Can I sell my idea for a movie?
Yes, you can sell a movie idea, but not as a raw concept. Hollywood rarely buys simple ideas due to liability; you must sell a fully developed screenplay, treatment, or pitch deck. Production companies buy "execution," not just a premise. Focus on developing your idea into a script, creating a compelling pitch, and securing representation.Can you sell just an idea for a movie?
No, you generally cannot sell just a raw movie idea or premise, as the industry buys completed, formatted screenplays rather than concepts. Studios and producers avoid buying mere ideas due to legal liability and the need for a fleshed-out story. You must turn your idea into a script, treatment, or high-concept pitch.What is the 2.5 rule for movies?
The 2.5x rule is a film industry guideline stating that a movie must gross approximately 2.5 times its production budget at the box office to break even. This multiplier covers production costs, marketing expenses, and the roughly 50% revenue share taken by theaters. It is most accurate for high-budget films.How much can you get paid for a movie idea?
An unwritten movie idea, known as a "logline" or "pitch," is rarely purchased on its own because ideas cannot be copyrighted. Instead, writers sell screenplays (finished scripts) or treatments (detailed outlines). For a first-time writer, an original spec script might sell for $50,000–$100,000+, while seasoned writers can earn hundreds of thousands or seven figures per script.Who was the first actor to get $1,000,000 for a movie?
Elizabeth Taylor is widely recognized as the first actor to earn a $1 million salary for a single film role, specifically for her title role in the 1963 epic Cleopatra. While earlier stars, such as Charlie Chaplin ($1917, for an 8-film contract) and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle ($1920, for a yearly contract), earned million-dollar contracts or annual incomes earlier, Taylor was the first to break the $1 million threshold for a single movie contract.I Have An Idea For A Movie. How Do I Sell It? Screenwriting Tips & Advice from Writer Michael Jamin
Which actor refuses to kiss on screen?
Neal McDonough is the most prominent actor known for refusing to perform on-screen kissing or sex scenes with co-stars. A devout Catholic and married father of five, he cites his faith and respect for his wife, Ruvé Robertson, as the reasons, stating "these lips are meant for one woman".What movie took 48 years to make?
Welles passed away in 1985, but those closest to him made a promise to bring his final vision to life. After 48 years of production, "The Other Side of the Wind" finally gets unveiled.What movie took 7 years to make?
Several films are famous for taking roughly 7 years to produce. Key examples include the anime film Redline (2009), the fantasy film The Fall (2006), and the 2014 blockbuster The LEGO Movie. Other notable films with roughly 7-year, or similar extended, production times include:Who buys movie ideas?
Independent producers, production companies, and occasionally studios buy movie ideas, but usually only when developed into a polished script or a "package" (script, talent, budget). They look for unique, marketable concepts, often buying through agents or at industry events. Independent producers are the most common buyers, as they actively search for new material to develop.What movie took 29 years to make?
The animated film The Thief and the Cobbler (originally conceived around 1964, produced from roughly 1968 to 1993) is widely recognized for holding the record for the longest production time, taking nearly 29 to 31 years to complete. Directed by Richard Williams, the film faced immense funding hurdles, was plagued by production delays, and was eventually finished by a different studio.What is the biggest flop in history?
John Carter (2012) is widely considered the biggest box-office flop of all time, with estimated losses around $200–$280 million, following a massive budget and poor marketing. Other historic failures include The Lone Ranger (2013), Mars Needs Moms (2011), and The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), which all suffered significant financial losses.What movie cost $1 billion to make?
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is widely reported to be the world's first movie with a production budget reaching or exceeding $1 billion, driven by massive VFX costs and over $250 million in cast salaries, including Robert Downey Jr.'s return. Previously, the highest production costs were for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame ($1 billion combined).Will Netflix buy my story?
that we do not specifically request. If you have an idea, game, script, screenplay, or production already in development that you'd like to pitch to Netflix, you must work through a licensed agent, producer, attorney, manager, or industry executive, as appropriate, who already has a relationship with Netflix.What movie script was sold for $1?
Gale Anne Hurd bought the rights to The Terminator from James Cameron for one dollar. Gale Anne Hurd, who had worked at New World Pictures as Roger Corman's assistant, showed interest in the project.What can I do if I have an idea for a movie?
With a movie idea, your first steps are to document it, evaluate its commercial potential, and protect your intellectual property. Start by writing a logline (a 1-2 sentence summary) and a one-page synopsis, then register it with the WGA, develop a full script or pitch deck, and begin networking to get it in front of producers.What movie took 100 years to make?
100 Years: The Movie You Will Never See is an experimental film written by and starring John Malkovich that was filmed in 2015 but is locked in a high-tech safe, scheduled to be released on November 18, 2115. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, it is a marketing project for Louis XIII Cognac, which takes 100 years to create.Which 3 movies got 17 Oscars?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy won a combined 17 Oscars—4 by The Fellowship of the Ring, 2 by The Two Towers, and a historic 11 (including the Oscars for best picture and best director) by The Return of the King.What was the hardest movie to animate?
The Thief and the Cobbler is widely considered one of the hardest films to animate due to its 29-year, unfinished production. Other famously difficult films include Pixar's Elemental (extreme rendering needs) and Disney's Sleeping Beauty (complex artistic style).What if I invested $1000 in Netflix 10 years ago?
A $1,000 investment in Netflix (NFLX) made 10 years ago would be worth approximately $8,600 to over $14,000 as of late 2024–early 2026, representing an roughly 800% to over 1,300% return. The massive growth was driven by Netflix's evolution from a DVD-rental service into a dominant global streaming platform.How much does Amazon pay for a movie script?
How much does Amazon pay for a script? The WGA reports that the median pay for a screenplay deal with Amazon in the past was $300,000, and the highest salary was reported as $5,000,000. Rewrite deals are the second most common screenwriting for traditional studios and streaming platforms.Is 300 million a lot for a movie to make?
The 21st century has so far seen the $300 million and $400 million thresholds crossed and it has become normal for a tent-pole feature from a major film studio to cost over $200 million, and an increasing number of films now cost more than $300 million.What actor has the most $100 million movies?
Cruise holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies, a feat achieved with eleven films released between 2012 and 2025.What Disney movie took 20 years to make?
It Took Walt Disney More Than 20 Years to Make 'Mary Poppins' With hesitation from author P.L. Travers, Disney devoted two decades to bring the nanny that is "practically perfect in every way" to the silver screen.What movie wakes up 90 years early?
Passengers. A malfunction in a sleeping pod on a spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet wakes one passenger 90 years early.
← Previous question
Who was hot in 2012?
Who was hot in 2012?
Next question →
How does J. Lo stay so fit?
How does J. Lo stay so fit?