Young Directors Reshape Box Office with Horror Hits

This past weekend brought an unexpected shift in movie theater attendance as audiences flocked to a low-budget horror film. The film, “Backrooms,” helmed by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons, outperformed the much-anticipated “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” in its second weekend. “Backrooms” was released in 3,442 locations across the U.S. and Canada, earning an impressive $81.5 million in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

“Backrooms” was made with a modest $10 million budget. Its opening weekend earnings rivaled those of “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a high-budget release from Walt Disney Studios. This success highlights the changing dynamics in the film industry where digital creators are now major contenders.

Another surprise hit, “Obsession,” is directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker. Despite its low production costs, it increased its earnings by 10% in its third weekend, bringing in $26.4 million. These films left the Star Wars franchise in third place with a weekend box office of $25 million. This trend suggests YouTube may not be the end of theaters, but a new avenue for success.

Blumhouse-Atomic Monster produced both films. Abhijay Prakash, the president of the company, expressed optimism about these results. He believes these films validate their strategy of producing original horror films appealing to young audiences. The company has been successful in discovering new talent on platforms like YouTube.

“Backrooms,” which started as an online urban legend, caught the interest of production companies and eventually became a full-length film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. Internationally, it grossed $118 million, setting a record for the studio A24. The movie was particularly popular among younger viewers, with exit polls indicating 86% of the audience was under 35. Despite a CinemaScore of B-, the film remains popular, with reports of sold-out screenings and repeat viewings.

Similarly, “Obsession,” which has made $104.7 million in North America, is Focus Features’ highest-grossing domestic film. Luis Olloqui, CEO of Cinépolis USA, reports sold-out viewings at many theaters. This indicates that the right content can attract audiences of all ages.

In contrast, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” saw a steep decline in earnings, now totaling $246.6 million globally. Other films in the top five include “Michael,” a musical biopic earning $11.7 million, and “The Breadwinner,” with $7.5 million. “Pressure,” a World War II drama, debuted in seventh place with $5.8 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Comscore, noted that these developments might answer the industry’s question of what will next draw people back to theaters.

Here are the top ten films by domestic box office for the weekend based on Comscore data:

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.