Jakarta, ThedailyID — Two low-budget horror films, Backrooms and Obsession, have become the biggest surprise of the year after dominating the global box office and outperforming major Hollywood franchises.
Backrooms, produced by A24, earned US$81.5 million in North America during its opening weekend. The film has already generated US$118 million worldwide despite carrying a production budget of only around US$10 million.
The movie was directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, who first gained popularity through his viral YouTube horror series based on the internet phenomenon known as “The Backrooms.”
Meanwhile, Obsession continues its remarkable box office run. The psychological horror film has earned more than US$148 million globally after just three weekends in theaters. Its production budget reportedly stayed below US$1 million.
The film was directed by YouTube creator Curry Barker and has become the highest-grossing domestic release in the history of Focus Features.
Industry analysts said both films attracted massive Gen Z audiences. According to audience tracking data, more than 80% of Backrooms viewers were under the age of 35.
The success of both movies also pushed The Mandalorian and Grogu down the weekend box office rankings. The Star Wars spin-off suffered a sharp drop in ticket sales during its second week in theaters.
Analysts believe the strong performance signals a growing shift in Hollywood. Studios are increasingly paying attention to internet-born creators who already have large and loyal fan communities online.
The unexpected rise of Backrooms and Obsession has also strengthened the horror genre’s position in theaters. Both films proved that original ideas and online fanbases can compete directly with blockbuster franchises.
