Jason Blum Quotes

Powerful Jason Blum for Daily Growth

About Jason Blum

Jason Blum, an influential figure in modern horror cinema, was born on August 20, 1967, in Los Angeles, California. Raised by his mother, a school teacher, and stepfather, a screenwriter, Blum's passion for filmmaking was nurtured from an early age. Blum attended Occidental College before moving to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied film production. His formative years were marked by an internship at Miramax Films, which gave him a unique insight into the film industry. In 2000, Blum founded Blumhouse Productions with just $30,000 in savings. The company was initially focused on producing reality TV shows, but after the success of the documentary "Panic at Red Cow" (2005), Blumhouse pivoted to horror films, a genre that would prove immensely successful. Blumhouse's breakout hit was "Paranormal Activity" (2009), a low-budget found footage horror film that became a cultural phenomenon, grossing over $193 million worldwide on a budget of just $15,000. This success marked the beginning of Blum's signature approach to filmmaking: low-budget, high-concept horror films that often defy genre conventions. Over the years, Blumhouse has produced numerous successful horror films, including "The Purge" series, "Get Out," "Halloween" (2018), and "Us." These films have not only scared audiences but also critically acclaimed, earning numerous awards and nominations. Blum's influence extends beyond the horror genre as well. In 2015, he co-founded Blum Fellows, a program that provides opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers to develop their careers. This initiative reflects Blum's commitment to diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Jason Blum continues to push the boundaries of horror cinema, producing innovative and thought-provoking films that captivate audiences worldwide. His legacy as a trailblazer in independent filmmaking is secure, with Blumhouse Productions becoming one of the most successful production companies in the genre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't think horror can be predicted."

Jason Blum, renowned American film producer, suggests that the essence of horror cannot be foreseen or predicted. This statement underscores the unpredictable nature of fear, emphasizing that what frightens people is not always rational or easily definable. It highlights the subjective human experience and the inherent uncertainty in the genre, making each story, film, or encounter unique and unexpected.


"We're not trying to scare you. We're trying to make you feel something."

Jason Blum, a renowned producer in horror filmmaking, suggests that the primary goal of their work is not merely to frighten the audience but to evoke emotions. The films they create aim to stir feelings of suspense, anticipation, or even sadness and fear, creating an immersive experience that resonates with viewers on a deeper level. This quote underscores the importance of storytelling as a means to connect and engage with audiences by eliciting genuine emotions rather than just causing momentary fright.


"The best movies are the ones where you're never sure what's going to happen next."

This quote emphasizes that the most engaging films are those that maintain an element of unpredictability, ensuring viewers stay invested throughout their duration. By not following a predictable or formulaic narrative, these movies keep audiences guessing and suspenseful, fostering a deeper emotional connection to the storyline and characters. It's about captivating the audience through surprise and keeping them on the edge of their seats, as they cannot anticipate what will happen next.


"I believe that if you have a great idea, and it makes money, then that's success."

The quote by Jason Blum implies that, for him, success is achieved when an outstanding idea generates profit. He values both the creativity in coming up with a great idea and its potential to yield financial returns. This perspective emphasizes the importance of balance between artistic expression and commercial viability in achieving a successful outcome.


"There's no such thing as too much suspense."

Jason Blum's quote, "There's no such thing as too much suspense," suggests an enthusiasm for intense anticipation and uncertainty in storytelling. It implies that suspense, a feeling of worry or curiosity about what will happen next, is valuable in creative works, particularly in the horror genre he predominantly works in. The quote underscores his belief that generating maximum suspense can only add to the impact and enjoyment for audiences.


Halloween was definitely the biggest holiday when I was a kid. We started making our Halloween costumes in August. Me and my mom. My mom was a single mom; it was just her and I.

- Jason Blum

Kid, Making, Started, August

I'm attracted to things that make a point or have a certain point of view, but it's not a conscious thing that I decide to do every morning. Unconsciously, what I like has a social commentary in it, or it's about race, or it's risky to do. That's what I like doing.

- Jason Blum

Doing, Point Of View, About, Commentary

Ethan Hawke is not a horror movie fan, but he's a really good friend of mine, and I finally cajoled him into doing 'Sinister.' Later, he said one of the reasons he was really resistant to doing a horror movie is he thought it'd be really scary on set.

- Jason Blum

Doing, Movie, Reasons, Horror Movie

When there's a great horror movie, people are like, 'Horror's back!' And when there's a series of not so good ones, 'Horror's dead.' I think it's all about the quality. When there are one or two good horror movies in a row, people come out interested again.

- Jason Blum

Movie, I Think, About, Horror Movie

The key to a good horror movie is what happens between the scares. The scares aren't the tricky part. If you're involved in what's going on in between, the scare is going to trick you. If you're not, the best scare in the world will not be scary.

- Jason Blum

Movie, Horror, Going, Horror Movie

I think if you went to a studio and pitched the first 'Insidious,' it never would have gotten made because it was so offbeat.

- Jason Blum

Think, I Think, Studio, Offbeat

I think there's room for people to love 'Transformers' and love 'Insidious.' They coexist in a happy way; in other words, my movies wouldn't exist if 'Transformers' didn't exist, because they're an alternative to that. They're not better or worse, they're just different.

- Jason Blum

Love, Other, I Think, Coexist

When I was working for Miramax, before Sundance, a videotape of 'The Blair Witch Project' - of the full, completed movie - went to a lot of the buyers. And so we all saw it before the festival, and I passed, a bunch of people passed... Then I watched the movie marching toward success, and was reminded by my bosses what a dope I was.

