11 of the top movie financiers that bankroll filmmakers' dreams and have scored box-office hits like 'Joker' and 'Parasite'

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"Parasite."

• Movie financing is always a risk, but some companies like Bron, Participant, and streamers Netflix and Amazon are thriving thanks to bankrolling projects.
• In this power list, Business Insider breaks down the companies that are making filmmakers' dreams come true by writing the big checks and seeing returns.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It doesn't matter if a director is a first-timer or a veteran like Martin Scorsese, they all have one thing in common: getting money to make movies is hard.

You might be wondering why a company wouldn't be beating down the door of a legend to bankroll their next project, and the reality is moviemaking is often not a lucrative business. And if you ever get your money back (or make a profit) it often takes years.

But there are some companies that have taken on the risk and in return have become hugely successful - like the companies that financed "Joker" and "Parasite," which now have Oscars to add to their box-office achievements.

Here are 11 financiers that are currently Hollywood's go-to companies when it needs money to launch a project: