Hollywood’s New Wave: YouTube Creators Turn Filmmakers

By Luke Burbank on September 27, 2026 / 9:16 AM EDT / CBS News

Spider-Man: Brand New Day released in July and has earned nearly a billion dollars domestically as fall begins. This success has led to a mild optimism in Hollywood, says Matt Belloni, a founding partner at Puck News. Belloni comments on the diverse appeal of films this year, attracting various audiences, including younger viewers with movies like Obsession and Backrooms and older audiences with The Odyssey.

Even when some films don’t perform well, the overall box office cadence contributes positively. Summer 2026 achieved the highest domestic box office revenue in history, unadjusted for inflation, with $4.7 billion. Ticket sales soared, especially among the 18-to-35-year-old demographic, comprising 37% of the audience—a significant rebound post-pandemic. Notably, movies like Obsession and Backrooms exceeded expectations, grossing hundreds of millions.

Obsession, a horror film with a budget under a million, has grossed over half a billion worldwide. Directed by Curry Barker, the film’s early audience was mostly under 35, representing a success that excites producer Jason Blum.

Barker, known for his YouTube content, stepped into filmmaking with prior experience in creating horror shorts and comedies for his substantial YouTube audience. He found the transition to directing his first feature film familiar, leveraging skills honed since childhood.

Kane Parsons, at age 20, directed Backrooms, achieving a #1 film globally with a $118 million opening weekend. The inspiration originated from a viral photo of an empty store, later developed into a YouTube video series about labyrinthine spaces.

Mark Vins, a creator with 20 million subscribers on YouTube’s ‘Brave Wilderness’ channel, recently debuted his documentary Reef to Ridge at the Toronto International Film Festival. Vins emphasizes the importance of listening to his audience and utilizing YouTube’s analytics to guide content creation.

Kim Larson, YouTube’s Head of Creators, acknowledges the current cultural shift enabling recognition of YouTube creators’ filmmaking talents. As more filmmakers gain visibility, YouTube could potentially become a major source for new directors.

Belloni hints at the unpredictability of Hollywood’s next big stars. While YouTube is presently a hotspot for emerging filmmakers, future trends may shift.