from Studio71 with Image Nation Abu Dhabi in January 2026[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) |
| Active slate | 10 productions listed as of August 2026, including *4x4: The Event* and *Occupant*[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) |
## Founders and background
Roy Lee is a genre producer whose credits include the American adaptations of *The Ring* and *The Grudge*, *It* and *It: Chapter Two*, which together grossed over $1.47 billion worldwide, and *Weapons* (2025).[5](https://schedule.sxsw.com/contributors/2278019) Steven Schneider produced the *Paranormal Activity*, *Insidious*, and *Pet Sematary* films.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) The two had collaborated for years before founding Spooky Pictures in 2020; Lee and Image Nation's Ben Ross had also known each other since working as assistants early in their careers.[3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata)
The company's first feature in production was *[Watcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/watcher-film)*, the [Maika Monroe](https://www.edgepedia.org/maika-monroe) thriller made during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull)
## Production model
Spooky Pictures works at the low end of the theatrical budget range. Its usual threshold stays under $10 million per film, with the Barker-linked *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre* for A24 as the exception, and Lee also produces outside the partnership, including [Zach Cregger](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-cregger)'s *Resident Evil*.[3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata) Schneider describes the mandate as "horror, it's genre, but our taste tends to be pretty broad within that overall mandate."[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull)
**Deal terms.** The company's reputation rests on terms considered favorable to authors. Lee says the company does not ask for an option on a filmmaker's next movie, preferring voluntary repeat collaboration, and Ross describes "fair" as a working principle.[3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata) In the horror field, young filmmakers with little leverage are sometimes asked to sign deals giving producers the option on their next film, a practice Spooky Pictures avoids.[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull)
**Speed and access.** A stated trade secret is early access to scripts: Lee and Schneider use their relationships to read sought-after material such as Damien McCarthy's *Hokum* before competitors can organize offers, with Image Nation's backing letting them move quickly.[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull) Administrative overhead is kept low: video calls among the three partners rarely exceed 15 minutes, and the partners prefer to meet on set.[3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata)
## Films and slate
Released credits include *Watcher* (2024 festival-era titles *Late Night with the Devil* and *Strange Darling*), *[The Plague](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-plague-2025-film)* (2025), Charlie Polinger's debut which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, *Undertone*, and *Hokum* (2026).[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) • [5](https://schedule.sxsw.com/contributors/2278019) *Hokum*, released by Neon, was one of four films Spooky Pictures and Image Nation released in 2026, alongside three fall festival entries: [Casey Affleck](https://www.edgepedia.org/casey-affleck)'s *[Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/company-2026-film)* at Venice, Guy Nattiv's *The Liberation* at Telluride and Toronto, and *River* at Toronto.[2](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull)
The company has moved early on internet-native filmmakers. It secured three films from [Curry Barker](https://www.edgepedia.org/curry-barker) before his low-budget horror hit *[Obsession](https://www.edgepedia.org/obsession-2025-film)* reached theaters, and an untitled Curry Barker horror project, the roughly $5 million *Obsession* follow-up *Anything But Ghosts*, was in post-production as of September 2026.[4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-07-08/traditional-hollywood-is-investing-big-in-internet-stories-heres-why) • [3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata) Lee is also a producer on the *Siren Head* film adaptation, for which Warner Bros. won a bidding war in 2026.[4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-07-08/traditional-hollywood-is-investing-big-in-internet-stories-heres-why)
In franchise rights, the company acquired the V/H/S anthology franchise from Studio71 alongside Image Nation Abu Dhabi in January 2026, and in September 2025 entered a multi-year, multi-picture partnership with Fandomodo Films.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) As of August 2026, Production List carried ten active Spooky Pictures projects, including *4x4: The Event* by Alexander Ullom, whose debut *It Ends* was made for $80,000 and grossed $1.1 million worldwide, *Occupant*, *Possession*, *Lust*, *Obey*, and *V/H/S: SCP*.[1](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures) • [3](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata)
## Namesake company
A separate, unrelated Spooky Pictures is the Wellington, New Zealand production company of writer-director Jason Stutter, which produces feature films, festival shorts, and commercial work, and whose affiliated Spooky Pictures Games develops VR titles for Meta, Steam, and PlayStation VR2.[6](https://spookypictures.co.nz/)
## References
1. [Spooky Pictures | Production List](https://www.productionlist.com/production-contact/spooky-pictures)
2. [The Rules These Horror Power Producers Swear by, The Hollywood Reporter (September 18, 2026)](https://jcsa.live/api/v1/web-embed/proxy?mode=full&proxyUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fjcsa.live%2Fapi%2Fv1%2Fweb-embed%2Fproxy%3FproxyUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fjcsa.live%252Fapi%252Fv1%252Fweb-embed%252Fproxy%253FproxyUrl%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fjcsa.live%25252Fapi%25252Fv1%25252Fweb-embed%25252Fproxy%25253FproxyUrl%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2525252Fmovies%2525252Fmovie-features%2525252Fthe-rules-spooky-pictures-swear-by-1236705326%2525252F%252526mode%25253Dfull%2526mode%253Dfull%26mode%3Dfull)
3. [Regulile producătorilor de horror care domină piața, Numa Film News](https://news.numafilm.ro/articol/regulile-producatorilor-de-horror-care-domina-piata)
4. [Hollywood's big online bet: Inside the industry's race to acquire internet stories, Los Angeles Times (July 8, 2026)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-07-08/traditional-hollywood-is-investing-big-in-internet-stories-heres-why)
5. [Roy Lee, SXSW 2026 Schedule contributor profile](https://schedule.sxsw.com/contributors/2278019)
6. [Spooky Pictures (Jason Stutter), Wellington NZ](https://spookypictures.co.nz/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen production organizations › Production companies and industry people › Independent production companies › American and Canadian companies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license