{{Short description|American film and television production company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox company | name = Spooky Pictures | logo = | logo_class = | logo_caption = | type = Private | foundation = {{start date and age|2020|3|2}} | founder = {{Plainlist| *Roy Lee *Steven Schneider }} | location_city = Los Angeles, California | location_country = United States | industry = {{hlist|Film|Television}} | key_people = {{ubl|Roy Lee|Steven Schneider|Rami Yasin|Jakob Pollack|Simmy Wolf}} | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | slogan = | homepage = | intl = }}
'''Spooky Pictures''' is an American film and television production company, founded in 2020 by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider. The company is known for producing the films ''Watcher'', ''Late Night with the Devil'', ''Strange Darling'', ''The Plague'', ''Undertone'' and ''Hokum''.
==Overview== On March 2, 2020, Roy Lee and Steven Schneider founded Spooky Pictures, with the company signing a first-look producing deal with Image Nation Abu Dhabi.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2020/03/it-pet-sematary-producers-spooky-pictures-first-project-image-nation-slate-deal-1202873019/ Spooky Pictures, Indie Banner From 'Pet Sematary' & 'It' Producers, Sets First Project Under Image Nation Slate Deal]</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/image-nation-spooky-pictures-horror-buffs-the-plague-cannes-1236211936/ The Horror Buffs at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Spooky Pictures Love "Cool Shit" and Have Unleashed 'The Plague' at Cannes]</ref><ref>[https://variety.com/2020/film/global/image-nation-pacts-with-spooky-pictures-on-chloe-okunos-watcher-1203520533/ Image Nation Abu Dhabi Pacts With Spooky Pictures on Chloe Okuno's Thriller 'Watcher']</ref><ref>[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/320521/pet-sematary-it-producers-spooky-pictures-sets-first-film-watcher/ PET SEMATARY & IT Producers' Spooky Pictures Sets First Film, WATCHER]</ref>
On June 12, 2023, Schneider partnered with Slash and his company Malkier Studios to produce a slate of horror films.<ref>[https://variety.com/2023/film/global/slash-paranormal-activity-steven-schneider-horror-film-1235640823/ 'Paranormal Activity' Producer Steven Schneider Sets Horror Projects With Slash, Malkier Studios (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref>
On June 6, 2025, it was reported by ''Deadline'' that a bidding war was underway for the rights for ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' franchise, with many studios and creatives involved.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2025/06/texas-chainsaw-massacre-taylor-sheridan-bidding-war-1236425911/|title= 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Bidding War Talks Heat Up; Taylor Sheridan Among New Names In The Mix – The Dish|date= June 6, 2025|access-date= May 22, 2026|first1= Anthony|last1= D'Alessandro|first2= Justin|last2= Kroll|work= Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> In September 2025, A24 emerged as the front runner, with the Netflix film also happening; the former acquired the film and television rights to the franchise in February 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2025/09/texas-chainsaw-massacare-a24-jt-mollner-glen-powell-1236530511/|title= A24 Looks To Hook 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Film & TV Rights; JT Mollner, Roy Lee & Glen Powell Series Up First; Netflix Movie Still In Mix|date= September 12, 2025|access-date= May 22, 2026|first= Anthony|last= D'Alessandro|work= Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A24 Wins 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Rights: TV Series In Works From JT Mollner, Glen Powell & Roy Lee; ImageNation Pic In Early Development|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=4 February 2026|access-date=22 May 2026|url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/texas-chainsaw-massacre-a24-tv-series-jt-mollner-glen-powell-1236708370/}}</ref> On April 21, 2026, it was announced that Curry Barker is set to write and direct the film for A24.<ref>[https://variety.com/2026/film/news/texas-chainsaw-massacre-curry-barker-director-obsession-1236727385/ 'Obsession' Filmmaker Curry Barker to Direct 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Reimagining at A24 (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref><ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/texas-chainsaw-massacre-curry-barker-1236570681/ 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre': 'Obsession' Filmmaker Curry Barker in Talks to Write, Direct]</ref><ref>[https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3947450/curry-barker-directing-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre-reboot-movie-for-a24/ Curry Barker Directing 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' Reboot Movie for A24]</ref>
On September 24, 2025, the company signs a multi-year film deal with Fandomodo Films.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spooky-pictures-fandomodo-films-strike-multi-year-deal-1236378159/ Spooky Pictures , Fandomodo Films Strike Multi-Year Film Deal (Exclusive)]</ref>
On January 30, 2026, the company and Image Nation Abu Dhabi acquired the rights to the ''V/H/S'' franchise from Studio71.<ref>[https://variety.com/2026/film/global/vhs-horror-franchise-spooky-pictures-image-nation-1236645520/ 'V/H/S' Horror Anthology Franchise Acquired by Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Abu Dhabi (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref>
