Young YouTubers Dominate the Box Office with ‘Backrooms,’ ‘Obsession’ Young YouTubers Kane Parsons and Curry Barker have achieved significant box office success with their independently produced horror films, “Backrooms” and “Obsession.” Parsons’ “Backrooms,” adapted from his web series, became the youngest director to have a No. 1 film, while Barker’s “Obsession” showed remarkable legs, increasing its earnings over subsequent weekends. Both films, produced on modest budgets, significantly outperformed projections and even outgrossed major studio releases like “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

• Twenty-year-old Kane Parsons’ horror film “Backrooms” became the youngest director’s No. 1 box office film, grossing $81 million.
• “Backrooms” is based on Parsons’ popular found footage-style web series, inspired by a 4chan image.
• Curry Barker’s low-budget horror film “Obsession” made $17 million its opening weekend and showed strong growth, eventually grossing over $100 million domestically.
• Both “Backrooms” and “Obsession” outgrossed “The Mandalorian and Grogu” at the box office.
• Audiences for “Backrooms” were predominantly under 35, with over 50% being 25 or younger, according to Variety.
• “Obsession” demonstrated unusual box office staying power, increasing its earnings in its second and third weekends.
• The success of these young creators challenges traditional Hollywood box office dynamics.