The radically different budgets of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey and indie horror smash hit Obsession demonstrate the increasing need for financial control.
That’s according to KAI Consulting, the developers behind OctopusPMI – accountancy software used throughout TV and film production.
“The Odyssey had a budget of around $250 million, Obsession just $750,000 – yet both had similar pressures to carefully manage their money to deliver something cinema-goers would love” says John Chang, CEO of KAI Consulting.
Chrisopher Nolan’s blockbuster, based on Homer’s epic poem set in ancient Greece, has grossed over $650 million worldwide after just two weekends in cinemas.
However, debut director Curry Barker’s independent horror film has grossed over $458 million despite its budget being just 3% of the Hollywood blockbuster’s.
“This summer’s box office hits highlight the financial extremes. From tight-budget indie flicks to colossal blockbuster productions, finance management is imperative in delivering the very best films for audiences” adds John.
OctopusPMI is budgeting and accountancy software which helps production companies within the film and TV industry to manage their project finances.
From concept to screening, it provides complete financial visibility and control – helping optimise costs, accelerate production and improve quality.
With increasing competition from content streamers, and major studios prioritising the commercial viability of projects, OctopusPMI’s developers believe financial control is more important than ever.
“Every scene in TV or film is the result of financial decisions taken behind the camera, from casting roles, to choosing locations and commissioning sets and costumes. Tracking is key to keeping projects on budget and on schedule” says John.
Developed by KAI Consulting, OctopusPMI is exclusively designed for TV and film production and does not require any modification or integration to meet the sector’s needs.
Its features help production companies and their financial teams to plan expenditure, manage money, control costs and report to project financiers.
“Having the right financial systems in place helps studios reduce risk, make informed decisions and ensure their investments are utilised effectively” states John.
Featuring Matt Damon and a host of A-list actors, it is perhaps little surprise that The Odyssey has been the largest and most hotly anticipated film of 2026.
However, with a budget of less than $1M, psychological horror film Obsession features relatively unknown actors and was shot in just 26 days in Los Angeles.
“Whilst The Odyssey received significant studio pressure for its gigantic budget, the team behind Obsession likely put enormous pressure on themselves to make every financial choice count. Either way, the decisions made resulted not only in box office success but art that successive audiences will love” concludes John.
KAI Consulting believe that the demand for their financial management software aimed solely at TV and film production will continue to grow as the entertainment industry prepares for more seasonal cinema peaks.