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Jason Blum

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Not to be confused with Jason Blume.

Jason Blum
Blum in April 2025
Born (1969-02-20) February 20, 1969 (age 56)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationProducer
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Lauren A. E. Schuker
​
​
(m. 2012)​
RelativesShirley Neilsen Blum (mother)

Jason Ferus Blum (/blʌm/;[1] born February 20, 1969) is an American producer. He is the founder and CEO of Blumhouse Productions, best known for horror franchises such as Paranormal Activity (2007–2021), Insidious (2010–2023), The Purge (2013–2021), and Halloween (2018–2022).

Other Blumhouse films include Sinister (2012), Oculus (2013), Whiplash (2014), The Gallows (2015), The Gift (2015), Hush (2016), Split (2016), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Get Out (2017), Happy Death Day (2017), Upgrade (2018), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Us (2019), The Invisible Man (2020), Freaky (2020), The Black Phone (2021), M3GAN (2022), Five Nights at Freddy's (2023), and Speak No Evil (2024).

Blum received Academy Award for Best Picture nominations for Whiplash, Get Out, and BlacKkKlansman. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie for the drama film The Normal Heart (2014) and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series for the documentary miniseries The Jinx (2015).

Early life

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Jason Ferus Blum[2] was born in Los Angeles[3] on February 20, 1969,[4] the son of art professor Shirley Neilsen Blum (née Neilsen) and independent art dealer Irving Blum. His father served as director of the Ferus Gallery.[5][6] He is of Jewish descent.[7][8] He graduated from New York's Vassar College in 1991.[9] He was a roommate of future filmmaker Noah Baumbach during his time there, and later produced Baumbach's first film Kicking and Screaming (1995).[10][11]

Career

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Blum found work as an executive for Bob and Harvey Weinstein at their production company Miramax, and later as an independent producer for Paramount Pictures. Prior to his tenure at Miramax, he was a producing director at the Malaparte theater company in New York.[12] He is a member of the board of trustees of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.[13] He obtained financing for his first film as producer, Kicking and Screaming (1995), after asking family friend Steve Martin to read the script and write a letter endorsing it if he enjoyed it.[14] After Martin obliged, Blum replaced the title page of the script with copies of Martin's letter before he sent the script to Hollywood executives.[14]

In 2000, Blum founded Blumhouse Productions, which is known for producing micro-budget films that give directors full creative control.[12] Bloomberg News praised him for making "blockbusters for pennies",[15] the first example of which came with the horror film Paranormal Activity (2007), which became one of the most profitable films of all time as it grossed nearly $200 million on a $15,000 budget.[16] In addition, Planet Money released a special podcast episode about the company's methods, referring to Blum as the "business genius behind Get Out".[17]

Blum also produced Insidious (2010), Sinister (2012), The Purge (2013) and Happy Death Day (2017), as well as their sequels.[18] In 2014, he served as executive producer for the television film The Normal Heart, which went on to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. In 2015, he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series for HBO's The Jinx.[19] BlacKkKlansman, Whiplash, and Get Out, all produced by Blum, were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.[20]

In 2018, Blum said in an interview that the reason no woman had ever directed a Blumhouse horror film was that "there are not a lot of female directors [...] and even less who are inclined to do horror", but said that he hoped to one day achieve this goal.[21] After much criticism on social media, in which lists of such directors were widely circulated,[22] he apologized for what he called his "dumb comments".[23] Sophia Takal co-wrote and directed the Blumhouse horror remake Black Christmas (2019), the studio's first theatrically released film by a female director.[24][25]

Other ventures

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Politics

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In June 2018, Blum told Variety that his upcoming prequel The First Purge would deal with racial tensions in the U.S. and said that all of the films in The Purge franchise have a political slant, giving examples such as the first film primarily being a parable about gun control and the third film addressing class warfare.[26] He said, "[Horror] reaches an audience in which politics may not be front of mind and it makes politics front of mind. The Purge reaches an audience that isn't thinking of gun control every day and might start thinking of gun control. If every time there's a shooting in the United States, the government's answer is put more guns in people's hands, then what The Purge is showing doesn't seem all that crazy. Donald Trump keeps saying 'give teachers guns'. I could see him saying 'let people shoot whoever they want to for 12 hours a year'."[26]

In November 2018, Blum (who is of Jewish heritage) attended the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles to accept an award for Achievement in Film and Television.[7][8] In his acceptance speech, he said, "A lot is on the line [in the midterms]. The last two years have been hard for all of us who cherish the freedom as citizens of this country. The great thing about this country is that you can like Trump, but I don't have to, and I can say what I feel about it—and I don't like it."[7][8] He was heavily booed, to which he responded, "As you can see from this auditorium, it's the end of civil discourse. We have a president who calls the press the enemy of the people. Thanks to our president, antisemitism is on the rise."[7][8] Yossi Dina tried unsuccessfully to pull Blum off the stage.[7][8] Blum later tweeted the full speech, which said in part, "Nationalism is surging. Dog whistle politics are rampant and antisemitism is on the rise in ways my generation never thought imaginable."[7][8] He received support from fellow Jews such as Judd Apatow and Jamie Lee Curtis,[7][8] whilst festival director Meir Fenigstein stated that the audience "greatly lacked respect" and "turned an evening of celebration and recognition into something else" by booing him.[7][8]

