The Blair Witch Project

{{Short description|1999 film by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez}} {{Pp-move}}

{{Good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = The Blair Witch Project | image = Blair Witch Project.jpg | alt = A person's face crying in fear in a dark forest background | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = {{Plain list| * Daniel Myrick * Eduardo Sánchez }} | writer = {{Plain list| * Daniel Myrick * Eduardo Sánchez }} | producer = {{Plain list| * Gregg Hale * Robin Cowie }} | starring = {{Plain list| * Heather Donahue * Michael Williams * Joshua Leonard }} | cinematography = Neal Fredericks | editing = {{Plain list| * Daniel Myrick * Eduardo Sánchez }} | music = Tony Cora | studio = Haxan Films | distributor = {{Plain list| * Artisan Entertainment (United States) * Summit Entertainment (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Summit rises for 'Escapade'|website=Variety|first=Dana|last=Harris|date=14 March 2000|access-date=15 October 2022|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/summit-rises-for-escapade-1117779500/|archive-date=October 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016125524/https://variety.com/2000/film/news/summit-rises-for-escapade-1117779500/|url-status=live}}</ref> }} | released = {{Film date|1999|01|23|Sundance|1999|07|14|United States}} | runtime = 81 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blair-witch-project-film |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |date=August 4, 1999 |access-date=July 28, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080305/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/blair-witch-project-film |archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $200,000–$750,000<ref name="THRprofit">{{cite web |access-date=April 26, 2020 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/what-is-profitable-movie-ever-1269879 |title=What Is the Most Profitable Movie Ever? |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 18, 2020 |author=Stephen Galloway |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116040628/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/what-is-profitable-movie-ever-1269879 |url-status=live }}</ref> | gross = $248.6 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |access-date=April 4, 2013 |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=blairwitchproject.htm |title=The Blair Witch Project |publisher=Box Office Mojo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424120116/https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=blairwitchproject.htm |archive-date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> }} '''''The Blair Witch Project''''' is a 1999 American found footage psychological horror film written, directed, and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. One of the most successful independent films of all time, it is a "found footage" pseudo-documentary in which three young students (Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard) hike into the Appalachian Mountains near Burkittsville, Maryland, to shoot a documentary about a local myth known as the Blair Witch.

Myrick and Sánchez conceived of a fictional legend of the Blair Witch in 1993. They developed a 35-page screenplay with the dialogue to be improvised. A casting call advertisement on ''Backstage'' magazine was prepared by the directors; Donahue, Williams, and Leonard were cast. The film entered production in October 1997, with the principal photography lasting eight days. Most of the filming was done on the Greenway Trail along Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, Maryland. About 20 hours of footage was shot, which was edited down to 82 minutes. Shot on an original budget of $35,000–$60,000, the film had a final cost of $200,000–$750,000 after post-production and marketing.

When ''The Blair Witch Project'' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at midnight on January 23, 1999, its promotional marketing campaign listed the actors as either "missing" or "deceased". Due to its successful Sundance run, Artisan Entertainment bought the film's distribution rights for $1.1 million. The film had a limited release on July 14 of the same year, before expanding to a wider release starting on July 30. While the film received critical acclaim, audience reception was polarized.

''The Blair Witch Project'' was a sleeper hit that grossed nearly $250 million worldwide. It is consistently listed as one of the scariest movies of all time, and was ranked the best found footage movie of all time by editors from both ''IndieWire''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Wilson |date=October 7, 2024 |title=The 22 Best Found Footage Movies, from 'Paranormal Activity' to 'One Cut of the Dead' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-found-footage-movies/mcdlani-if014/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''Entertainment Weekly''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The 25 best found footage movies of all time, ranked |url=https://ew.com/best-found-footage-movies-ranked-8710733 |access-date=March 31, 2025 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=March 31, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331141808/https://ew.com/best-found-footage-movies-ranked-8710733 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the success, the three main actors had reportedly lived in poverty. In 2000, they sued Artisan Entertainment claiming unfair compensation, eventually reaching a $300,000 settlement. ''The Blair Witch Project'' launched a media franchise, which includes two sequels (''Book of Shadows'' and ''Blair Witch''), novels, comic books, and video games. It revived the found-footage technique and influenced similarly successful horror films such as ''Paranormal Activity'' (2007), ''REC'' (2007) and ''Cloverfield'' (2008).

==Plot==  In October 1994, film students Heather, Mike, and Josh set out to produce a documentary about the mythical Blair Witch. They travel to Burkittsville, Maryland, and interview residents about the myth. Locals tell them of Rustin Parr, a hermit who lived deep in the forest and abducted seven children in 1941; he murdered them all in his basement, killing them in pairs while having one stand in a corner, facing the wall. The students explore the forest in north Burkittsville to research the myth. They meet two fishermen, one of whom warns them that the forest is cursed. He tells them of a young child named Robin Weaver, who went missing in 1888; when she returned three days later, she talked about an old woman whose feet never touched the ground. The students hike to Coffin Rock, where five men were found ritualistically slaughtered in the 19th century; their corpses later disappeared.

They camp for the night and, the next day, find an old graveyard with seven small cairns, one of which Josh accidentally knocks over. That night, they hear the sound of sticks snapping. The following day, they try to hike back to the car but cannot find it before dark and make camp. They again hear sticks snapping. In the morning, they find three cairns built beside their tent. Heather learns her map is missing; Mike reveals he kicked it into a creek out of frustration, which provokes a fight between the trio as they realize they are lost. They head south, using Heather's compass, and discover stick figures hanging from trees. They again hear mysterious sounds that night, including children laughing. After an unknown force shakes the tent, they run outside and hide in the forest until dawn.

Upon returning to their tent, they find their possessions have been rifled, and Josh's equipment is covered with slime. They come across the same river they crossed earlier and realize they have been walking in circles. Josh vanishes the next morning, and Heather and Mike fail to find him. That night, they hear Josh's agonized cries but are unable to locate him; they theorize that his yells are a fabrication by the Blair Witch to draw them out of their camp.

Heather discovers a bundle of twigs tied with fabric from Josh's shirt the next day. Upon opening the bundle, she finds a blood-soaked scrap of his shirt containing bloodied teeth and hair. Although distraught, she does not tell Mike. That night, she records herself tearfully apologizing to her, Mike's, and Josh's mothers, taking responsibility for their predicament. She admits that something evil is haunting them and will ultimately take them.

Later, they hear Josh's voice again calling for help and follow it to the abandoned ruins of a house, featuring children's bloody handprints on some of the walls. Trying to find Josh, they head to the attic but do not find him. Hearing the voice everywhere, Mike rushes downstairs, leaving Heather behind. As he enters the basement, an unseen force strikes Mike; he drops his camera and falls silent. A hysterical Heather enters the basement, to see Mike standing in a corner facing the wall, unresponsive to her screaming his name. The unseen force strikes Heather, causing her to drop her camera and fall silent as well; the camera then cuts to black.

==Cast== * Heather Donahue as a fictionalized version of herself * Joshua Leonard as a fictionalized version of himself * Michael C. Williams as a fictionalized version of himself * Bob Griffin as Short Fisherman * Jim King as Burkittsville Resident Interviewee * Sandra Sánchez as Waitress (as Sandra Sanchez) * Ed Swanson as Fisherman with Glasses * Patricia DeCou as Mary Brown * Mark Mason as Man in Yellow Hat * Susie Gooch as Interviewee with Child (as Jackie Hallex)

==Production== ===Development=== Development of ''The Blair Witch Project'' began in 1993.<ref name="onion"/> While film students at the University of Central Florida, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez were inspired to make the film after realizing that they found documentaries on paranormal phenomena scarier than traditional horror films. The two decided to create a film that combined the styles of both. In order to produce the project, they, along with Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie and Michael Monello, started Haxan Films. The namesake for the production company is Benjamin Christensen's 1922 silent documentary horror film ''Häxan'' (English: ''Witchcraft Through the Ages'').<ref name="villagevoice1">{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Anthony |title=Season of the Witch |work=The Village Voice |date=July 14, 1999 |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9928,kaufman,7024,1.html |access-date=September 26, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303170002/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9928%2Ckaufman%2C7024%2C1.html |archive-date=March 3, 2007}}</ref>

