Case 072: Edward L. Montoro | Gone With the Mockbuster

In the wild world of 1970s and 80s cinema, Edward L. Montoro wasn’t aiming for Oscars—he was chasing blockbusters with knockoffs. As the founder of Film Ventures International, Montoro carved out a profitable niche by flooding theaters with “mockbusters,” movies that looked suspiciously like Hollywood hits. If Jaws terrified audiences, FVI served up Great White. If The Exorcist chilled spines, FVI brought its own possession story to the screen.But imitation wasn’t just the sincerest form of flattery—it was also a lawsuit magnet. Warner Bros., Universal, Spielberg, Lucas, and the wave of “New Hollywood” auteurs weren’t laughing. Their legal battles, alongside Montoro’s shady financial dealings, pushed FVI to the brink. Then, in 1984, Montoro made his final disappearing act: embezzling company funds and vanishing without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unpaid debts, shuttered studios, and a legendary Hollywood mystery.This is the story of the king of copycat cinema—how he built an empire on the shadows of blockbusters, and how it all came crashing down.This is Fugitive Files. Let’s get into it.