Hollywood Pictures is a strategy game released in 1995 by Starbyte for MS-DOS and Amiga.
Released in 1995, this quirky business simulation game let you live out your dreams of running a movie studio, back when the idea of “tycoon” games was starting to take off. Part management sim, part creative sandbox, Hollywood Pictures gave players the reins of a struggling production house and challenged them to build it into a cinematic empire.
The game begins with a shoestring budget and a lot of ambition. Your job? Juggle all the moving parts of the movie biz—hiring directors, casting actors, securing scripts, and deciding just how much (or little) to spend on special effects. Every decision impacted the final product, from the quality of the script to the star power of the cast. Would you blow your budget on an A-list actor, or gamble on a no-name talent and hope for a breakout performance?
What set Hollywood Pictures apart was its playful take on the film industry. The game didn’t shy away from poking fun at Hollywood’s eccentricities, with exaggerated characters, over-the-top negotiations, and random events that could make or break your studio’s success. You could create everything from blockbuster action flicks to disastrous flops that critics would roast mercilessly.
The visuals leaned into classic DOS-era charm, with a mix of pixel art menus and animated cutscenes that oozed mid-’90s flair. Managing the studio’s finances was a delicate dance—you’d need to balance investments in movies with maintaining the studio’s facilities and reputation. Let the quality slip, and you’d quickly find yourself hemorrhaging cash or facing the wrath of irate investors.
Though Hollywood Pictures didn’t enjoy the widespread acclaim of genre giants like Theme Park or SimCity, it carved out a niche among fans of offbeat management sims. Today, it stands as a testament to the creativity of the era, when game developers weren’t afraid to experiment with unusual concepts and inject a healthy dose of satire into their designs.
Pity the game is available in German only.
Download for PC 