The biggest hits at the box office right now are “Backrooms” and “Obsession.” Both films were directed by young filmmakers who started their careers on YouTube.
These movies were made on modest budgets and marketed online. Surprisingly, they’ve attracted a young audience, bringing in teens and young adults who don’t usually go to the theaters. Hollywood is taking notice. Many experts believe studios may begin to imitate this new way of making movies.
“Obsession,” directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, opened on May 15. With a budget of about $750,000, this dark comedy horror film has already made nearly $150 million. This kind of return is remarkable for Focus Features and Blumhouse Productions.
Then there’s “Backrooms,” directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons. He spent years developing the project on his YouTube channel. His budget was larger, around $10 million, and it features well-known actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Duplass. It was impressive to see it rake in about $80 million in its opening weekend, topping the box office in North America.
Interestingly, “Backrooms” not only excelled in ticket sales but also caught the eye of the studio A24, which helps young directors. Parsons is now the youngest filmmaker to release a film that finished first at the weekend box office.
In a twist, “Obsession” continued to gain traction even after its opening weekend, marking a rare moment in cinema history. Unlike typical releases that drop in sales after the first few days, it had an increase in box office revenue over its second and third weekends.
This success reveals a key point: young audiences want to support filmmakers they relate to. As more studios scramble to find the next great talent online, we may start to see more fresh ideas rather than the usual sequels and franchise films.
Mark Duplass, who stars in “Backrooms,” shared on social media that these films give a glimpse of hope to the industry. This kind of success shows that creators can cultivate their own audiences online before stepping into Hollywood.
In a similar vein, last winter, YouTuber Mark Fischbach’s indie film “Iron Lung” also performed well at the box office, further proving that this YouTube-to-movie pipeline is not just a trend.
Some analysts believe this moment is significant for moviegoing. Writer Zack Stentz pointed out the parallel between today’s YouTube stars and past directors who broke into Hollywood via music videos in the ‘80s and independent films in the ‘90s.
Steven Zeitchik from The Hollywood Reporter highlighted that these successes hint at a shifting landscape in film, moving away from the long-standing studio system. The marketing power of platforms like YouTube enables filmmakers to connect with their audiences directly.
Recently, Warner Bros. executive Michael De Luca discussed how these filmmakers work closely with their viewers. By the time their movies hit theaters, they’ve had plenty of informal “test screenings” thanks to the interactions they’ve had online.
This new reality might just reshape how movies are made and who gets to tell stories on the big screen.
For more in-depth analysis and data, check out the Hollywood Reporter and learn how this trend could impact future filmmaking.
