The Asylum
Encyclopedia
The Asylum is an American
film studio and distributor
which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video
productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbuster
s" by the press.
genre, but were unable to find a market due to competition from major studios, such as Lions Gate Entertainment
. In 2005, the company produced a low-budget adaptation of H. G. Wells
' The War of the Worlds
, which was released in the same year as Steven Spielberg
's adaptation of the same material
. Blockbuster Inc. ordered 100,000 copies of The Asylum's adaptation, a significantly larger order than any of the company's previous releases, resulting in Latt and Rimawi reconsidering their business model.
In 2007, similarities between the distributor's titles and those of major studios were reported. For example, the film Transmorphers
bears a number of similarities to the film Transformers, which was released theatrically two days after the release of Transmorphers. According to Latt, "I'm not trying to dupe anybody. I'm just trying to get my films watched. Other people do tie-ins all the time; they’re just better at being subtle about it. Another studio might make a giant robot movie that ties into the Transformers release and call it Robot Wars
. We’ll call ours Transmorphers." In 2008, 20th Century Fox
threatened legal action against The Asylum over The Day the Earth Stopped
, a film capitalizing on The Day the Earth Stood Still
.
, it took longer because it was shot in Belize
). Filming takes an average of 12 to 15 pages of the script a day.
s and "mockbuster
s". Latt prefers the term "tie-ins" to "mockbusters", stating that The Asylum's productions, even those that capitalize on major releases, contain original stories. Latt states that the studio plans its productions around the word of mouth
of the financial prospects of upcoming films. The studio's films are usually released on video shortly before the theatrical release of a major studio film with similar themes or storylines.
The Asylum has also produced films with strong religious
themes. For example, The Apocalypse was initially developed as a straightforward disaster film
in the style of Deep Impact
, but Latt states that certain buyers wanted the company to develop a religious film. As a result, the company consulted priest
s and rabbi
s in order to incorporate faith
-based elements. The division Faith Films was created in order to distribute titles with such themes. Sunday School Musical
was produced after The Asylum staff attended a seminar for marketing to a Christian audience, and the seminar's host suggested that the perfect film would be a Christian version of High School Musical
.
The Asylum productions sometimes feature more overt sexuality or graphic violence than their major studio counterparts, because The Asylum's releases are not in competition with films rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America
. Rolf Potts of The New York Times
described Transmorphers as having "no recognizable actors, no merchandising tie-ins and a garbled sound mix
. Also unlike Transformers, it has cheap special effect
s and a subplot involving lesbian
s."
The 2008 release Death Racers
featured the hip hop
group Insane Clown Posse
and wrestler Scott "Raven" Levy
in major roles. The 2011 release Mega Python vs. Gatoroid
starred Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film studio and distributor
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbuster
Mockbuster
A mockbuster is a film created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme and are often made with a low budget. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or...
s" by the press.
History
The Asylum was founded by former Village Roadshow executives David Rimawi, Sherri Strain, and director David Michael Latt in 1997. The company focused on producing straight-to-video low-budget films, usually in the horrorHorror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
genre, but were unable to find a market due to competition from major studios, such as Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
. In 2005, the company produced a low-budget adaptation of H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
' The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
, which was released in the same year as Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's adaptation of the same material
War of the Worlds (2005 film)
War of the Worlds is a 2005 American science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It is one of three film adaptations of War of the Worlds released that year, alongside The Asylum's version and...
. Blockbuster Inc. ordered 100,000 copies of The Asylum's adaptation, a significantly larger order than any of the company's previous releases, resulting in Latt and Rimawi reconsidering their business model.
In 2007, similarities between the distributor's titles and those of major studios were reported. For example, the film Transmorphers
Transmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
bears a number of similarities to the film Transformers, which was released theatrically two days after the release of Transmorphers. According to Latt, "I'm not trying to dupe anybody. I'm just trying to get my films watched. Other people do tie-ins all the time; they’re just better at being subtle about it. Another studio might make a giant robot movie that ties into the Transformers release and call it Robot Wars
Robot Wars (film)
Robot Wars is a 1993 American science fiction film directed by Albert Band and written by Charles Band and Jackson Barr.It has been listed sometimes as a sequel to Robot Jox, but is not a real sequel, story-wise...
. We’ll call ours Transmorphers." In 2008, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
threatened legal action against The Asylum over The Day the Earth Stopped
The Day the Earth Stopped
The Day the Earth Stopped is a 2008 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American studio The Asylum, directed by and starring C. Thomas Howell...
, a film capitalizing on The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film)
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 science fiction film, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The screenplay is based on the 1940 classic science fiction short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, and the 1951 screenplay adaptation by Edmund H...
.
Production
The Asylum work schedule is typically four months from decision to create a title to finished product, with the script finished within four to six weeks. Pre-production is afforded only a few weeks, production is "a couple of weeks" (In the case of Mega PiranhaMega Piranha
Mega Piranha is a 2010 science fiction disaster film produced by The Asylum.It was directed by Eric Forsberg and stars Tiffany, Paul Logan and Barry Williams...