Myrick and Sánchez developed a 35-page screenplay for their fictional film, intending dialogue to be improvised. The directors placed a casting call advertisement in ''Backstage'' in June 1996, asking for actors with strong improvisational abilities.<ref name="real"/><ref name=timeline/> The informal improvisational audition process narrowed the pool of 2,000 actors.<ref name="houseofhorrors"/><ref name="wapo">{{cite news |author= |title=Film Special: With Dan Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/talk/movies/blairwitchdirectors.htm |access-date=March 17, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 30, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615193314/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/talk/movies/blairwitchdirectors.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref>

According to Heather Donahue, auditions for the film were held at Musical Theater Works in New York City. The advertisement said a "completely improvised feature film" would be shot in a "wooded location". Donahue said that during the audition, Myrick and Sánchez posed her the question: "You've served seven years of a nine-year sentence. Why should we let you out on parole?" to which she had to respond.<ref name="real"/> Joshua Leonard said he was cast due to his knowledge of how to run a camera, as no omniscient camera was used to film the scenes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.backstage.com/news/spotlight/how-joshua-leonard-fell-love-moviemaking/ |work=Backstage |title=How Joshua Leonard Fell In Love With Moviemaking |author=Loewenstein, Melinda |date=March 16, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309205137/http://www.backstage.com/news/spotlight/how-joshua-leonard-fell-love-moviemaking/ |archive-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>

Pre-production began on October 5, 1997, and Michael Monello became a co-producer.<ref name="makingofpt3">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project: Part 3 – Doom Woods Preppers |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/180906/making-blair-witch-project-part-3-doom-woods-preppers/ |access-date=March 27, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=August 15, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328022029/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/180906/making-blair-witch-project-part-3-doom-woods-preppers/ |archive-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref><ref name=timeline/> In developing the mythology behind the film, the creators used many inspirations. For instance, several character names are near-anagrams: Elly Kedward (The Blair Witch) is Edward Kelley, a 16th-century mystic, and Rustin Parr, the fictional 1940s child-murderer, began as an anagram for Rasputin.<ref name="makingofpt1">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project: Part 1 – Witch Pitch |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/180272/making-blair-witch-project-part-1-witch-pitch/ |access-date=March 19, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=August 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230161548/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/180272/making-blair-witch-project-part-1-witch-pitch/ |archive-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref> The Blair Witch is said to be, according to legend, the ghost of Elly Kedward, a woman banished from the Blair Township (latter-day Burkittsville) for witchcraft in 1785.

The directors incorporated that part of the legend, along with allusions to the Salem witch trials and Arthur Miller's 1953 play ''The Crucible'', to play on the themes of injustice done to those who were classified as witches.<ref name="witch">{{cite web |last=Aloi |first=Peg |title=Blair Witch Project – an Interview with the Directors |publisher=The Witches' Voice |date=July 11, 1999 |url=http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=media&id=2416 |access-date=July 29, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060525160439/http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=media&id=2416 |archive-date=May 25, 2006}}</ref>

The directors also cited influences such as the television series ''In Search of...'', and horror documentary films ''Chariots of the Gods'' and ''The Legend of Boggy Creek''.<ref name="houseofhorrors">{{cite news |title=An Exclusive Interview with Dan Myrick, Director of The Blair Witch Project |url=http://www.houseofhorrors.com/bwinterview.htm |access-date=March 17, 2017 |work=House of Horrors |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183648/http://www.houseofhorrors.com/bwinterview.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="wapo"/> Other influences included commercially successful horror films such as ''The Shining'', ''Alien'', ''The Omen'', and ''Jaws''—the latter film being their major influence, as the film hides the witch from the viewer for its entirety, increasing the suspense of the unknown.<ref name="onion">{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Joshua |title=Interview – The Blair Witch Project |work=The A.V. Club |date=July 22, 1999 |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/the-blair-witch-project-13607 |access-date=January 26, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121163922/http://www.avclub.com/article/the-blair-witch-project-13607 |archive-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name="houseofhorrors"/>

[[File:Joshua Leonard (cropped).jpg|thumb|175px|alt=A photograph of a smiling middle-aged Caucasian man with thick beard and combed hair, wearing glasses and a dark blue suit and shirt.|Joshua Leonard (pictured), Michael C. Williams and Heather Donahue played fictionalized versions of themselves in the film.]] In talks with investors, the directors presented an eight-minute documentary, along with newspapers and news footage.<ref name="stone">{{cite magazine |last=Conroy |first=Tom |title=The Do-It-Yourself Witch Hunt |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 14, 1999 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5924486/the_doityourself_witch_hunt |access-date=August 2, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001407/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5924486/the_doityourself_witch_hunt |archive-date=October 1, 2007}}</ref> The documentary was aired on the television series ''Split Screen'' hosted by John Pierson on August 6, 1998.<ref name="houseofhorrors"/><ref name=timeline>{{cite news |newspaper=Daily Variety |date=September 8, 1999 |page=A2 |title='Blair' timeline |last=Lyons |first=Charles}}</ref>

===Filming=== Principal photography began on October 23, 1997, in Maryland and lasted eight days, overseen by cinematographer Neal Fredericks, who provided a CP-16 film camera.<ref name="villagevoice1"/><ref name="makingofpt3"/><ref name="makingofpt4">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project Part 4: Charge of the Twig Brigade |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/181921/part-4-charge-twig-brigade/ |access-date=March 19, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909111425/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/181921/part-4-charge-twig-brigade/ |archive-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> The three actors shot all the footage shown in the film, except for one interview about Rustin Parr's murders.<ref name="dissolve">{{cite web |last1=D'Angelo |first1=Mike |title=15 years beyond the hype and hatred of The Blair Witch Project / The Dissolve |url=https://thedissolve.com/features/movie-of-the-week/800-the-blair-witch-project-15-years-beyond-the-hype-a/ |website=The Dissolve |date=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028111820/https://thedissolve.com/features/movie-of-the-week/800-the-blair-witch-project-15-years-beyond-the-hype-a/ |archive-date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> The "found footage" was shot with a Hi8 camcorder.<ref name="makingofpt4"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Metz|first=Cade|title=PC Magazine May 23, 2006: Making an indie film|url={{Google Books|7HCzmWfb47sC|page=76|plainurl=yes}}|pages=76–82}}</ref> Most of the film was shot in Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. A few scenes were filmed in the historic town of Burkittsville. Some of the townspeople interviewed in the film were not actors, and some were planted actors, unknown to the main cast.<ref name="makingofpt4"/> Donahue had never operated a camera before and spent two days in a "crash course". Donahue said she modeled her character after a director she had once worked with, noting her character's "self-assuredness" when everything went as planned, and confusion during crisis.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lim |first=Dennis |title=Heather Donahue Casts A Spell |work=The Village Voice |date=July 14, 1999 |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9928,lim,7025,1.html |access-date=September 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204214220/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9928%2Clim%2C7025%2C1.html |archive-date=December 4, 2007}}</ref>

The actors were given clues as to their next location through messages hidden inside 35 mm film cans left in milk crates they found with satellite navigation units. They were given individual instructions to use to help improvise the action of the day.<ref name="real">{{cite web |author= |title=Heather Donohue – Blair Witch Project |work=KAOS 2000 Magazine |date=August 14, 1999 |url=http://www.kaos2000.net/interviews/heatherdonohue/heatherdonohue.html |access-date=July 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330204910/http://www.kaos2000.net/interviews/heatherdonohue/heatherdonohue.html |archive-date=March 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name="makingofpt4"/><ref name="Q&A"/> Teeth were obtained from a Maryland dentist for use as human remains in the film.<ref name="real"/> Influenced by producer Gregg Hale's memories of his military training, in which "enemy soldiers" would hunt a trainee through wild terrain for three days, the directors moved the characters a long way during the day, harassing them by night, and depriving them of food.<ref name="stone"/>

Instead of using fictional names, all three actors used their real names in the film, something Donahue has regretted doing. She revealed in 2014 that she had trouble finding new roles because of it.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Wallace, James |title=TFW 2014: 15 Years of The Blair Witch Project |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-aA5g37sbk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/J-aA5g37sbk |time=28:58 |url-status=live |website=YouTube |archive-date=2021-12-21 |access-date=19 October 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

