Source: Fortune
Summary
Two low-budget horror movies, “Backrooms” and “Obsession”, both directed by young YouTubers, surprised the box office with impressive earnings, surpassing big-budget films like “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”. “Backrooms” made $81.5 million in its first weekend, while “Obsession” earned $26.4 million in its third weekend. The success of these films suggests that YouTube creators may be the future of the movie industry.
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The numbers tell one story.
“Backrooms” and “Obsession” drew large crowds, mostly young and diverse audiences, to theaters, with many attending in groups and some even reporting sold-out shows. The success of these films is a turning point for the industry, as they were produced on a low budget and still managed to outperform big-budget films. The fact that these young creators value the cultural currency of theatrical movies is a great sign of relevance for the industry.
It’s a case of “the YouTube factor” – the ability of young creators to produce content that resonates with audiences and translates to box office success. The industry is likely to take notice and try to replicate this success.
The “Backrooms” phenomenon is a sign that the movie industry is shifting, and that new talent and new ideas can come from unexpected places.
