Young YouTubers score major box office wins as Gen Z fills theaters

Two low-budget horror films created by young YouTubers dominated the North American box office over the weekend, drawing large numbers of Gen Z viewers to theaters and outperforming major Hollywood releases.

Leading the pack was Backrooms, a horror movie directed and co-written by 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons.

The film earned an impressive $81.5 million from 3,442 theaters across the United States and Canada during its opening weekend.

The success is particularly remarkable because the movie was made on a budget of just $10 million.

Its opening weekend revenue nearly matched that of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which had debuted at the top of the box office the previous week.

Another YouTuber-directed horror film, Obsession, also continued its strong run.

Directed by 26-year-old YouTube creator Curry Barker, the film earned $26.4 million in its third weekend, a 10% increase from the previous week.

It secured second place at the box office, ahead of the latest Star Wars installment, which earned $25 million and dropped sharply from its debut.

Industry observers say the success of these films suggests YouTube creators may be helping bring younger audiences back to movie theaters rather than drawing them away.

The weekend also saw the release of family comedy The Breadwinner, starring comedian Nate Bargatze, and World War II drama Pressure, featuring Oscar-winning actor Brendan Fraser. However, it was the YouTuber-led horror films that attracted the biggest crowds.

Both "Backrooms" and "Obsession" were produced by Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster.

Abhijay Prakash, president of Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, described the weekend as a major milestone for the company, which has long focused on original horror films aimed at younger audiences.

He said the studio has actively searched YouTube for emerging talent and believes the latest success could encourage more filmmakers from digital platforms to enter Hollywood.

"Backrooms" began as an internet horror phenomenon before Parsons transformed it into a popular web series using open-source animation software. The concept eventually attracted major producers and was adapted into a feature film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve.

The film has also performed strongly overseas, earning $118 million globally so far. Distributor A24 said Parsons has become the youngest director ever to have the world's top-grossing film.

The movie also delivered the biggest opening weekend in the studio's history, surpassing Civil War.

Audience surveys showed that younger moviegoers drove the film's success.

About 86% of viewers were under 35 years old, while more than half were under 25. Many attended in groups, resulting in sold-out screenings and repeat visits.

The popularity of both R-rated horror films has become so intense that some theaters have reportedly stationed employees outside screening rooms to ensure younger viewers are accompanied by adults where required.

Meanwhile, "Obsession" has now earned $104.7 million in North America, becoming the highest-grossing domestic release ever for Focus Features.

Cinema operators said the strong turnout demonstrates that audiences are still eager to visit theaters when compelling content is available.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" fell nearly 69% from its opening weekend but has still earned $246.6 million globally.

The musical biopic Michael finished fourth with $11.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $339.9 million.

Sony's "The Breadwinner" rounded out the top five with $7.5 million, while "Pressure" debuted in seventh place with $5.8 million.

Box office analysts said Hollywood has been searching for new ways to attract audiences back to theaters, and the strong performance of films created by internet personalities could point to a promising new trend for the industry.