According to the filmmakers' commentary, the unseen figure that Donahue is shouting about as she is running away from the tent is the film's art director Ricardo Moreno, who was wearing white long-johns, white stockings, and white pantyhose pulled over his head.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kirk |first=Jeremy |title=32 Things We Learned From the 'Blair Witch Project' Commentary Track |work=Film School Rejects |date=23 August 2011 |publisher=Film School Rejects |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/32-things-we-learned-from-the-blair-witch-project-commentary-track-44eddf45a9f5/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |quote=When the three are running through the woods and Heather yells, "What the fuck is that?" at something off-camera, she is really reacting to art director Ricardo Moreno dressed in white long-johns, white stockings, and white pantyhose pulled over his head running alongside them. |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531020708/https://filmschoolrejects.com/32-things-we-learned-from-the-blair-witch-project-commentary-track-44eddf45a9f5/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Colburn |first=Randall |title=Beyond Blair Witch: Why found-footage horror deserves your respect |date=28 October 2015 |newspaper=The A.V. Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/beyond-blair-witch-why-found-footage-horror-deserves-y-1798286059 |access-date=30 May 2019 |quote=Thus, masked men in trees and, lacking that, the persevering question of just what exactly Blair Witch's Donahue is screaming at as she runs from the tent. According to the DVD commentary, it was art director Ricardo Moreno. He was running alongside Donahue, wearing white long-johns, white stockings, and white pantyhose pulled over his head. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020054439/https://www.avclub.com/beyond-blair-witch-why-found-footage-horror-deserves-y-1798286059 |url-status=live }}</ref> The final scenes were filmed at the historic Griggs House, a 150-year-old building located in the Patapsco Valley State Park near Granite, Maryland.<ref name="atwood"/> Filming concluded on October 31, Halloween.<ref name="makingofpt5">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project: Part 5 – The Art of Haunting |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/182776/making-blair-witch-project-part-5-art-haunting/ |access-date=March 19, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=August 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025182217/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/182776/making-blair-witch-project-part-5-art-haunting/ |archive-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref>

In an interview with ''Entertainment Weekly'', Sánchez revealed that when principal photography first wrapped, approximately $20,000 to $25,000 had been spent.<ref name="Q&A">{{cite magazine |author=John Young |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/07/09/blair-witch/ |title='The Blair Witch Project' 10 years later: Catching up with the directors of the horror sensation |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 9, 2009 |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823002301/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/07/09/blair-witch/ |archive-date=August 23, 2009}}</ref> Richard Corliss of ''Time'' magazine reported a $35,000 estimated budget.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Corliss |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |title=The Blair Witch Project |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2011/01/20/top-10-sundance-hits/slide/the-blair-witch-project-1999/ |access-date=February 10, 2017 |magazine=Time |date=January 15, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226101444/http://entertainment.time.com/2011/01/20/top-10-sundance-hits/slide/the-blair-witch-project-1999/ |archive-date=December 26, 2015}}</ref> By September 2016, ''The Blair Witch Project'' has been officially budgeted at $60,000.{{refn|<ref name="BOM"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |title=''Blair Witch'' Flop Scares Up Horrific Memories For Joe Berlinger |url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/blair-witch-flop-joe-berlinger-metallica-some-kind-of-monster-paradise-lost-1201822714/ |access-date=February 16, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217223428/https://deadline.com/2016/09/blair-witch-flop-joe-berlinger-metallica-some-kind-of-monster-paradise-lost-1201822714/ |archive-date=February 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lodge |first1=Guy |title=Film Review: ''Blair Witch'' |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/blair-witch-review-1201845625/ |access-date=February 16, 2017 |work=Variety |date=September 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025145736/https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/blair-witch-review-1201845625/ |archive-date=October 25, 2016}}</ref>}}

Sánchez says that the ending with Mike standing in the corner was invented days before it was shot.<ref name="wtop"/>

===Post-production=== After filming, the 20 hours of raw footage was cut down to 81 minutes; the editing process took more than eight months. The directors screened the first cut in small film festivals in order to get feedback and make changes that would ensure that it appealed to as large an audience as possible.<ref name="onion"/> Originally, it was hoped that the film would make it on to cable television, and the directors did not anticipate a wide release.<ref name="onion"/> The final version was submitted to Sundance Film Festival.<ref name="makingofpt6">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project: Part 6 – Guerrilla Tactics |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/183493/the-making-of-the-blair-witch-project-part-6-guerrilla-tactics/ |access-date=March 19, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=September 5, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909120653/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/183493/the-making-of-the-blair-witch-project-part-6-guerrilla-tactics/ |archive-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref>

After becoming a surprise hit at Sundance, during its midnight premiere on January 25, 1999, Artisan Entertainment bought the distribution rights for $1.1 million.<ref name="onion"/> Prior to that, Artisan had wanted to change the film's original ending, as the test audience, although scared, were confused by it.<ref name="ewending">{{cite magazine |last1=Kinane |first1=Ruth |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' almost ended with a different terrifying fate |url=http://ew.com/movies/2017/04/05/blair-witch-project-alternate-endings/ |access-date=June 17, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603135931/http://ew.com/movies/2017/04/05/blair-witch-project-alternate-endings/ |archive-date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> Although the ending was not changed, an additional interview was added to the first section of the film to contextualize the ending.<ref name="wtop">{{cite web |title=Q&A: 'Blair Witch Project' celebrates 20th anniversary in Frederick |url=https://wtop.com/entertainment/2019/10/qa-blair-witch-director-ed-sanchez-hits-library-of-congress-20-years-later/ |website=WTOP News |language=en |date=16 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="dissolve"/> The directors and Williams traveled back to Maryland and shot four alternate endings,<ref name="makingofpt7">{{cite news |last1=Rock |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Rock |title=The Making of The Blair Witch Project: Part 7 – The Embiggening |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/184950/the-making-of-the-blair-witch-project-part-7-the-embiggening/ |access-date=March 19, 2017 |publisher=Dread Central |date=September 12, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919170355/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/184950/the-making-of-the-blair-witch-project-part-7-the-embiggening/ |archive-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> one of which employed bloody elements. They also shot additional interviews, at least one of which (the Parr backstory) made it into the wide-release cut.<ref name="wtop"/> This footage would be the only segment of film not shot by the main actors.<ref name="dissolve"/> Ultimately, the directors and Williams decided to keep the original ending. Myrick said: "What makes us fearful is something that's out of the ordinary, unexplained. The first ending kept the audience off balance; it challenged our real world conventions and that's what really made it scary".<ref name="ewending"/>

Post-production fees increased the cost of the film to several hundred thousand dollars before its Sundance debut and, after marketing costs, the total cost of the film has been estimated as ranging between $500,000 and $750,000.<ref name="Q&A"/><ref name=season>{{cite news |newspaper=Daily Variety |date=September 8, 1999 |page=A2 |title=Season of the 'Witch' |last=Lyons |first=Charles}}</ref>

===Compensation controversy=== In 2024, Donahue, Leonard and Williams detailed to ''Variety'' how, according to their claims, they had never been adequately compensated by Artisan Entertainment/Lionsgate for their work in the original movie. They recall living in poverty after the success, being barred from saying so publicly, and having few options since they had no "proper union or legal representation when the film was made." In the summer of 1999, they received a "performance bump" in the low five figures. In October 2000, with the release of ''Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2'' impending, Donahue convinced Williams and Leonard to sue Artisan. They reached a $300,000 settlement for each of them. The three actors claim that they had no clear knowledge that the entire movie would be composed of their found footage, and that they had not given much thought to the clause that allowed production to use their real identities. This led to subsequent discussions with Lionsgate regarding the usage of their likenesses. Despite the conflicts, Donahue, Leonard and Williams have stated that they are proud of their work in the movie.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=2024-06-12 |title='The Blair Witch Project' Actors Call Out 'Reprehensible Behavior' After Missing Out on Profits for Decades: 'Don't Do What We Did' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/blair-witch-project-cast-robbed-financial-success-1236033647/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=June 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612234301/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/blair-witch-project-cast-robbed-financial-success-1236033647/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Marketing== thumb|right|alt=A black and white missing person poster, with the text "MISSING" in upper-case bold typeface, placed atop the images of three young Caucasian individuals. The photo on the left shows a woman in her early 20s; the middle shows a bearded man in his mid-20s, wearing a cap which obscured half of his face from sunlight; and the right shows a man also in his mid-20s, wearing an army hat. Below each of the photos contain their personal information such as age, height, and weight. The bottom of the poster contains a message appealing to contact authorities, followed by an emergency hotline.|A missing person poster showing Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams as part of the film's marketing campaign tactic to portray its events as real ''The Blair Witch Project'' is thought to be the first widely released film marketed primarily by the Internet. Kevin Foxe became executive producer in May 1998 and brought in Clein & Walker, a public relations firm. The film's official website launched in June, featuring faux police reports as well as "newsreel-style" interviews, and fielding questions about the "missing" students.<ref name=timeline/> These augmented the film's found footage device to spark debates across the Internet over whether the film was a real-life documentary or a work of fiction.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |title=Blair Witch Proclaimed First Internet Movie |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 17, 1999 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/08/17/blair-witch-proclaimed-first-internet-movie/ |access-date=January 27, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430140422/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-08-17/features/9908170065_1_mark-curcio-amir-malin-artisan-entertainment |archive-date=April 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |title=Was The Blair Witch Project The Last Great Horror Film? |work=BBC News |date=October 30, 2015 |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151030-was-the-blair-witch-project-the-last-great-horror-film |access-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030210010/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151030-was-the-blair-witch-project-the-last-great-horror-film |archive-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref>

