YouTube Filmmakers Dominate Weekend Box Office with Record-Breaking Hits

Young audiences flocked to theaters nationwide this weekend, drawn not by the usual big-budget films, but by two unique offerings from young YouTube filmmakers. The spotlight was on ‘Backrooms,’ a small-budget horror film by 20-year-old debut director Kane Parsons, which claimed $81.5 million in its first three days across 3,442 locations in the U.S. and Canada, as reported by studio estimates. Released by A24, ‘Backrooms’ nearly equaled the earnings of ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ from the previous weekend and was produced on a modest $10 million budget.

Another YouTuber-made film, ‘Obsession,’ continued its impressive streak in its third weekend. Directed by Curry Barker, 26, ‘Obsession’ secured $26.4 million, achieving second place at the box office. Despite costing less than $1 million, this film hasn’t dipped below its opening weekend profits and even saw a 10% increase.

This breakout success of YouTube directors highlights a potential new direction for theaters. Luis Olloqui, CEO of Cinépolis USA, noted sellouts at various locations for both films. He commented, ‘We were a little worried that they would be competing for the same audience. It’s not the case.’ Olloqui emphasized the demand for engaging content, stating, ‘It shows that when we have the right content, people from all ages are willing to go to the theater.’

‘Backrooms’ started as a creepypasta, an internet-born urban legend, and evolved into a viral web series. Parsons developed the series using Blender, a 3D graphics software, capturing interest from production companies owned by James Wan and Shawn Levy. Consequently, the concept transformed into a movie featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve.

International audiences also contributed to ‘Backrooms’ success, pushing its global revenue to $118 million. A24 celebrated this accomplishment, as Parsons became the youngest director to lead a No. 1 global film. The film’s first weekend performance also set a record for the studio, surpassing the previous high from ‘Civil War,’ which debuted at $25.5 million in 2024. Despite a B- CinemaScore from audiences, the movie captivated a predominantly young and diverse crowd, with 86% under 35 and many attending in groups.

Similarly, ‘Obsession,’ now Focus Features’ highest-grossing domestic release, accumulated $104.7 million. Meanwhile, ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ experienced a 69% drop from its opening, grossing $246.6 million globally.

Other notable releases included ‘Michael,’ a musical biopic at fourth place with $11.7 million, and ‘The Breadwinner,’ a PG-rated comedy starring Nate Bargatze, at fifth with $7.5 million. ‘Pressure,’ a World War II drama, opened in seventh place garnering $5.8 million.

The top 10 films for the weekend, according to Comscore, were:

• 1. ‘Backrooms,’ $81.5 million.
• 2. ‘Obsession,’ $26.4 million.
• 3. ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ $25 million.
• 4. ‘Michael,’ $11.7 million.
• 5. ‘The Breadwinner,’ $7.5 million.
• 6. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ $5.9 million.
• 7. ‘Pressure,’ $5.8 million.
• 8. ‘The Sheep Detectives,’ $4.6 million.
• 9. ‘Passenger,’ $2.6 million.
• 10. ‘Mortal Kombat II,’ $2 million.