YouTube‑born horror films top box office, beating Star Wars

Two low-budget horror films directed by young filmmakers who first gained followings on YouTube have achieved unprecedented box office success, dominating theaters and outperforming a major new Star Wars film. The movies, "Backrooms" and "Obsession," have captivated younger audiences and are prompting industry-wide analysis of a new model for filmmaking and marketing.

"Backrooms," directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, took the number one spot at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, earning an estimated $80 to $81 million. This performance marks the biggest opening weekend in history for the independent studio A24. The film, which expands on a viral internet horror concept Parsons developed in a YouTube series, was produced on a budget of approximately $10 million and features actors including Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Finishing a close second was "Obsession," directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker. Made for roughly $750,000, the film has now earned over $150 million worldwide. Its performance is notable for defying standard box office patterns; industry observers note it is the first wide-release film since 1982 to see its ticket sales increase on both its second and third...