Some of the footage was screened during the Florida Film Festival in June.<ref name=timeline/> During screenings, the filmmakers made advertising efforts to promulgate the events in the film as factual, including the distribution of flyers at festivals such as Sundance, asking viewers to come forward with any information about the "missing" students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2816554/best-movie-publicity-stunts/ |title=The 12 Ballsiest Movie Publicity Stunts |website=MTV |date=July 24, 2016 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015305/http://www.mtv.com/news/2816554/best-movie-publicity-stunts/ |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="mwpdigitalmedia.com">{{cite web |url=http://mwpdigitalmedia.com/blog/the-blair-witch-project-the-best-viral-marketing-campaign-of-all-time/ |last=Davidson |first=Neil |title=The Blair Witch Project: The best viral marketing campaign of all time |work=MWP Digital Media |date=August 5, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130094758/https://mwpdigitalmedia.com/blog/the-blair-witch-project-the-best-viral-marketing-campaign-of-all-time/ |archive-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> The campaign tactic was that viewers were being told, through missing persons posters, that the characters were missing while researching in the woods for the mythical Blair Witch.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Greatest Movie Viral Campaigns |author=Amelia River |date=July 11, 2014 |url=http://filmforecaster.com/greatest-movie-viral-campaigns/ |access-date=July 7, 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211195339/http://filmforecaster.com/greatest-movie-viral-campaigns/ |archive-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref> The IMDb page also listed the actors as "missing, presumed dead" in the first year of the film's availability.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hawkes |first1=Rebecca |title=Why did the world think The Blair Witch Project really happened? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/25/why-did-the-world-think-the-blair-witch-project-really-happened/ |access-date=January 9, 2017 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=July 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109185339/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/25/why-did-the-world-think-the-blair-witch-project-really-happened/ |archive-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref> The film's website contains materials of actors posing as police and investigators giving testimony about their casework, and shared childhood photos of the actors to add a sense of realism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blairwitch.com/project/aftermath.html |title=The Blair Witch Project Official Website: The Aftermath |website=blairwitch.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029162301/http://www.blairwitch.com/project/aftermath.html |archive-date=October 29, 2016}}</ref> By August 1999, the website had received 160 million hits.<ref name=season/>

After the Sundance screening, Artisan acquired the film and a distribution strategy was created and implemented by Steven Rothenberg.<ref name=thr>{{cite news |first=Carl |last=DiOrio |title=Steve Rothenberg dies at age 50 |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c23ccda60974aa20677ac607d102241 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 19, 2009 |access-date=August 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201002701/https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c23ccda60974aa20677ac607d102241 |archive-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name=variety>{{cite news |first=Dave |last=McNary |title=Lionsgate's Steven Rothenberg dies |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/lionsgate-s-steven-rothenberg-dies-1118006188/ |work=Variety |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=August 2, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727013251/https://variety.com/article/VR1118006188.html?categoryid=25&cs=1 |archive-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> The film's trailer was leaked on the website Ain't It Cool News on April 2, 1999, and the film was screened at 40 colleges in the United States to build word-of-mouth.<ref name=timeline/> A third, 40-second, trailer was shown before ''Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' in June.<ref name=timeline/>

''USA Today'' reported that ''The Blair Witch Project'' was the first film to go viral despite having been produced before many of the technologies that facilitate such phenomena existed.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web |last1=Bowies |first1=Scott |title='Blair Witch Project': Still a legend 15 years later |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/07/13/blair-witch-project-15th-anniversary-classic-legend/10707409/ |work=USA Today |access-date=February 24, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308184334/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/07/13/blair-witch-project-15th-anniversary-classic-legend/10707409/ |archive-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>

===Fictional legend=== The backstory for the film is a legend fabricated by Sánchez and Myrick which is detailed in the ''Curse of the Blair Witch'', a mockumentary broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel on July 12, 1999.<ref name=curseoftheblairwitch>{{cite magazine |title=Curse of the Blair Witch |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1999/10/29/curse-blair-witch |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 29, 1999 |access-date=August 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903185750/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/10/29/curse-blair-witch |archive-date=September 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name=timeline/> Sánchez and Myrick also maintained a website which added further details to the legend.<ref name="Curse of the Blair Witch">{{cite web |url=http://www.blairwitch.com/mythology.html |title=The Blair Witch |website=blairwitch.com |access-date=August 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707140445/http://www.blairwitch.com/mythology.html |archive-date=July 7, 2007}}</ref>

The legend describes the killings and disappearances of some of the residents of Blair, Maryland (a fictitious town on the site of Burkittsville, Maryland) from the 18th to 20th centuries. Residents blamed these occurrences on the ghost of Elly Kedward, a Blair resident accused of practicing witchcraft in 1785 and sentenced to death by exposure. ''Curse of the Blair Witch'' presents the legend as real, complete with manufactured newspaper articles, newsreels, television news reports, and staged interviews.<ref name=curseoftheblairwitch />

==Release== ''The Blair Witch Project'' premiered as a Midnight Screening on Saturday, January 23, 1999, at the Sundance Film Festival, and opened Wednesday, July 14, at the Angelika Film Center in New York City before expanding to 25 cities at the weekend. It expanded nationwide on July 30.<ref name=timeline/>

===Television broadcast=== For its basic cable premiere in October 2001 on FX, two deleted scenes were reinserted during the end credits of the film. Neither deleted scene had ever been officially released<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bootlegcomparisons.com/2019/04/15/the-blair-witch-project-blu-ray-vs-fx-television-broadcast/ |title=The Blair Witch Project: Blu-ray Vs. FX Television Broadcast |last=christophernguyen726 |date=2019-04-16 |website=Bootleg Comparisons |language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-17 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117234214/https://bootlegcomparisons.com/2019/04/15/the-blair-witch-project-blu-ray-vs-fx-television-broadcast/ |url-status=live }}</ref> until Second Sight Films' Blu-ray release in November of 2024.

===Home media=== ''The Blair Witch Project'' was released on VHS and DVD on October 22, 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-14-ca-22052-story.html |title=What's Hot |date=October 14, 1999 |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426091755/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-14-ca-22052-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eggEAAAAMBAJ&q=The+Blair+Witch+Project+dvd+october+22&pg=PA77 |title=Billboard |date=November 6, 1999 |via=Google Books}}</ref> by Artisan, presented in a 1.33:1 windowboxed aspect ratio and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio. Special features include the documentary ''Curse of the Blair Witch'', a five-minute ''Newly Discovered Footage'', audio commentary, production notes, and cast and crew biographies. The audio commentary presents directors Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, and producers Rob Cowie, Mike Monello and Gregg Hale, in which they discuss the film's production. The ''Curse of the Blair Witch'' feature provides an in-depth look inside the creation of the film.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Bill |title=DVD Review – The Blair Witch Project |url=https://www.thedigitalbits.com/site_archive/reviews/blairwitchprojectse.html |access-date=January 11, 2017 |work=The Digital Bits |date=October 21, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113143312/https://www.thedigitalbits.com/site_archive/reviews/blairwitchprojectse.html |archive-date=January 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Beierle |first1=Aaron |title=The Blair Witch Project |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/91/blair-witch-project-the/ |access-date=January 11, 2017 |work=DVD Talk |date=January 4, 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817073206/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/91/blair-witch-project-the/ |archive-date=August 17, 2014}}</ref> More than $15 million was spent to market the home video release of the film.<ref>{{cite web |first=Brett |last=Sporich |url=http://www.videostoremag.com/content/news.cfm?ID=15.00000 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001021022912/http://www.videostoremag.com/content/news.cfm?ID=15.00000 |title=Panel Touts 55 Million DVDs Shipped in '99 |website=videostoremag.com |archive-date=October 21, 2000 |date=October 8, 1999 |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref>