Business

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On August 14, 2020, Daily Front Row listed Blum as one of a group of high-profile investors who purchased failing fashion magazine W.[27]

After appearing on an episode of Shark Tank, Blum made a deal with American Immersion Theater, the leading immersive theater company in the U.S.[28]

Blum sits on the boards of the Public Theater in New York, the Sundance Institute, Vassar College, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Charity

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In 2022, Blum donated $10 million to Vassar College, which was noted as the largest gift ever given to the college from a male alumnus.[29]

Personal life

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Blum married journalist Lauren A. E. Schuker in Los Angeles on July 14, 2012.[5] They currently reside in a townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, which he purchased for $9.8 million in 2019.[30]

Filmography

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See also: List of Blumhouse Productions projects

Film

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Universal Pictures

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Year Title Director Notes
2013 The Purge James DeMonaco
2014 Not Safe for Work Joe Johnston
The Purge: Anarchy James DeMonaco
Mockingbird Bryan Bertino
Mercy Peter Cornwell
Stretch Joe Carnahan
Ouija Stiles White
Unfriended Leo Gabriadze Executive producer
2015 The Boy Next Door Rob Cohen
Visions Kevin Greutert
The Visit M. Night Shyamalan
Curve Iain Softley
Jem and the Holograms Jon M. Chu
2016 The Veil Phil Joanou Direct-to-video
The Purge: Election Year James DeMonaco
Split M. Night Shyamalan
Ouija: Origin of Evil Mike Flanagan
2017 Get Out Jordan Peele
Stephanie Akiva Goldsman
The Keeping Hours Karen Moncrieff
Happy Death Day Christopher Landon
2018 Insidious: The Last Key Adam Robitel
Unfriended: Dark Web Stephen Susco Through OTL Releasing
Upgrade Leigh Whannell
Truth or Dare Jeff Wadlow
Delirium Dennis Iliadis Direct-to-video
The First Purge Gerard McMurray
Halloween David Gordon Green
Seven in Heaven Chris Eigeman
2019 Glass M. Night Shyamalan
Don't Let Go Jacob Aaron Estes Through OTL Releasing
Sweetheart J. D. Dillard
Happy Death Day 2U Christopher Landon
Us Jordan Peele
Ma Tate Taylor
Black Christmas Sophia Takal
2020 The Invisible Man Leigh Whannell
The Hunt Craig Zobel
You Should Have Left David Koepp
Freaky Christopher Landon
2021 The Forever Purge Everardo Gout
This Is The Night James DeMonaco
Halloween Kills David Gordon Green
2022 Firestarter Keith Thomas
The Black Phone Scott Derrickson
Halloween Ends David Gordon Green
2023 M3GAN Gerard Johnstone
The Exorcist: Believer David Gordon Green
Five Nights at Freddy's Emma Tammi
2024 Night Swim Bryce McGuire
Speak No Evil James Watkins
2025 Wolf Man Leigh Whannell
The Woman in the Yard Jaume Collet-Serra
Drop Christopher Landon
M3GAN 2.0 Gerard Johnstone Post-production
Black Phone 2 Scott Derrickson Post-production
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Emma Tammi Post-production
2026 SOULM8TE Kate Dolan Post-production

Paramount Pictures

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Lionsgate Films

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Year Title Director Notes
2012 Sinister Scott Derrickson
The Bay Barry Levinson With Roadside Attractions
2014 Jessabelle Kevin Greutert
2019 The Gallows Act II Chris Lofing
Travis Cluff
2024 Imaginary Jeff Wadlow

Focus Features

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Year Title Director Notes
2015 Insidious: Chapter 3 Leigh Whannell With Gramercy Pictures
Sinister 2 Ciarán Foy
2016 In a Valley of Violence Ti West
2018 BlacKkKlansman Spike Lee
Bathtubs Over Broadway Dava Whisenant Executive producer
2022 Vengeance B. J. Novak

Sony Pictures Releasing

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Year Title Director Notes
2014 Whiplash Damien Chazelle Through Sony Pictures Classics
2020 Fantasy Island Jeff Wadlow
The Craft: Legacy Zoe Lister-Jones
2023 Insidious: The Red Door Patrick Wilson
2024 Afraid Chris Weitz

Netflix

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Amazon MGM Studios

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FilmDistrict

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The Weinsteins

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Other

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Actor

  • Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021) (Documentary film, himself)[31]