, it took longer because it was shot in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
). Filming takes an average of 12 to 15 pages of the script a day.
Output
The Asylum's usual budget for a production is reportedly "well under a million dollars", and it typically breaks even after about three months. The Asylum has never lost money on a film. The studio's productions have been called B movieB movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s and "mockbuster
Mockbuster
A mockbuster is a film created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme and are often made with a low budget. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or...
s". Latt prefers the term "tie-ins" to "mockbusters", stating that The Asylum's productions, even those that capitalize on major releases, contain original stories. Latt states that the studio plans its productions around the word of mouth
Word of mouth
Word of mouth, or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person by oral communication. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and...
of the financial prospects of upcoming films. The studio's films are usually released on video shortly before the theatrical release of a major studio film with similar themes or storylines.
The Asylum has also produced films with strong religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
themes. For example, The Apocalypse was initially developed as a straightforward disaster film
Disaster film
A disaster film is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject...
in the style of Deep Impact
Deep Impact (film)
Deep Impact is a 1998 science-fiction disaster-drama film released by Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks in the United States on May 8, 1998. The film was directed by Mimi Leder and stars Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Téa Leoni, and Morgan Freeman...
, but Latt states that certain buyers wanted the company to develop a religious film. As a result, the company consulted priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s and rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s in order to incorporate faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
-based elements. The division Faith Films was created in order to distribute titles with such themes. Sunday School Musical
Sunday School Musical
Sunday School Musical is a musical film mockbuster released direct-to-DVD on October 21, 2008. It is similar to Disney's High School Musical franchise, but the film takes a dramatically different approach in terms of storyline.- Plot :...
was produced after The Asylum staff attended a seminar for marketing to a Christian audience, and the seminar's host suggested that the perfect film would be a Christian version of High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
.
The Asylum productions sometimes feature more overt sexuality or graphic violence than their major studio counterparts, because The Asylum's releases are not in competition with films rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
. Rolf Potts of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described Transmorphers as having "no recognizable actors, no merchandising tie-ins and a garbled sound mix
Audio mixing (film and television)
Audio mixing for film and television is a process during the post-production stage of a moving image program by which a multitude of recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels...
. Also unlike Transformers, it has cheap special effect
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s and a subplot involving lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
s."
The 2008 release Death Racers
Death Racers
Death Racers is an American B movie directed by Roy Knyrim. Released direct-to-video on September 16, 2008, the film stars the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse and wrestler Scott "Raven" Levy.-Plot:...
featured the hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
and wrestler Scott "Raven" Levy
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
in major roles. The 2011 release Mega Python vs. Gatoroid
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid is a 2011 monster disaster film by The Asylum, directed by Mary Lambert, and starring pop singers Debbie Gibson and Tiffany. The film premiered theatrically in Texas and premiered on television on January 29, 2011 on Syfy in the United States. The film was released on home...
starred Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
.
List of mockbusters
| Major release | Asylum's release | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Freddy vs. Jason Freddy vs. Jason Freddy vs. Jason is a 2003 American slasher film directed by Ronny Yu. The film is a crossover between the A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises... |
Vampires vs. Zombies Vampires Vs. Zombies Vampires vs. Zombies is an indie horror movie, loosely based upon J. Sheridan Le Fanu's classic 1872 novel Carmilla. Unlike Le Fanu's story, however, most of the action in the film takes place inside a car.... |
2004 |
| King Kong King Kong (2005 film) King Kong is a 2005 fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson. It is a remake of the 1933 film of the same name and stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. Andy Serkis, through performance capture, portrays Kong.... |
King of the Lost World King of the Lost World King of the Lost World is a 2005 film produced by The Asylum. The film is a very loose adaptation of The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, but the film bears a closer resemblance to the remake of King Kong released in the same year, particularly as both center on a... |
2005 |
| War of the Worlds War of the Worlds (2005 film) War of the Worlds is a 2005 American science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It is one of three film adaptations of War of the Worlds released that year, alongside The Asylum's version and... |
H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds | 2005 |
| The Da Vinci Code The Da Vinci Code (film) The Da Vinci Code is a 2006 American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard. The screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman and based on Dan Brown's worldwide bestselling 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code... |
The Da Vinci Treasure The Da Vinci Treasure The Da Vinci Treasure is a 2006 mystery film produced by American studio The Asylum, and directed by Peter Mervis.The film shares its title and several of its plot elements with The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which had been released as a film adaptation in the same month.-Plot:The film centres on... |
2006 |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a 2006 adventure fantasy film and the second film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, following Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl . It was directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by... |