The film's Blu-ray version was released on October 5, 2010, by Lionsgate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/45548/blair-witch-project-the/ |title=DVD Talk |access-date=October 5, 2021 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117234213/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/45548/blair-witch-project-the/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Best Buy and Lionsgate had an exclusive release of the Blu-ray made available on August 29 the same year.<ref name="test">{{cite web |title=The Blair Witch Project |publisher=High Def Digest |url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3704/blairwitchproject.html |access-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329072626/http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/3704/blairwitchproject.html |archive-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> Additionally, in 2024, British label Second Sight Films completed a restored version of the film from new digital transfers of the video & film elements, approved by the producers and directors, which was released in the UK on November 11 that year.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35060 |title=The Blair Witch Project Limited Edition Blu-ray |access-date=2024-09-28 |via=www.blu-ray.com |archive-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829033550/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35060 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception== ===Box office=== The film earned $1.5 million from 27 theaters in its opening weekend, with a per-screen average of $56,002.<ref name="BOM"/> The film expanded nationwide in its third weekend and grossed $29.2 million from 1,101 locations, placing at number two in the United States box office, surpassing the science fiction horror film ''Deep Blue Sea'', but behind ''Runaway Bride''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Blair Witch Project: July 30 – August 1, 1999 Weekend Box Office |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1999&wknd=31&p=.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=March 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902090436/https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1999&wknd=31&p=.htm |archive-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> The film expanded further to 2,142 theaters and again finished in second place with a gross of $24.3 million in its fourth weekend, behind ''The Sixth Sense''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Blair Witch Project: August 6–8, 1999 Weekend Box Office |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=1999&wknd=32&p=.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=March 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318154406/https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=1999&wknd=32&p=.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2016}}</ref> The film dropped out of the top-ten list in its 10th weekend and by the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $140.5 million in the US and Canada and grossed $108.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $248.6 million (over 4,000 times its original budget).<ref name="BOM"/><ref name="ewending"/> ''The Blair Witch Project'' was the 10th highest-grossing film in the US in 1999,<ref>{{cite web |title=1999 Yearly Box Office Results |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1999&p=.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215132442/https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1999&p=.htm |archive-date=February 15, 2017}}</ref> and has earned the reputation of becoming a sleeper hit.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kerswell |first1=J.A. |title=The Slasher Movie Book |date=2012 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago, Ill. |isbn=978-1556520105}}</ref> In Italy it set an opening weekend record for a US film.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Variety |page=12 |date=19 February 2001 |title='Hannibal' appeals to all tastes o'seas |last=Groves |first=Don}}</ref>

Because the filming was done by the actors using hand-held cameras, much of the footage is shaky, especially the final sequence in which a character is running down a set of stairs with the camera. Some audience members experienced motion sickness and vomited as a result.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/features/witchdizzy.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=The Dizzy Spell of 'Blair Witch Project' |date=July 30, 1999 |access-date=March 1, 2012 |first=Emily |last=Wax |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529114640/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/features/witchdizzy.htm |archive-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref>

===Critical response=== {{quote box|width=300px|quote=At a time when digital techniques can show us almost anything, ''The Blair Witch Project'' is a reminder that what really scares us is the stuff we can't see. The noise in the dark is almost always scarier than what makes the noise in the dark.|source=—Roger Ebert, writing for the ''Chicago Sun-Times''<ref name="Ebert"/>}} ''The Blair Witch Project'' drew acclaim from critics.<ref name="smolinski">{{cite news |last1=Smolinski |first1=Julieanne |title=The Nostalgia Fact-Check: Does ''The Blair Witch Project'' Hold Up? |url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/nostalgia-fact-check-does-the-blair-witch-project-hold-up.html |access-date=January 26, 2018 |work=Vulture |date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901183617/http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/nostalgia-fact-check-does-the-blair-witch-project-hold-up.html |archive-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref> The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 86% based on 165 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.70/10. The website's consensus reads: "Full of creepy campfire scares, mock-doc ''The Blair Witch Project'' keeps audiences in the dark about its titular villain, proving once more that imagination can be as scary as anything onscreen."<ref>{{cite web |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blair_witch_project/ |access-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075427/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blair_witch_project/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On Metacritic the film received a weighted average of 80 out of 100 based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metacritic.com/movie/the-blair-witch-project |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 12, 2019 |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117123504/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-blair-witch-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Audience reception to the film, though, remains divided;<ref name="nordine">{{cite news |last1=Nordine |first1=Michael |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' Honest Trailer: Revisit the Horror Classic Before Seeing Adam Wingard's Secret Sequel |url=http://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/the-blair-witch-project-honest-trailer-1201723552/ |access-date=June 17, 2017 |work=IndieWire |date=September 6, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113172607/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/the-blair-witch-project-honest-trailer-1201723552/ |archive-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref> those polled by CinemaScore gave it an average grade of "C+" on a scale of A+ to F.<ref name="singer">{{cite web |last=Singer |first=Matt |work=ScreenCrush |url=http://screencrush.com/movies-with-crazy-cinemascores/ |date=August 13, 2015 |title=25 Movies With Completely Baffling CinemaScores |access-date=October 17, 2017 |quote=The film is located at page five of the article's image gallery. |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017094403/http://screencrush.com/movies-with-crazy-cinemascores/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''The Blair Witch Project''{{'s}} found-footage technique received near-universal praise. Although this was not the first film to use it, the independent film was declared a milestone in film history due to its critical and box office success.{{refn|<ref name="digitalspy"/><ref name="screenrant"/><ref name="collider1"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Mary Elizabeth |title=Horror's first viral hit: How ''The Blair Witch Project'' revolutionized movies |url=http://www.salon.com/2014/06/13/horrors_first_viral_hit_how_the_blair_witch_project_revolutionized_movies/ |access-date=March 16, 2017 |work=Salon |date=June 13, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116222656/http://www.salon.com/2014/06/13/horrors_first_viral_hit_how_the_blair_witch_project_revolutionized_movies/ |archive-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref>}} Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film four stars, and called it "an extraordinarily effective horror film".<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' Movie Review (1999) |url=https://rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1999 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=January 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110031350/https://rogerebert.com/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1999 |archive-date=November 10, 2016}}{{Rating|4|4}}</ref> Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' called it "a groundbreaker in fright that reinvents scary for the new millennium".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Travers |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-19990730 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 30, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020053/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-19990730 |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> Todd McCarthy of ''Variety'' said: "An intensely imaginative piece of conceptual filmmaking that also delivers the goods as a dread-drenched horror movie, ''The Blair Witch Project'' puts a clever modern twist on the universal fear of the dark and things that go bump in the night".<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Todd |author-link=Todd McCarthy |title=Review: ''The Blair Witch Project'' |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1200456384/ |access-date=January 9, 2017 |work=Variety |date=January 26, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020551/https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-blair-witch-project-1200456384/ |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> Lisa Schwarzbaum of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave a grade of "B": "As a horror picture, the film may not be much more than a cheeky game, a novelty with the cool, blurry look of an avant-garde artifact. But as a manifestation of multimedia synergy, it's pretty spooky".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Schwarzbaum |first1=Lisa |author-link=Lisa Schwarzbaum |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' |url=http://ew.com/article/1999/07/23/blair-witch-project-4/ |access-date=January 9, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 23, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110022845/http://ew.com/article/1999/07/23/blair-witch-project-4/ |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref>

Some critics were less enthusiastic. Andrew Sarris of ''The New York Observer'' deemed it "overrated", as well as a rendition of "the ultimate triumph of the Sundance scam: Make a heartless home movie, get enough critics to blurb in near unison 'scary' and watch the suckers flock to be fleeced".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sarris |first1=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Sarris |title=Who's Afraid of ''The Blair Witch Project''? |url=http://observer.com/1999/08/whos-afraid-of-the-blair-witch-project/ |access-date=January 9, 2017 |work=The New York Observer |date=August 16, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020311/http://observer.com/1999/08/whos-afraid-of-the-blair-witch-project/ |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> A critic from ''The Christian Science Monitor'' said that while the film's concept and scares were innovative, he felt it could have just been shot "as a 30-minute short ... since its shaky camera work and fuzzy images get monotonous after a while, and there's not much room for character development within the very limited plot".<ref>{{cite news |title=The Worst DUD |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0723/p14s1.html/%28page%29/2 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=July 23, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110014713/http://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0723/p14s1.html/%28page%29/2 |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> R. L. Schaffer of ''IGN'' scored it two out of ten, and described it as "boring{{spaced en dash}}really boring", and "a Z-grade, low-rent horror outing with no real scares into a genuine big-budget spectacle".<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last1=Schaffer |first1=R.L. |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' Blu-Ray Review |url=https://ign.com/articles/2010/10/26/the-blair-witch-project-blu-ray-review |access-date=January 9, 2017 |website=IGN |date=October 26, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110021237/https://ign.com/articles/2010/10/26/the-blair-witch-project-blu-ray-review |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}{{Rating|2|10}}</ref>