==Feature films== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;" ! Release date ! Title ! Director(s) ! Distributor |- |June 3, 2022 |''Watcher'' |Chloe Okuno |IFC Midnight<br>Shudder |- |March 22, 2024 |''Late Night with the Devil'' |Colin Cairnes<br>Cameron Cairnes |IFC Films<br>Shudder |- |August 23, 2024 |''Strange Darling'' |JT Mollner |Magenta Light Studios |- |October 4, 2024 |''V/H/S/Beyond'' |Jay Cheel<br>Jordan Downey<br>Virat Pal<br>Justin Martinez<br>Christian Long<br>Justin Long<br>Kate Siegel |rowspan="3" |Shudder |- |April 18, 2025 |''Dead Mail'' | Joe DeBoer<br>Kyle McConaghy |- |October 3, 2025 |''V/H/S/Halloween'' |Bryan M. Ferguson<br>Anna Zlokovic<br>Paco Plaza<br>Casper Kelly<br>Alex Ross Perry<br>Micheline Pitt-Norman<br>R. H. Norman |- |December 24, 2025 |''The Plague'' |Charlie Polinger |Independent Film Company |- |March 13, 2026 |''Undertone'' |Ian Tuason |A24 |- |May 1, 2026 |''Hokum'' |Damian McCarthy |Neon |}
===Upcoming films=== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;" ! Release date ! Title ! Director(s) ! Distributor ! Ref. |- |{{N/A}} |''Anything but Ghosts'' |Curry Barker |Focus Features |<ref>[https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/569561/focus-features-acquires-curry-barkers-anything-but-ghosts-starring-aaron-paul/ Focus Features Acquires Curry Barkers 'Anything But Ghosts', Starring Aaron Paul]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Archangel'' |Bryan Edward Hill |{{N/A}} |<ref>[https://variety.com/2026/film/global/archangel-horror-bryan-hill-conor-leslie-efm-first-look-1236656076/ Supernatural Horror 'Archangel,' From Bryan Hill and Starring Conor Leslie, Launching at EFM With AGC as First-Look Revealed (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Desert Road'' |Shannon Triplett |Firebrand Media Group |<ref>[https://deadline.com/2024/12/desert-road-april-2025-release-firebrand-media-debut-1236209490/ 'Desert Road' Hitting Cinemas In April 2025 As Firebrand Media’s Debut Release]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Entity Within'' |Nick Simon |GVN Releasing |<ref>[https://www.joblo.com/entity-within/ Heather Graham to star in horror film based on the same story as The Entity]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Harmonia'' |Guy Nattiv |Bleecker Street |<ref>[https://variety.com/2024/film/markets-festivals/guy-nattiv-harmonia-naomi-watts-vicky-krieps-bella-ramsey-odessa-young-pre-sales-cannes-1235996300/ Guy Nattiv's 'Harmonia' Casts Naomi Watts, Vicky Krieps, Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young as Pre-Sales Launch Ahead of Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Imposters'' |Caleb Phillips |Blue Finch Films |<ref>[https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paranormal-activity-producer-steven-schneider-sxsw-sci-fi-thriller-imposters-1236722256/ 'Paranormal Activity' Producer Steven Schneider Boards SXSW Sci-Fi Thriller 'Imposters' (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Menace'' |Randall Okita |Independent Film Company<br>Shudder |<ref>[https://www.fangoria.com/menace-ifc-films-and-shudder-have-acquired-a-new-sci-fi-horror-pic/ MENACE: IFC Films And Shudder Have Acquired A New Sci-Fi Horror Pic]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''The Punishing'' |Chris Sparling |{{N/A}} |<ref>[https://deadline.com/2026/05/john-boyega-cara-delevingne-horror-punishing-first-images-1236914444/ John Boyega & Cara Delevingne In 'The Punishing': First Images Revealed Of Supernatural Horror Launching At Cannes Market With Ignite, WME & UTA]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Recluse'' |Henry Chaisson |{{N/A}} |<ref>[https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paranormal-activity-producer-steven-schneider-recluse-tribeca-1236756701/ 'Hokum' Producer Steven Schneider Boards Debut Horror 'Recluse' Ahead of Tribeca Bow (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''River'' |Joshua Giuliano |Independent Film Company<br>Shudder |<ref>[https://screenanarchy.com/amp/2025/11/river-independent-film-company-and-shudder-acquire-survival-slasher.html RIVER: Independent Film Company and Shudder Acquire Joshua Giuliano's Debut Survival Slasher]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''The Shepherd'' |John Hyams |Magnolia Pictures |<ref>[https://deadline.com/2025/09/david-dastmalchian-georgina-campbell-shepherd-sells-us-1236510207/ Georgina Campbell & David Dastmalchian Horror-Thriller 'The Shepherd', From 'It' & 'Insidious' Producers, Pre-Sells To Magnolia For U.S.]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''Sundowning'' |Ian McDonald |{{N/A}} |<ref>[https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3949013/horror-thriller-sundowning-from-woman-of-the-hour-scribe-reveals-cast-as-production-begins/ Horror Thriller 'Sundowning' From 'Woman of the Hour' Scribe Reveals Cast as Production Begins]</ref> |- |{{N/A}} |''The Vile'' |Majid Al Ansari |{{N/A}} |<ref>[https://deadline.com/2025/06/agc-international-arabic-language-horror-vile-teaser-1236437692/ AGC Takes Int'l Rights On Spooky Pictures & Image Nation's Arabic-Language Horror-Thriller 'The Vile' + First Teaser]</ref> |}
==Short films== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;" ! Release date ! Title ! Director(s) ! Ref. |- |January 26, 2025 |''Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting'' |Alexander Thompson |<ref>[https://variety.com/2025/film/global/em-and-selma-go-griffin-hunting-roy-lee-steven-schneider-1236590772/ Sundance Short 'Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting' Boarded by Spooky Pictures’ Roy Lee and Steven Schneider (EXCLUSIVE)]</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Film Studio}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2020 establishments in California Category:American companies established in 2020 Category:Companies based in Los Angeles Category:Mass media companies established in 2020 Category:Film production companies based in California Category:Entertainment companies established in 2020 Category:Television production companies based in California