Pirates of Treasure Island Pirates of Treasure Island Pirates of Treasure Island is a 2006 American comedy-drama film produced by The Asylum, loosely adaptated from Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island.... |
2006 |
| Snakes on a Plane Snakes on a Plane Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America... |
Snakes on a Train Snakes on a Train Snakes on a Train is an action/horror Z movie released direct to DVD by The Asylum on August 15, 2006.Continuing The Asylum's notoriety of capitalizing on major films with low-budget films with similar titles and plots , many aspects of the film are inspired by the film Snakes on a Plane which was... |
2006 |
| Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | AVH: Alien vs Hunter | 2007 |
| Transformers | Transmorphers Transmorphers Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers... |
2007 |
| I Am Legend | I Am Ωmega I Am Omega I Am Ωmega is a 2007 direct-to-DVD American doomsday film produced by The Asylum and starring Mark Dacascos of Iron Chef America.The film is an unofficial adaptation of the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, the title being a portmanteau of The Omega Man and 2007's I Am Legend with Will Smith,... |
2007 |
| Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls Allan Quatermain and the Temple of Skulls is a 2008 direct-to-DVD adventure film created by American studio The Asylum. The film follows the adventures of explorer Allan Quatermain, and was filmed entirely on location in South Africa... |
2008 |
| High School Musical 3: Senior Year High School Musical 3: Senior Year High School Musical 3: Senior Year is a 2008 American romantic musical film and the third and final installment in the High School Musical trilogy. Its theatrical release in the United States began on October 24, 2008... |
Sunday School Musical Sunday School Musical Sunday School Musical is a musical film mockbuster released direct-to-DVD on October 21, 2008. It is similar to Disney's High School Musical franchise, but the film takes a dramatically different approach in terms of storyline.- Plot :... |
2008 |
| The Day the Earth Stood Still The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008 film) The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 science fiction film, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The screenplay is based on the 1940 classic science fiction short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, and the 1951 screenplay adaptation by Edmund H... |
The Day the Earth Stopped The Day the Earth Stopped The Day the Earth Stopped is a 2008 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American studio The Asylum, directed by and starring C. Thomas Howell... |
2008 |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 2007 film Transformers and the second installment in the live-action Transformers series... |
Transmorphers: Fall of Man Transmorphers: Fall of Man Transmorphers: Fall of Man is a 2009 direct-to-DVD science fiction film produced by the American film studio The Asylum. It is a prequel to the 2007 film Transmorphers.... |
2009 |
| Terminator Salvation Terminator Salvation Terminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting... |
The Terminators The Terminators (film) Not to be confused with The Terminator, despite the developers' best efforts.The Terminators is a science fiction film by The Asylum. Though the film's title is deliberately similar to the 1984 film The Terminator, the events in the film's storyline are more similar to 1973's Westworld and the 2004... |
2009 |
| Avatar | Princess of Mars Princess of Mars Princess of Mars is a 2009 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American independent studio The Asylum, based on the 1917 novel A Princess of Mars by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. The novel shares some elements with James Cameron's Avatar, as mentioned on the film's promotional art... |
2009 |
| Paranormal Activity | Paranormal Entity Paranormal Entity Paranormal Entity is an American horror film produced by The Asylum in 2009. It is one of many films dubbed as a "mockbuster", a movie designed to capitalize on the success of a higher budget film. Paranormal Entity is a mockbuster of the successful low-budget horror film Paranormal Activity. The... |
2009 |
| Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes (2009 film) Sherlock Holmes is a 2009 action-mystery film based on the character of the same name created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The film was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin. The screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon... |
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes (2010 film) Sherlock Holmes is a 2010 direct-to-DVD mystery film directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, produced by independent American film studio The Asylum and released by British distributor Revolver Entertainment. It is based on the Sherlock Holmes characters created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle... |
2010 |
| Piranha 3D | Mega Piranha Mega Piranha Mega Piranha is a 2010 science fiction disaster film produced by The Asylum.It was directed by Eric Forsberg and stars Tiffany, Paul Logan and Barry Williams... |
2010 |
| Battle: Los Angeles Battle: Los Angeles Battle: Los Angeles is a 2011 American military science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo and Michael Peña... |
Battle of Los Angeles Battle of Los Angeles (film) Battle of Los Angeles is a science fiction action comedy film by The Asylum, which premiered on the Syfy cable TV channel on Saturday March 12, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. EST and was released to DVD the following Tuesday... |
2011 |
| Thor Thor (film) Thor is a 2011 American superhero film based on the comic book character of the same name published by Marvel Comics. It is the fourth film released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe... |
Almighty Thor Almighty Thor Almighty Thor is a fantasy action film by The Asylum loosely based on Norse mythology, which premiered on the Syfy cable network on May 7, 2011 and was released on DVD on May 10, 2011 in the United States. The film is directed by Christopher Ray and is a mockbuster intending to "cash in" on the... |
2011 |
| Fast Five Fast Five (film) Fast Five is a 2011 action film written by Chris Morgan and directed by Justin Lin. It is the fifth installment in the Fast and the Furious film series. It was released first in Australia on April 20, 2011, and then in the United States on April 29, 2011... |
200 mph 200 mph 200 mph is an auto racing action film by The Asylum, released direct-to-DVD April 26, 2011. It is a mockbuster of the 2011 Universal Pictures film Fast Five.-Plot:... |
2011 |