===Accolades, awards and nominations=== At the 1st Golden Trailer Awards, it received a nomination for Most Original Trailer and won two categories: Best Horror/Thriller and Best Voice Over.<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Trailer Awards: Nominees (1999) |url=http://www.goldentrailer.com/gta1-nominees/ |publisher=Golden Trailer Awards |access-date=March 18, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104000017/http://www.goldentrailer.com/gta1-nominees/ |archive-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref> At the 15th Independent Spirit Awards, ''The Blair Witch Project'' won the John Cassavetes Award (for best first feature made for under $500,000).<ref>{{cite news |title=What happened to the Blair Witch Project cast? |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a604959/what-happened-to-the-cast-of-the-blair-witch-project/ |last1=Gordon |first1=Naomi |last2=Armitage |first2=Hugh |access-date=February 27, 2017 |work=Digital Spy |date=September 12, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227234737/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a604959/what-happened-to-the-cast-of-the-blair-witch-project/ |archive-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOMYdyqvspk |title=15th annual Spirit Awards ceremony - FULL SHOW {{!}}2000 {{!}}Film Independent on YouTube |website=YouTube |date=April 15, 2020 |access-date=October 5, 2021 |archive-date=October 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005144307/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOMYdyqvspk |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.post-gazette.com/magazine/20000327spirit7.asp |title='Election' wins 3 Independent Spirit awards |date=2000-03-27 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=2012-08-17 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204184702/http://old.post-gazette.com/magazine/20000327spirit7.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 20th Golden Raspberry Awards gave Heather Donahue its Worst Actress award, and nominated producers Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale for the Worst Picture award.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reid |first1=Joe |title=13 Great Movies Nominated for Razzie |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2770105/best-movies-nominated-razzie/ |access-date=February 27, 2017 |publisher=MTV |date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227233128/http://www.mtv.com/news/2770105/best-movies-nominated-razzie/ |archive-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Meslow |first1=Scott |title=The Blair Witch Project's Heather Donahue Is Alive and Well |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-blair-witch-projects-heather-donahue-is-alive-and-well |access-date=February 27, 2017 |work=GQ |date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029155942/http://www.gq.com/story/the-blair-witch-projects-heather-donahue-is-alive-and-well |archive-date=October 29, 2016}}</ref> At the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, the film won the Biggest Disappointment category and received three nominations: Worst Picture (Cowie and Hale), Worst Actress (Donahue), and Worst Screen Debut (Heather, Michael, Josh, the Stick People and the world's longest running batteries).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1999/1999st.htm |title=1999 22nd Hastings Bad Cinema Society Stinkers Awards |access-date=July 8, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103155722/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1999/1999st.htm |archive-date=January 3, 2007}}</ref>

==Legacy==  An array of other films have relied on the found-footage concept and shown influence by ''The Blair Witch Project''.<ref name="independent2">{{cite news |last1=Barnett |first1=David |title=Blair Witch was a revelation, but found footage owes its roots to classic books |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/blair-witch-project-revelation-roots-of-found-footage-film-classic-literature-horror-a7309251.html |access-date=June 17, 2017 |work=The Independent |date=September 15, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917144302/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/blair-witch-project-revelation-roots-of-found-footage-film-classic-literature-horror-a7309251.html |archive-date=September 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="collider1">{{cite news |last1=Trumbore |first1=Dave |title=''The Blair Witch Project'' Effect: How Found Footage Shaped a Generation of Filmmaking |url=https://collider.com/blair-witch-found-footage-movies/#sequel |access-date=June 17, 2017 |work=Collider |publisher=Complex |date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022065343/http://collider.com/blair-witch-found-footage-movies/ |archive-date=October 22, 2016}}</ref> These include ''Paranormal Activity'' (2007), ''REC'' (2007), ''Cloverfield'' (2008),<ref name="independent2"/> ''The Last Exorcism'' (2010), ''Trollhunter'' (2010),<ref name="vulture">{{cite news |last1=Crucchiola |first1=Jordan |title=Charting ''The Blair Witch Project'''s Influence Through 10 Horror Films That Followed |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/10-horror-movies-inspired-by-the-blair-witch-project.html |access-date=June 17, 2017 |work=Vulture |date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211062623/http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/10-horror-movies-inspired-by-the-blair-witch-project.html |archive-date=December 11, 2016}}</ref> ''Chronicle'' (2012), ''Project X'' (2012), ''V/H/S'' (2012), ''End of Watch'' (2012),<ref name="collider1"/><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Gleiberman |first1=Owen |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |title=''Project X'' and ''Chronicle'' prove that the found-footage way of making a movie can be applied to...anything. And that now it will be |url=http://ew.com/article/2012/03/03/the-found-footage-movie-is-here-to-stay/ |access-date=February 11, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 3, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211162553/http://ew.com/article/2012/03/03/the-found-footage-movie-is-here-to-stay/ |archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>, and ''The Den'' (2013).<ref name="vulture"/> Outside of America, the film has inspired found footage films such as the Japanese ''Noroi: The Curse'' (2005) and the South Korean ''Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum'' (2018).

Some critics have also noted that the film's basic plot premise and narrative style are strikingly similar to ''Cannibal Holocaust'' (1980) and ''The Last Broadcast'' (1998).<ref name="digitalspy">{{cite news |last1=Rawson-Jones |first1=Ben |title=The Blair Witch Project 15 years on: The horror movie that changed everything |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a605024/the-blair-witch-project-15-years-on-the-horror-movie-that-changed-everything/ |access-date=March 16, 2017 |work=Digital Spy |date=October 22, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316225823/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a605024/the-blair-witch-project-15-years-on-the-horror-movie-that-changed-everything/ |archive-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="screenrant">{{cite news |last1=Schaefer |first1=Sandy |title=Blair Witch and the Evolution of the Found-Footage Genre |url=http://screenrant.com/blair-witch-found-footage-discussion/ |access-date=March 16, 2017 |work=Screen Rant |date=September 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226011811/http://screenrant.com/blair-witch-found-footage-discussion/ |archive-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> ''Cannibal Holocaust'' director Ruggero Deodato has acknowledged the similarities of ''The Blair Witch Project'' to his film, and criticized the publicity that it received for being an original production;<ref>{{cite AV media |people=De Angelis, Michéle (Director) |date=June 22, 2003 |title=In the Jungle: The Making of Cannibal Holocaust |medium=Motion picture |location=Italy |publisher=Alan Young Pictures}}</ref> advertisements for ''The Blair Witch Project'' also promoted the idea that the footage is genuine.<ref name="onion"/> Despite initial reports that ''The Last Broadcast'' creators—Stefan Avalos and Lance Weiler—had alleged that ''The Blair Witch Project'' was a complete rip-off of their work and would sue Haxan Films for copyright infringement, they repudiated these allegations. One of the creators told ''IndieWire'' in 1999: "If somebody enjoys ''The Blair Witch Project'' there is a chance they will enjoy our film, and we hope they will check it out."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Eugene |title=Editorial: ''Blair Witch'' v. ''Last Broadcast'' {{em dash}} Has It Really Come to This?|url=http://www.indiewire.com/1999/08/editorial-blair-witch-v-last-broadcast-has-it-really-come-to-this-82145/|access-date=January 11, 2017|work=IndieWire|date=August 9, 1999|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805062755/http://www.indiewire.com/1999/08/editorial-blair-witch-v-last-broadcast-has-it-really-come-to-this-82145/|archive-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, the Library of Congress described how ''The Blair Witch Project'' "established a new type of documentary psychological horror genre [...] One of the key elements to the film’s success was the creation of a rich fictitious history, which has become the template for modern horror film screenplay writing."<ref>{{cite web |title=Library Highlights Horrors of 'The Blair Witch Project{{'-}} |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-17-158 |website=Library of Congress |access-date=10 December 2024 |archive-date=December 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210230752/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-17-158 |url-status=live }}</ref> Film critic Michael Dodd has argued that the film is an embodiment of horror "modernizing its ability to be all-encompassing in expressing the fears of American society". He noted that "in an age where anyone can film whatever they like, horror needn't be a cinematic expression of what terrifies the cinema-goer, it can simply be the medium through which terrors captured by the average American can be showcased."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://themissingslate.com/2014/08/31/safe-scares-how-911-caused-the-american-horror-remake-trend-part-one/ |title=Safe Scares: How 9/11 caused the American Horror Remake Trend (Part One) |work=The Missing Slate |date=August 31, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011012106/http://themissingslate.com/2014/08/31/safe-scares-how-911-caused-the-american-horror-remake-trend-part-one/ |archive-date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>

