Are Independent Movies a Good Investment?

Independent movies are rising in quality and popularity every year. Some of the best independant movies of 2016 will be difficult to top at upcoming film awards like the European Film Academy Awards. Independent movies still require a sizeable budget and a lot of time to produce, so are they a worthwhile investment?

Rising Demand

The public have fallen in love with independent films. Boyhood was a huge hit in 2014, winning three Golden Globes and it was nominated for six Academy Awards at the Oscars. It ended up winning best supporting actress. In the past, Indie films were regarded as risky with a niche audience. That has changed in recent years and people are far more likely to watch foreign films and independent films. Cinemas across the world are starting to show more Indie movies and have dedicated Indie nights, which is making them more mainstream. The increasing success of independent films means that investors and film makers have to less risk in 2017.

Online Streaming Services

Platforms like Netflix and Amazon have huge budgets and ambitions as they try to revolutionise the way we watch movies and TV series. They have been dominant figures at the Sundance Film Festival for the past few years. Streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon are more likely to invest in independent films than large studios because they aim to attract a wide audience to their platform. They have the freedom to take risks in their content as their services are not intended to appeal to everyone all the time. Similarly, people are more willing to try watching an Indie film on a streaming site than going to the cinema to watch one. This means the audience for independent films is widening even further.

Creative Freedom

Hollywood might be producing blockbusters but they are rarely original films. Hollywood movies tend to be formulaic and feature the same actors time and time again. Independent filmmakers have the chance to tell a new story and push the boundaries of cinematography. This can really pay off when the right audience is found and is one of the reasons indie films have become more popular.

Financial Risk

Despite their increasing popularity, independent films are still considered a risk. This is because many British films are not even featured in the US box office, so are missing the largest market for movies in the world. An independent film has even less to offer the US market, as typically the cast is made up of unknown actors. Success can be small which means the investment is not always returned. However, thanks to improvements in technology, independent films can be produced for a small budget which greatly reduces potential risks. Plus, large successes will make the investors a considerable amount of money.

Overall, independent movies do remain a risky investment but there is definitely more potential for them to succeed due to recent rises in their popularity. Streaming services are only helping to make independent films more popular.