- Jason Blum

Movie, Before, Buyers, Witch

We don't decide how a movie will be distributed until it's finished. It might be on iTunes, it might be on 3,000 theaters, but we make that decision after the fact.

- Jason Blum

Decision, Fact, Movie, Distributed

I think the location is almost as important as casting the leads of the movie. The location on 'The Purge' was crucial to that movie working.

- Jason Blum

Think, Important, I Think, Purge

Most of the most successful films Blumhouse has made have been rejected by everyone else. No one wanted to make 'Get Out.' Nobody. Nobody wanted to make 'The Purge.' I think it was floating around for three years before it came to us. Nobody wanted to make 'The Gift,' when it was a script called 'Weirdo.'

- Jason Blum

Gift, Been, I Think, Purge

The real scares on CNN, etc. and the scares in a movie, like 'The Purge,' are totally different. One of the ways you can tell when someone, whether it's a film maker or executive or producer, wants to make a scary movie but doesn't understand that distinction is they'll want to recreate too much of what's on TV.

- Jason Blum

Movie, TV, Distinction, Purge

In every art form, nothing exists in a bubble. It exists because of what came before it. A lot of bricks were laid. I think if it weren't for 'The Purge,' 'Get Out' wouldn't resonate as a mainstream movie. You push on the taste of the audience, in a way, get them used to something, and then you keep pushing on it.

- Jason Blum

Movie, I Think, Before, Purge

'The Purge' is really about America's crazy relationship to guns and guns gone wild, essentially, and it kind of laid the groundwork for 'Get Out.'

- Jason Blum

Kind, Guns, Laid, Purge

One of my favorite things about making horror movies is, the first time you screen them in front of an audience, it's very fun to hear people audibly react to the work you put into a movie. You don't wonder at the end of the movie whether it worked or not.

- Jason Blum

Movie, Very, About, Hear People

People complain about Hollywood movies being similar. That goes right down to the fundamental green light process, because the process involves having to compare it to three other movies.

- Jason Blum

Process, Compare, Similar, Green Light

The first thing I learned as a producer is that you have very little control over the life of a project. Anything can stall a film from financing to scheduling to casting. Things fall apart all the time. Don't waste time on something that just won't get made. Try to have as many projects going at one time as you can handle.

- Jason Blum

Waste Time, Very, Projects, Financing

I think being snobby about the kind of storytelling people do, it just irks me. It irks me. And in fact, it's one of the things that drives me to make as many horror movies as I do.

- Jason Blum

Think, Storytelling, I Think, Snobby

Great stories and acting always win the day. If the story behind the scares is dramatic and the filmmaking is great, it works. If those things aren't great and the scares are secondary, it doesn't.

- Jason Blum

Behind, Always, Stories, Secondary

My favorite thing about horror is that it attracts this great group of nuts, of which I include myself in. I was always kind of an oddball. I collected my fingernails, for instance.

- Jason Blum

Always, Include, Which, Attracts

I think scary movies work best when they're relatable, and I think one of the scariest things to young people now is bullying. Either doing it, being on the other end of it, being caught doing it.

- Jason Blum

Doing, Other, Caught, Scariest

You know how on movie sets there are specific chairs for each person? I hate that. We don't have names on our chairs. We have five chairs. Anyone can sit on them. I think the idea of names on chairs on a set is terrible. It's so dumb. So we got rid of that.

- Jason Blum

Movie, Idea, I Think, Chairs

I really love 'Poltergeist.' I think that's a great, terrific movie. I did really love the first 'Friday the 13th.' I thought that was such a crazy movie.

- Jason Blum

Love, Think, I Think, Friday

I wish that more people were willing to turn down upfront money in exchange for doing things that are more original. Turning down a seven-figure check has a ripple effect on the budget, which has a ripple effect on the storytelling. The higher the budget gets, the fewer storytelling risks you're able to take.

- Jason Blum

Doing, Storytelling, Upfront, Ripple

People don't call them horror movies, but Hitchcock, for me, is my favorite storyteller. He was really exploring dark themes, and I don't know what category you put his movies in. Thriller? Horror? Some of them go in either one.

- Jason Blum

Some, Thriller, Put, Category

There are movies that we have done that haven't come out very well. That doesn't feel very good. But 'Jem' is in a different category. I'm proud of the movie. I stand by the movie, but I'm obviously sorry it didn't do any better.

- Jason Blum

Proud, Movie, Very, Category

'Paranormal Activity' was the first of our independently made/studio-released films. It was also the ultimate low-budget high-concept movie, which is what we are always looking for. 'Paranormal Activity' was the genesis of our model, of which I am so proud.

- Jason Blum

Always, Which, Films, Genesis

I found that a lot of people ridiculed contemporary art. I decided I wanted to be involved in art everybody could understand.

- Jason Blum

Art, Everybody, Could, Contemporary Art

Growing up in the '70s and '80s when my dad had an art gallery, one of the things that frustrated me was the world seemed so tiny, and to appreciate contemporary art, you needed a history of art, a formal education. I was more interested in the people, and that's why I went into the movie business in the first place.

- Jason Blum

Education, Movie, Frustrated, Contemporary Art

The one thing I am very strict about is that I don't like spending a lot of money on movies because the more money you spend, I think the worse that they get.

- Jason Blum

Think, I Think, Very, Strict

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