Young Filmmakers Lead Movie Box Office with Surprise Hits

3 weeks ago 0

Young audiences flooded movie theaters this weekend, but not for the anticipated blockbuster “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” Instead, “Backrooms,” a low-budget horror film from 20-year-old first-time filmmaker Kane Parsons, stole the spotlight. Released by A24 in 3,442 locations across the U.S. and Canada, “Backrooms” earned an impressive $81.5 million in three days, according to studio estimates. Despite its $10 million production cost, it closely matched the opening earnings of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” from the previous weekend.

The success of “Backrooms” didn’t overshadow another debut director’s film, “Obsession,” created by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker. Three weekends in, “Obsession” saw a 10% increase, earning $26.4 million and securing second place, while Star Wars fell to third with $25 million.

Both “Backrooms” and “Obsession” were produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. Luis Olloqui, CEO of Cinépolis USA, noted sellouts for both films in their theaters, suggesting that the right content can draw audiences of all ages.

“Backrooms” began as an internet urban legend called creepypasta before Parsons developed it into a viral web series using Blender, an open-source 3D graphics software. It attracted attention from production companies interested in expending it into a movie, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve.

“Backrooms” became a global sensation, earning $118 million worldwide. A24 announced Parsons as the youngest director to achieve a No. 1 film globally, breaking the studio’s previous record held by “Civil War.”

The film received favorable reviews and attracted a young, diverse audience. Exit polls showed 86% of viewers were under 35, with the majority under 25. Despite a CinemaScore of B-, the film’s buzz continued to attract audiences. Some theaters reported sellouts and repeated viewings, leading to increased security measures for underage viewers.

“Obsession” also found success, earning $104.7 million in North America, marking Focus Features’ highest-grossing domestic release. Meanwhile, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” experienced a 69% drop in its second weekend, grossing $246.6 million globally.

Other notable films included “Michael,” which took fourth place with $11.7 million, and “The Breadwinner,” a PG-rated family comedy, which earned $7.5 million. “Pressure,” a WWII drama, opened in seventh with $5.8 million. The heist-romance “Tuner” expanded to 452 theaters, collecting $1.7 million.

Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore noted the shift in Hollywood trends as YouTube creators influence summer movie seasons. This weekend showcased the evolving landscape of film production and exhibition.