- Previous existing IP - Intention to make multiple films in same story - Big name talent - $75-200M production budget - $30-100M marketing budget = 4X ROI in box office, nearly every time. What's NOT required (but helps) - A great script - A really great director - An actor/producer (someone who's very invested into the project) - Adapting the IP from a book (not previously on screen) OR redoing really bad IP (E.g., Christopher Nolan doing Batman after a few not so great versions)