Hollywood’s old playbook may finally be gathering dust. The stunning success of Backrooms, a horror film from 20-year-old director Kane Parsons, combined with the breakout hit Obsession, suggests that internet creators are no longer the underdogs—they’re becoming the industry’s biggest power players.
Explore how Hollywood is changing with internet creators shaping the future of filmmaking and audiences craving original stories.
The box-office dominance of these two films has industry insiders buzzing about a fundamental shift in how blockbusters get made and sold. Audiences, it appears, are hungry for original stories dreamed up by digital creators rather than the same recycled studio franchises we’ve seen for years.
Backrooms, released by A24, has shattered expectations. The film, based on Parsons’ wildly popular YouTube horror series, pulled in over $118 million globally during its opening weekend alone, with more than $81 million coming from domestic theaters. The numbers speak for themselves: it’s now A24’s biggest opening ever and ranks among the strongest debuts for an original horror film in recent memory.
The story itself comes from “Backrooms,” an internet horror legend about endless yellow corridors and deeply unsettling liminal spaces. Parsons first brought it to life through a viral YouTube series in 2022, and viewers couldn’t get enough. Millions tuned in, and a passionate online community formed around the concept before it ever hit theaters.
What’s particularly striking is who showed up for the film. Gen Z audiences made up a significant chunk of the ticket sales, transforming what started as a niche internet curiosity into a legitimate cultural moment. These younger viewers didn’t need a Marvel logo or a recognizable franchise—they came because the story spoke to them.
Meanwhile, Obsession, another creator-driven thriller from filmmaker Curry Barker, continues to hold strong at the box office. This low-budget psychological horror film has become one of the year’s biggest surprises, proving that original ideas can still win over audiences when mainstream franchises stumble.
That last part matters. Several major studio tentpoles have failed to generate comparable excitement recently, prompting Hollywood executives to take notice. The message is clear: they’re now actively scouting YouTube, TikTok, and other digital platforms for the next big thing, watching closely for viral moments that could become the blockbusters of tomorrow.
For those paying attention, Backrooms and Obsession represent something bigger than just a couple of good weekends at the box office. They signal a genuine turning point—one where internet culture, online communities, and digital-native storytellers are reshaping what mainstream entertainment looks like.
