Hollywood’s search for the next breakout horror IP from the YouTube ecosystem has officially landed on its latest target: The Mandela Catalogue.
Following the massive crossover success of recent YouTube-originated genre hits like Obsession and Backrooms, a major studio bidding war has now resulted in one of the most influential analog horror properties moving to the big screen. According to a report from Deadline, United Artists, Amblin Entertainment (co-founded by Steven Spielberg), and Amazon MGM Studios have secured the film rights to The Mandela Catalogue, following a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Created by filmmaker Alex Kister, The Mandela Catalogue launched in 2021 on YouTube and quickly became one of the pillars of the modern analog horror movement, alongside projects like Local 58 and The Backrooms.
Set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, the series follows a disturbing invasion by shapeshifting entities known as “Alternates”, which infiltrate human society with psychologically devastating consequences.
Across its official uploads, the series has accumulated well over 100 million views, cementing its place as one of the most successful original horror franchises born on YouTube. Kister’s channel has 1.06 million subscribers.
The adaptation comes at a time when studios are aggressively mining YouTube horror creators for theatrical IP after recent breakout successes reshaped expectations for low-budget genre storytelling. The industry momentum has been driven in part by:
These hits have proven that Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences are showing up in theatres for viral internet horror IP. That trend has triggered a full-scale studio push to acquire the next wave of digital-native genre creators.
The feature adaptation of The Mandela Catalogue will be directed by creator Alex Kister, who co-wrote the screenplay with Tyler Clifton. The producing team includes:
Executive oversight is being handled by Annie McCreery (United Artists) and Maria Fortese (Amblin).
Unlike traditional horror franchises, The Mandela Catalogue is rooted in internet-native storytelling, using fragmented video transmissions, analog aesthetics, and psychological horror rooted in uncertainty and identity distortion.
Its rise reflects a broader trend in modern genre filmmaking:
With Spielberg’s Amblin now backing a YouTube-born horror property, The Mandela Catalogue represents a larger shift in how studios are sourcing new franchises. Instead of comic books or novels, the next generation of horror IP is coming from viral YouTube creators and analog horror communities.
With an 11-studio bidding war, major legacy studios involved, and one of the most influential analog horror creators at the helm, The Mandela Catalogue is officially moving from internet mythos to mainstream cinema. And if recent trends hold, it may not be the last YouTube horror series to make that leap.
What do you think of Steven Spielberg helping bring a feature version of The Mandela Catalogue to the big screen? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.