In 2008, ''The Blair Witch Project'' was ranked by ''Entertainment Weekly'' as number ninety-nine on their list of 100 Best Films from 1983 to 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207063,00.html |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |title=The New Classics: Movies EW 1000: Movies – Movies – The EW 1000 – Entertainment Weekly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807093230/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20207076_20207387_20207063%2C00.html |archive-date=August 7, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, the Chicago Film Critics Association ranked it as number 12 on their list of Top 100 Scariest Movies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.altfg.com/blog/hollywood/chicago-critics-scariest-films/ |title=Scariest Movies Ever Made: Chicago Critics' Top 100 |author=Soares, Andre |work=Alt Film Guide |date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604013812/http://www.altfg.com/blog/hollywood/chicago-critics-scariest-films/ |archive-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> It was ranked number 50 on Filmcritic.com's list of 50 Best Movie Endings of All Time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Null |first=Christopher |title=The Top 50 Movie Endings of All Time |publisher=Filmcritic.com |date=January 1, 2006 |url=http://filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/0/394a496e465c4f38882571b900114dc5?OpenDocument |access-date=July 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820031838/http://filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/0/394a496e465c4f38882571b900114dc5?OpenDocument |archive-date=August 20, 2006}}</ref> In 2016, it was ranked by ''IGN'' as number 21 on their list of Top 25 Horror Movies of All Time,<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 25 Horror Movies of All Time |url=https://ign.com/articles/top-25-horror-movies-of-all-time |access-date=February 19, 2017 |website=IGN |date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220092020/https://ign.com/articles/top-25-horror-movies-of-all-time |archive-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> number 16 on ''Cosmopolitan''{{'}}s 25 Scariest Movies of All Time,<ref>{{cite news |last1=McClure |first1=Kelly |title=The 25 Scariest Movies of All Time |url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a6491032/scariest-movies-of-all-time/ |access-date=February 19, 2017 |work=Cosmopolitan |date=October 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220013258/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a6491032/scariest-movies-of-all-time/ |archive-date=February 20, 2017}}</ref> and number three on ''The Hollywood Reporter''{{'}}s 10 Scariest Movies of All Time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mintzer |first1=Jordan |title=Critic's Picks: 10 Scariest Movies of All Time |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/lists/scariest-movies-ever-top-10-horror-halloween-2016-941503/item/ringu-10-scariest-movies-941488 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 26, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020027/https://hollywoodreporter.com/lists/scariest-movies-ever-top-10-horror-halloween-2016-941503/item/ringu-10-scariest-movies-941488 |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> In 2013, the film also made the top-ten list of ''The Hollywood Reporter''{{'}}s highest-grossing independent films of all time, ranking number six.<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 10: Indies at the Box Office |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/top-ten-independent-films-at-562487/6-5-the-blair-witch-project |access-date=March 16, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 3, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130202255/https://hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/top-ten-independent-films-at-562487/6-5-the-blair-witch-project |archive-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref>

Director Eli Roth has cited the film as a marketing influence to promote his 2002 horror film ''Cabin Fever'' with the internet.<ref>Roth, Eli. ''Cabin Fever'' DVD, Lions Gate Entertainment, 2004, audio commentary. ASIN: B0000ZG054</ref> ''The Blair Witch Project'' was included in the book ''1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die''.<ref>{{cite book |title=1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTzcCgAAQBAJ |editor1-first=Steven Jay |editor1-last=Schneider |year=2015 |edition=9th |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |location=Hauppauge, New York |isbn=978-0-7641-6790-4 |page=874 |oclc=796279948 |series=Quintessence Editions}}</ref>

After the film was released, in late November 1999, the historic house where it was filmed was reportedly being overwhelmed by film fans who broke off chunks as souvenirs. The township ordered the house demolished the next month.<ref name="atwood">{{cite news |last1=Atwood |first1=Liz |title=House used in 'Witch' due to be demolished |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/11/25/house-used-in-witch-due-to-be-demolished-residents-say-building-may-have-historic-import/ |access-date=March 16, 2017 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 25, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316204515/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-11-25/news/9911250151_1_griggs-house-ramshackle-house-down-the-house |archive-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref>

===Media tie-ins=== {{main|Blair Witch}}

====Books==== In September 1999, D.{{nbsp}}A. Stern compiled ''The Blair Witch Project: A Dossier''. Building on the film's "true story" angle, the dossier consisted of fictional police reports, pictures, interviews, and newspaper articles presenting the film's premise as fact, as well as further elaboration on the Elly Kedward and Rustin Parr legends. Another "dossier" was created for ''Blair Witch 2''. Stern wrote the 2000 novel ''Blair Witch: The Secret Confessions of Rustin Parr''. He revisited the franchise with the novel ''Blair Witch: Graveyard Shift'', which features original characters and plot.<ref name="ComingSoon">{{cite news |last1=Lesnick |first1=Silas |title=The Complete Blair Witch Legend |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/features/763177-complete-blair-witch-legend#/slide/1 |access-date=January 9, 2017 |publisher=CraveOnline |date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015921/http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/features/763177-complete-blair-witch-legend |archive-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref>

A series of eight young adult books, titled ''The Blair Witch Files'', were released by Random subsidiary Bantam from 2000 to 2001. The books center on Cade Merill, a fictional cousin of Heather Donahue, who investigates phenomena related to the Blair Witch. She tries to learn what really happened to Heather, Mike, and Josh.<ref name="Files">{{cite web |last=Merill |first=Cade |title=Cade Merill's The Blair Witch Files |publisher=Random House |year=2000 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/features/blairwitch/home.html |access-date=September 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020654/http://www.randomhouse.com/features/blairwitch/home.html |archive-date=December 7, 2008}}</ref>

====Comic books==== In July 1999, Oni Press released a one-shot comic promoting the film, titled ''The Blair Witch Project'' #1. Written and illustrated by Cece Malvey, the comic was released in conjunction of the film.<ref name="screenrant2">{{cite news |last1=Kleinhenz |first1=Marc N. |title=A Complete Guide to the Blair Witch Mythology |url=http://screenrant.com/blair-witch-project-mythology/ |access-date=March 17, 2017 |work=Screen Rant |date=September 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226013433/http://screenrant.com/blair-witch-project-mythology/ |archive-date=February 26, 2017}}</ref> In October 2000, coinciding with the release of ''Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2'', Image Comics released a one-shot called ''Blair Witch: Dark Testaments'', drawn by Charlie Adlard.<ref name="ComingSoon"/>

====Video games==== In 2000, Gathering of Developers released a trilogy of computer games based on the film, which greatly expanded on the myths first suggested in the film. The graphics engine and characters were all derived from the producer's earlier game ''Nocturne''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Jeff |title=Blair Witch Project Interview |url=https://ign.com/articles/2000/04/15/blair-witch-project-interview |access-date=January 10, 2017 |website=IGN |date=April 14, 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305152032/https://ign.com/articles/2000/04/15/blair-witch-project-interview |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref>

The first volume, ''Rustin Parr'', received the most praise, ranging from moderate to positive, with critics commending its storyline, graphics and atmosphere; some reviewers claimed that the game was scarier than the film.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blair Witch Volume I: Rustin Parr |url=https://metacritic.com/game/pc/blair-witch-volume-i-rustin-parr |website=Metacritic |access-date=January 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814163455/https://metacritic.com/game/pc/blair-witch-volume-i-rustin-parr |archive-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref> The following volumes, ''The Legend of Coffin Rock'' and ''The Elly Kedward Tale'', were less well received, with ''PC Gamer'' saying that Volume 2's "only saving grace was its cheap price",<ref>{{cite journal |title=Blair Witch 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock |journal=PC Gamer |date=February 2001 |page=88}}</ref> and calling Volume 3 "amazingly mediocre".<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-08-07b.html |title=Blair Witch Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale |last=Williamson |first=Colin |journal=PC Gamer |date=April 2001 |page=90 |access-date=March 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311162242/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-08-07b.html |archive-date=March 11, 2005}}</ref>

Bloober Team developed ''Blair Witch'', a first-person survival horror game based on the ''Blair Witch'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blooberteam.com/blair-witch-game |title=Bloober Team - Blair Witch |access-date=September 2, 2019}}</ref> The game was released on August 30, 2019.

====Documentary==== ''The Woods Movie'' (2015) is a feature-length documentary exploring the production of ''The Blair Witch Project''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blair Witch Documentary Goes into The Woods Movie |publisher=Dread Central |date=January 1, 2006 |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/89704/blair-witch-documentary-goes-woods-movie/ |access-date=July 28, 2006 |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214005552/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/89704/blair-witch-documentary-goes-woods-movie/}}</ref> For this documentary, director Russ Gomm interviewed the original film's producer, Gregg Hale, and directors Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick.<ref>{{cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |author-link=Brad Miska |title=Finally a Doc On 'The Blair Witch Project' – Trailer For 'The Woods Movie{{'-}} |work=Bloody Disgusting |date=January 1, 2006 |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/videos/3332333/finally-doc-blair-witch-project-trailer-woods-movie/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213183545/https://bloody-disgusting.com/videos/3332333/finally-doc-blair-witch-project-trailer-woods-movie/}}</ref>

===Parodies=== ''The Blair Witch Project'' inspired a number of parody films, including ''Scary Movie'', ''Da Hip Hop Witch'', ''The Bogus Witch Project'', The Dairy Witch, ''The Tony Blair Witch Project'' (all in 2000), and ''The Blair Thumb'' (2001),<ref name="Greene 177">{{cite book |last=Greene |first=Heather |date=2018 |title=Bell, Book and Camera: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9pxWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA185 |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=177 |isbn=978-1476662527}}</ref> as well as the pornographic films ''The Erotic Witch Project''<ref name="Greene 177" /> and ''The Bare Wench Project''.<ref name="Heller-Nicholas 113">{{cite book |last=Heller-Nicholas |first=Alexandra |date=2014 |title=Found Footage Horror Films: Fear and the Appearance of Reality |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pkNXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA113 |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=113 |isbn=978-0786470778}}</ref> The film also inspired the Halloween television special ''The Scooby-Doo Project'', which aired during a ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' marathon on Cartoon Network on October 31, 1999. 2013's ''6-5=2'' was also inspired by this film.<ref name="Heller-Nicholas 113" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/how-the-1999-scooby-doo-project-parody-inspired-th/ |title=How the 1999 Scooby Doo Project Parody Inspired Adult Swim's Absurdist, Stoner Comedy |last=Morgan |first=Chris |date=June 2, 2016 |website=Paste |access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Sequels== {{main|Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2|Blair Witch (film)}} A sequel titled ''Book of Shadows'' was released on October 27, 2000; it was poorly received by most critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/stream-to-scream-book-of-shadows-blair-witch-2/ |work=Fangoria |title=Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 |series=Stream to Scream |date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=July 15, 2015 |author=Hanley, Ken W. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817204642/http://www.fangoria.com/new/stream-to-scream-book-of-shadows-blair-witch-2/ |archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2010/10/five-lessons-we-hope-paranorma |publisher=IFC |title=Five Lessons We Hope 'Paranormal Activity 2' Learned from 'Blair Witch 2{{'-}} |last=Singer |first=Matt |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=July 15, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717174759/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2010/10/five-lessons-we-hope-paranorma |archive-date=July 17, 2015}}</ref> A third installment announced that same year did not materialize.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blair Witch 3 |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |date=January 1, 2006 |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808403198 |access-date=July 28, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509080506/http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808403198 |archive-date=May 9, 2006}}</ref>

At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016, a surprise trailer for ''Blair Witch'' was revealed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bibbiani |first1=William |title=Comic-Con 2016 Review: The (Blair) Witch is Back! |url=http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/1012837-comic-con-2016-review-blair-witch-back#/slide/1 |access-date=January 10, 2017 |publisher=CraveOnline |date=July 23, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112190708/http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/1012837-comic-con-2016-review-blair-witch-back |archive-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> The film was originally marketed as ''The Woods'' so as to be an exclusive surprise announcement for those in attendance at the convention. The film, distributed by Lionsgate, was slated for a September 16 release and stars James Allen McCune as the brother of the original film's Heather Donahue.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Woerner |first1=Meredith |title='Blair Witch' sequel surprises Comic-Con with a secret screening and trailer |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hc-comic-con-updates-blair-witch-sequel-surprises-1469247259-htmlstory.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 23, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724155343/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-hc-comic-con-updates-blair-witch-sequel-surprises-1469247259-htmlstory.html |archive-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Collis |first1=Clark |title=Secret Blair Witch sequel gets new trailer, September release date |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/22/blair-witch-project-sequel-secret-comic-con |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=July 23, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724165428/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/22/blair-witch-project-sequel-secret-comic-con |archive-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref> Directed by Adam Wingard, ''Blair Witch'' is a direct sequel to ''The Blair Witch Project'', and does not acknowledge the events of ''Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2''. However, Wingard has said that although his version does not reference any of the events that transpired in ''Book of Shadows'', the film does not necessarily discredit the existence of ''Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2''.<ref name="cinemablend.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1556209/ |last=Eisenberg |first=Eric |title=Why The New Blair Witch Movie Ignores Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 |work=Cinemablend |date=September 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004000301/http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1556209/ |archive-date=October 4, 2016}}</ref> Screenwriter Simon Barrett explained that in writing the new film, he only considered material that was produced with the involvement of the original film's creative team (directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, producer Gregg Hale, and production designer Ben Rock) to be "canon", and that he did not take any material produced without their direct involvement{{em dash}}such as the first sequel ''Book of Shadows'' or ''The Blair Witch Files'', a series of young adult novels{{em dash}}into consideration when writing the new sequel.<ref name="cinemablend.com"/>

In April 2022, Lionsgate was looking to reboot ''The Blair Witch Project'' with a new installment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=Lionsgate reportedly looking to relaunch Blair Witch Project with new instalment |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2022/04/lionsgate-reportedly-looking-to-relaunch-blair-witch-project-with-new-instalment/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US}}</ref> A new installment of ''The Blair Witch Project'' is officially in development at Lionsgate with Jason Blum and Roy Lee producing as of April 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-blair-witch-movie-lionsgate-blumhouse-1235870973/ |title=New 'Blair Witch' Movie in the Works from Lionsgate, Blumhouse |first=Aaron |last=Couch |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410233744/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-blair-witch-movie-lionsgate-blumhouse-1235870973/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2026, it was confirmed that Dylan Clark would be directing the film. Clark is an "up-and-coming filmmaker" whose 2022 short film, ''Portrait of God,'' was being turned into a feature produced by Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-02 |title=The Blair Witch Project Horror Movie Reboot Finds Director |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/movies/articles/blair-witch-project-horror-movie-170812045.html |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Television== In October 2017, co-director Eduardo Sánchez revealed that he and the rest of the film's creative team were developing a ''Blair Witch'' television series, though he clarified that any decisions would ultimately be up to Lionsgate now which owns the rights to it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eduardo Sanchez Hints at Blair Witch TV Series |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/tv-news19545-blair-witch-tv-series-news |access-date=October 30, 2017 |work=Starburst |date=October 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126030127/https://www.starburstmagazine.com/tv-news19545-blair-witch-tv-series-news |archive-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=74 - Podcast of Horror II: The Blair Witch Project |url=https://www.dimreturns.com/episodes/2017/10/27/74-podcast-of-horror-ii-the-blair-witch-project |access-date=October 30, 2017 |work=Diminishing Returns |date=October 30, 2017 |archive-date=October 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031025433/https://www.dimreturns.com/episodes/2017/10/27/74-podcast-of-horror-ii-the-blair-witch-project |url-status=live }}</ref> The series was later announced to be released on the studio's new subsidiary, Studio L, which specializes in digital releases.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Lionsgate Unveils 'Studio L' Digital Slate With 'Honor List', 'Most Likely to Murder' |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/lionsgate-unveils-studio-l-digital-slate-1202707449/ |access-date=February 23, 2018 |work=Variety |date=February 22, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222180359/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/lionsgate-unveils-studio-l-digital-slate-1202707449/ |archive-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb title|0185937|The Blair Witch Project}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|2=The Blair Witch Project}} * [https://www.haxan.com/blairwitch ''The Blair Witch Project''] at Haxan Films

{{Portal bar|Film|United States|Speculative fiction/Horror|1990s}}

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