Screen Gems

Overview

Screen Gems is the genre-focused production and distribution label within Sony Pictures Entertainment, operating from the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, California. The label specializes in horror, thriller, and action films produced on moderate budgets. Screen Gems has accumulated $2.89 billion in total worldwide gross across 42 tracked releases, with an average gross of $68.7 million per film. The label's franchise portfolio includes Resident Evil (6 films, $1.23 billion worldwide), Underworld (5 films, $540.5 million worldwide), Insidious ($740 million+ across the franchise), and Don't Breathe (2 films, $212.7 million worldwide).

Screen Gems has been led by President Ashley Brucks since November 2023. Brucks joined from Paramount, where she brought in the original Paranormal Activity and oversaw the A Quiet Place and Scream franchises. Under her leadership, the label has accelerated its genre output with 2025 releases including Heart Eyes (February), Until Dawn (April), I Know What You Did Last Summer (July), and Sisu: Road to Revenge (November). Upcoming 2026 releases include Evil Dead Burn (July) and Insidious: Out of the Further (August).

For genre filmmakers, Screen Gems offers a pathway to major studio distribution for material that mainstream studio labels consider too niche. The label's business model centers on films with budgets between $5 million and $30 million targeting opening weekends of $15 million to $40 million. Access routes through talent agencies and producer relationships with the Screen Gems development team.

History

The Screen Gems name has a long history within the Columbia/Sony ecosystem. The original Screen Gems was Columbia Pictures' television subsidiary, founded in 1948. The name was revived in 1999 as a genre-focused theatrical film label, replacing the earlier Triumph Films banner.

Under the revived label, Screen Gems built its reputation on commercially reliable genre fare. The Resident Evil franchise (2002 to 2016) generated $1.23 billion across 6 films, with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) earning $312 million worldwide on a $40 million budget (7.8x ROI). The Underworld franchise (2003 to 2016) generated $540.5 million across 5 films. Don't Breathe (2016) earned $158.9 million on a $9.9 million budget, a 16x return that remains one of the highest ROI figures in modern horror.

Other notable Screen Gems releases include The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), Vacancy (2007), Obsessed (2009, $75 million on an $8 million budget), The Roommate (2011), The Perfect Guy (2015), Searching (2018, $75 million on an under-$10 million budget), and Escape Room (2019, $155 million on a $9 million budget).

Insidious: The Red Door (2023) became the highest-grossing horror film of 2023 at $188.5 million worldwide, also making it the highest-grossing entry in the Blumhouse Insidious franchise. The film was acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions out of TIFF Midnight Madness in 2010, when then-Screen Gems president Steve Bersch landed the franchise for Sony.

2024 saw the release of Tarot ($49.3 million worldwide on an $8 million budget, 6.2x ROI). The label's 2025 slate marked a significant increase in output under Brucks: Heart Eyes (February 7, 2025, a horror-romantic comedy co-produced with Spyglass), Until Dawn (April 25, 2025, based on the PlayStation game), I Know What You Did Last Summer (July 18, 2025, co-production with Columbia Pictures and Original Film), and Sisu: Road to Revenge (November 21, 2025, co-distribution with Stage 6 Films).

What Filmmakers Should Know

Business Model and Budget Range

Screen Gems' business model centers on producing films with budgets typically between $5 million and $30 million that target opening weekends of $15 million to $40 million. This conservative financial approach means most Screen Gems releases reach profitability quickly. Franchise successes generate substantial returns: the Resident Evil franchise produced 6 films over 14 years with cumulative grosses of $1.23 billion, while Don't Breathe delivered a 16x return on its $9.9 million budget.

The label's average gross of $68.7 million per film across 42 tracked releases demonstrates the consistency of this model. Even mid-performing Screen Gems films typically recoup their production costs through theatrical and downstream revenue. The label's highest-grossing individual film, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($312 million), earned 7.8x its budget.

Genre Focus and Development

Screen Gems actively seeks horror, thriller, and action projects with strong commercial hooks. The label's sweet spot is high-concept genre films that can be marketed effectively on modest budgets. Projects with franchise potential receive particular interest, as Screen Gems has demonstrated the ability to build multi-film series from original genre properties (Resident Evil, Underworld, Don't Breathe, Escape Room).

Under Ashley Brucks, the label has also expanded into horror-comedy hybrids (Heart Eyes) and video game adaptations (Until Dawn). Brucks' background at Paramount, where she oversaw the Paranormal Activity, A Quiet Place, and Scream franchises, signals a preference for concept-driven, scalable horror properties.

