Steven Schneider

Steven Schneider (also credited as Steven Jay Schneider) is an American producer, author, and former film critic, born on January 25, 1974, in New York City. Best known for shaping modern horror, he has helped bring high-concept scares to mainstream audiences while championing distinctive, filmmaker-driven projects.

Schneider founded Room 101, Inc. and later co-founded Spooky Pictures with producer Roy Lee, building a reputation for developing genre titles with strong hooks and sharp execution. His name is closely tied to the success of the Paranormal Activity and Insidious franchises, two series that helped redefine contemporary supernatural and found-footage horror.

Across his producing slate, he has backed studio and indie releases alike, including Blair Witch (2016), Pet Sematary (2019), Watcher (2022), Late Night with the Devil (2023), and Strange Darling (2023), with additional projects such as The Plague (2025), The Long Walk (2025), and Hokum (2026).

He also appears as himself in Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity, reflecting his behind-the-scenes influence on one of horror’s most talked-about phenomena.