FEAR & GREED | Business News Hollywood investing: it's not all red carpets and blockbusters
Jan 8, 2026
Stefan von Imhoff, co-founder of Alts.co and alternative investments expert, dives deep into the less glamorous side of film investing. He reveals why equity stakes in movies can be highly risky, often likening their success rates to startups. Horror films, surprisingly, offer a lucrative alternative due to their low production costs. The conversation also highlights the impact of Hollywood accounting on profits, strategic consolidation in the industry, and innovative financing methods like gap loans supported by tax credits.
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Film Equity Is Highly Risky
- Investing in film equity is very risky and resembles startup investing in success rate.
- Hollywood accounting and few breakout winners make returns much lower than box-office feels suggest.
Why Horror Can Outperform
- Horror films often deliver better investment outcomes because they cost little to produce yet can generate big returns.
- Low production values can still scare audiences and produce huge home runs within the genre.
Box Office Doesn't Equal Profit
- Popularity and box-office receipts can diverge sharply from net profitability due to Hollywood accounting.
- Many acclaimed or widely seen films still show no profit on paper after studio accounting.