2014 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Genres
By my count, Hwood studios, production companies, and financiers acquired 62 spec scripts in 2014. During this week, I’ll be breaking down those numbers.
Today we look at deals by genre. Some scripts are categorized as cross genres or sub-genres, so those are noted where relevant under their primary genre category.
Note: Genre designations are not scientific, so you have to understand these numbers are general.
2014 SPEC SCRIPT DEALS BY GENRE
ACTION — 17
Action — 3
Action Adventure — 3
Action Comedy — 2
Action Drama — 2
Action Fantasy — 1
Action Horror — 1
Action Thriller — 5
COMEDY — 12
Comedy — 10
Romantic Comedy — 2
DRAMA — 10
Drama — 5
Drama Thriller — 2
Dramedy — 1
Crime Drama — 1
Sports Drama — 1
SCI-FI — 9
Science Fiction — 8
Science Fiction Thriller — 1
THRILLER — 8
Thriller — 6
Spy Thriller — 1
Crime Thriller — 1
HORROR — 5
Horror — 2
Horror Thriller — 3
FANTASY — 2
Fantasy — 1
Fantasy Adventure — 2
Adventure Fantasy — 1
First let’s compare to 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
2008 (88 sales)
COMEDY 41
ACTION 13
DRAMA 12
THRILLER 10
FANTASY 3
SCIENCE FICTION 3
ADVENTURE 2
DISASTER 2
FAMILY 1
HORROR 1
2009 (68 sales)
COMEDY 26
THRILLER 12
ACTION 11
DRAMA 7
SCIENCE FICTION 4
ROMANTIC COMEDY 3
FAMILY 1
FANTASY 1
HEIST 1
HORROR 1
MURDER MYSTERY 1
2010 (55 sales)
COMEDY 16
ACTION 14
THRILLER 10
SCIENCE FICTION 7
DRAMA 4
FAMILY 2
FANTASY 1
MYSTERY 1
2011 (110 sales)
ACTION 29
THRILLER 20
COMEDY 19
DRAMA 14
SCIENCE FICTION 13
HORROR 8
FAMILY 2
FAIRY TALE 1
HEIST 1
SUPERNATURAL 1
WESTERN 1
2012 (99 sales)
ACTION 27
THRILLER 20
COMEDY 20
SCIENCE FICTION 12
DRAMA 10
HORROR 9
SUPERNATURAL 1
2013 (100 sales)
THRILLER 25
ACTION 20
COMEDY 18
DRAMA 17
SCIENCE FICTION 13
HORROR 3
WESTERN 2
DISASTER 1
FAMILY 1
* The first thing to note is how the total number of deals in 2014 is more akin to the 2008–2010 time-frame. There the average number of deals was 70. In 2014, the total was 62.
* Thriller had been the 2nd most represented genre in 2011 and 2012, then topped the list in 2013. Not so in 2014 clocking in at #5 on the list. Development slates already full of Thriller projects? Impact of underwhelming box office for some Thriller movies? Genre burn-out?
* After years of dominating spec script sales, Comedy had fallen considerably, but 2014 marked a comeback of sorts. This defies conventional wisdom which suggests Comedy is culturally specific, therefore, limiting international appeal. And with 70%+ of box office revenues coming from ‘overseas’, that is no small consideration. Evidently that attitude is in flux in Hollywood. Comedies stronger at the box office? Impact of so many great comic actors nowadays?
* The continued strength of spec script deals in the Drama genre is a surprise. A few years back, adult dramas were supposedly dead. Now for the last few years, dramas have been ‘resurrected’. Impact of Baby Boomers and Seniors at movie theaters?
* Again conventional wisdom takes it on the chin: In theory, writers doing a Science Fiction spec script were setting themselves up for failure primarily due to the fact that these projects often require bigger budgets (i.e., special effects, world building) However 9 spec Science Fiction projects get set up last year. Growth for the genre in global box office?
What do you think when you look at these numbers? Will they have any impact on what stories you choose to write in 2015?
Head over to comments to post your observations and analysis of the year in spec script deals.
Thanks to Wendy Jane Cohen for her help with this year’s spec script deals market analysis!