Television

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Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result
2010 25th Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Paranormal Activity Nominated
2014 66th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Television Movie The Normal Heart Won
2015 72nd Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
26th Producers Guild of America Awards Best Long-Form Television Nominated
Best Theatrical Motion Picture Whiplash Nominated
4th AACTA International Awards Best Film Nominated
30th Independent Spirit Awards Best Film Nominated
87th Academy Awards Best Picture Nominated
67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series The Jinx Won
2016 27th Producers Guild of America Awards Best Non-Fiction Television Won
2017 Gotham Independent Film Awards 2017 Best Feature Get Out Nominated
2018 75th Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated
29th Producers Guild of America Awards Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated
33rd Independent Spirit Awards Best Film Won
90th Academy Awards Best Picture Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards 2018 Breakthrough Series – Long Form Sharp Objects Nominated
2019 76th Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Drama BlackKklansman Nominated
Best Miniseries or Television Film Sharp Objects Nominated
30th Producers Guild of America Awards Best Limited Series Television Nominated
Best Theatrical Motion Picture BlackKklansman Nominated
72nd British Academy Film Awards Best Film Nominated
91st Academy Awards Best Picture Nominated
71st Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited Series Sharp Objects Nominated
2020 77th Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film The Loudest Voice Nominated
2021 41st Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Picture Fantasy Island Nominated
2022 75th Locarno Film Festival Premio Raimondo Rezzonico (Best Independent Producer) Himself Won
2024 44th Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Picture The Exorcist: Believer Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Five Favorite Horror Films: Jason Blum". Rotten Tomatoes. October 15, 2018. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  2. ^ Brady, Tara (March 16, 2017). "Jason Blum, the man who made $193m on a $15,000 film budget". The Irish Times. "Jason Ferus Blum was born in LA in 1969 to Shirley Neilsen, an art professor, and Irving Blum, an art dealer"
  3. ^ Bhattacharji, Alex (July 16, 2018). "How Producer Jason Blum is Disrupting Hollywood". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018. Closed access icon
  4. ^ "Jason Blum". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Weddings/Celebrations - Lauren Schuker and Jason Blum". The New York Times. July 15, 2012. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Blum, Shirley". Dictionary of Art Historians. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018. the couple (Hopps), along with the artist Edward Kienholz founded the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles in 1957.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jewish producer booed off LA Israeli film festival stage for anti-Trump remarks". The Times of Israel.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Get Out producer booed off stage at Israeli film festival for criticising Trump". TheGuardian.com. November 8, 2018.
  9. ^ Hertz, Larry (February 27, 2020). "Award Winning Film and TV Producer Jason Blum '91 to Deliver Commencement Address - Stories - Vassar College". Vassar.edu. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "How I Made It: Jason Blum, film producer". Los Angeles Times. November 27, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Macaulay, Scott (January 25, 2017). "Working Through Fear: An Interview with Blumhouse's Jason Blum | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "About Blumhouse Productions". Blumhouse.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013.
  13. ^ "Academy Museum Names New Board of Trustees | Hollywood Reporter". Hollywood Reporter. December 5, 2017. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "I am Jason Blum, producer of Paranormal Activity, The Purge and Insidious: Chapter2". Reddit. June 18, 2013. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  15. ^ "Jason Blum, the Penny-Pinching Horror Movie Maestro". Bloomberg.com. April 25, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Paranormal Activity (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "Episode 650: The Business Genius Behind Get Out". NPR.org. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Q&A: Producer Jason Blum talks "OUIJA", "PURGE 3", "CURVE" & More…". Fangoria. February 4, 2015. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  19. ^ "2015 - 67th Emmy Awards". www.emmys.com. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Oscar Nominations: 'Grand Budapest Hotel' & 'Birdman' Lead Way With 9 Noms; 'Imitation Game' Scores 8". Deadline. January 15, 2015. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  21. ^ Patches, Matt (October 18, 2018). "Blumhouse has never produced a theatrically released horror movie directed by a woman — but hopes to". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  22. ^ Nyren, Erin (October 18, 2018). "Jason Blum Says He's Meeting With Women Directors After Claiming 'There Aren't a Lot'". Variety. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  23. ^ Lussier, Germain (October 19, 2018). "Halloween Producer Jason Blum Has Apologized for His Ridiculous Comments About Women Directors". io9. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  24. ^ Kohn, Eric (December 7, 2018). "Blumhouse Hires Another Woman Director: Sophia Takal's All-Female Horror Movie". Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  25. ^ Mendehlson, Scott (December 14, 2019). "Friday Box Office: 'Richard Jewell' And 'Black Christmas' Flop, 'Uncut Gems' And 'Bombshell' Break Out". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  26. ^ a b https://variety.com/2018/film/news/get-out-2-jason-blum-a-quiet-place-1202855309/
  27. ^ Spangler, Todd (August 14, 2020). "Karlie Kloss Leads Buyout of W Magazine, With Jason Blum Among New Owners". Variety. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  28. ^ Couch, Aaron (September 19, 2024). "Blumhouse Inks Deal With 'Shark Tank' Contestant American Immersion Theater". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  29. ^ "Good News: Jason Blum Donated $10 Million to Vassar". June 17, 2022.
  30. ^ Keil, Jennifer Gould (July 24, 2019). "Producer Jason Blum shells out $10M for Brooklyn townhouse". NY Post. Archived from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  31. ^ Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021). Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via www.blu-ray.com.
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