Whitney Skillman

Professor Thome

CTV 636

February 9, 2023

The Company That Financed ‘Joker’ Is Getting Out of the Blockbuster Business

BRON, a Canadian investment studio previously known for financing blockbuster films, is
pivoting to digital offerings to recoup investments in a post-COVID theatrical slump.

Although BRON realized tremendous success with films like Joker and Licorice Pizza, it
lost money on other big-budget films that sold to streaming services while COVID kept
everyone indoors. In a post-COVID society, films greenlit prior to the pandemic haven’t been
able to deliver the theatrical punch audiences crave, forcing BRON to reimagine and
restructure.

Digital isn’t new to BRON, but this new focus is. With an in-house digital staff of 65 and
more than 130 digital staff worldwide, BRON hopes to follow in the successful footsteps of
fellow investors, Annapurna. After a string of similar losses on blockbuster films, Annapurna is
realizing a greater roi with its current video game and musical holdings.

Even as BRON searches for partners to support its digital venture, it will continue to
offer film financing as part of its portfolio but is dropping decadent Hollywood budgets in favor
of ambitious lo-fi narratives. Small films such as Moonlight prove that big success doesn’t
always equal big money and that larger returns can be achieved with smaller price tags.
 Skillman, 2

Reference

Kohn, Eric. “The Company That Financed 'Joker' Is Getting out of the Blockbuster Business
(Column).” IndieWire, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2022,
https://www.indiewire.com/2022/08/bron-layoffs-film-financing-future-1234755634/.