Franchise Management

Screen Gems manages several ongoing franchises:

• Resident Evil: 6 films, $1.23 billion worldwide. The franchise demonstrated the label's ability to sustain a series across 14 years with consistent commercial returns.
• Insidious: The franchise has earned over $740 million globally. Insidious: The Red Door (2023) was the highest-grossing horror film of 2023. Insidious: Out of the Further opens August 21, 2026.
• Don't Breathe: 2 films, $212.7 million worldwide. The original film's 16x ROI on a $9.9 million budget is a benchmark for the label's model.
• Evil Dead: Evil Dead Burn opens July 10, 2026 (international distribution, co-production with New Line Cinema and Ghost House Pictures). Evil Dead Wrath is scheduled for April 2028.

Access and Submission

Screen Gems does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects reach the label through talent agencies (CAA, WME, UTA), managers, producers with existing relationships, and literary agents. The company is repped by CAA. Under Brucks' leadership, the development team has also been active in acquiring completed films and packages at festivals and markets.

For genre filmmakers, the key question Screen Gems asks is: "Can this film open to $15 to $40 million on a $5 to $30 million budget?" Projects that cannot answer this question with a clear commercial rationale are unlikely to be acquired, regardless of creative quality. The label prioritizes high-concept premises that can be communicated in a single marketing image or tagline.

Upcoming Projects

Screen Gems' upcoming slate includes Evil Dead Burn (July 10, 2026, co-production with New Line Cinema and Ghost House Pictures), Insidious: Out of the Further (August 21, 2026, co-distribution with Stage 6 Films, produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, directed by Jacob Chase), Final Boarding (supernatural horror written and directed by Christopher Landon), and Evil Dead Wrath (April 2028). The label also has Insidious: The Bleeding World in production.

Notable Releases

House Style / Genre Focus

Screen Gems specializes in horror, thriller, and action films produced on moderate budgets ($5M to $30M). The label targets opening weekends of $15M to $40M and prioritizes high-concept premises that can be communicated in a single marketing image or tagline. Franchise potential drives development decisions, as the label has built multi-film series from original genre properties (Resident Evil, Underworld, Don't Breathe, Escape Room).

What Screen Gems does NOT do: prestige drama, awards-season films, arthouse cinema, animated features, or films with budgets above $50M. The label avoids projects that cannot demonstrate a clear path to a $15M+ opening weekend. Under President Ashley Brucks, the label has expanded into horror-comedy hybrids (Heart Eyes) and video game adaptations (Until Dawn), but the core focus remains commercially scalable genre fare.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

Screen Gems does not accept unsolicited submissions. The label sources material through four primary channels:

1. Talent agencies: CAA, WME, and UTA submit scripts, packages, and spec projects to the Screen Gems development team. The company is repped by CAA.
2. Producer relationships: Established producers with existing relationships at Sony bring projects to the label. Co-production partners include Spyglass, Original Film, Blumhouse, and Atomic Monster.
3. Festival and market acquisitions: Under Brucks, the development team actively acquires completed films and packages at festivals and markets, particularly TIFF Midnight Madness.
4. IP and franchise development: The label mines its existing library (Resident Evil, Insidious, Evil Dead, Don't Breathe) for sequel, prequel, and remake opportunities.

For genre filmmakers, the key question Screen Gems asks: "Can this film open to $15M to $40M on a $5M to $30M budget?" Projects that cannot answer this question with a clear commercial rationale will not be acquired, regardless of creative quality.

Recent Output / Slate Year

2025 Releases

Screen Gems released four films theatrically in 2025:

• Heart Eyes (February 7) - $18M budget, $33.1M worldwide ($30.4M domestic). Horror-romantic comedy co-produced with Spyglass, directed by Josh Ruben.
• Until Dawn (April 25) - $15M budget, $54.1M worldwide ($20.2M domestic, $33.9M international). PlayStation game adaptation directed by David F. Sandberg.
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (July 18) - $18M budget, $64.8M worldwide ($32.2M domestic, $32.6M international). Co-production with Columbia Pictures and Original Film, directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
• Sisu: Road to Revenge (November 21) - co-distribution with Stage 6 Films.

Combined 2025 theatrical gross: approximately $152M+ worldwide across four releases.

2026 Slate

• Evil Dead Burn (July 10, 2026) - co-production with New Line Cinema and Ghost House Pictures
• Insidious: Out of the Further (August 21, 2026) - co-distribution with Stage 6 Films, produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster
• Final Boarding - supernatural horror written and directed by Christopher Landon
• Evil Dead Wrath (April 2028)

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how genre labels operate within major studios, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue projections for genre releases, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For evaluating the financial impact of modest-budget genre productions, see the Ad Spend Break-Even Calculator.