The Asylum
Low-budget mockbusters that never lose money.
The Asylum is an American independent film production and distribution company based in Burbank, California. It produces low-budget direct-to-video films, in particular mockbusters, which capitalize on the popularity of major studio films with similar titles and premises.
Quick Facts
- Character
- Max Payne
- Role
- Protagonist
- Affiliation
- NYPD (former), vigilante
- First appears
- Max Payne (2001)
- Status
- Completed in campaign
Lore & Background
The Asylum was founded in 1997 by David Latt, David Rimawi, and Sherri Strain. Initially a distribution company for low-budget drama films, it switched to in-house productions in the mid-2000s. Its first release was Bellyfruit in 1999. The company's first hit film was Vampires vs. Zombies in 2004, considered its first mockbuster. In 2005, it released H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds the day before Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, after Blockbuster ordered 100,000 copies. Its greatest success came in 2013 with Sharknado, which went viral and spawned a franchise. In response, Syfy commissioned the zombie television series Z Nation, which ran for five seasons.
Reader's Guide
The Asylum produces as many low-budget films as quickly as possible, spending around four to six months per film. Films usually have a budget of $250,000 to $500,000 and earn $150,000 to $250,000 in profit. The company says it has never lost money on a film. It is not affiliated with any industry guilds other than SAG-AFTRA, and employees sometimes work up to 22 hours a day.
Did You Know?
- The Asylum's first release was the comedy drama Bellyfruit in 1999.
- The Asylum's first mockbuster was Vampires vs. Zombies in 2004.
- Sharknado, released in 2013, is the Asylum's biggest success and went viral with over 387,000 mentions on social media.
More in Story & Campaigns
Elsewhere in Max Payne
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced