Did ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ Really Kick Off a Gen-Z Horror Wave?
Yahoo • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Two recent low-budget horror films, "Obsession" and "Backrooms," made by filmmakers under 30 with YouTube fanbases, have achieved significant box-office success and challenged traditional Hollywood assumptions about audience appeal.
- "Obsession," directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker, is a modern horror-romantic thriller that saw a rare 40% box-office increase in its second weekend and became Focus Features' biggest hit.
- "Backrooms," created by 21-year-old Kane Parsons and based on viral creepypasta shorts, has grossed over $200 million globally, becoming A24's highest-grossing film to date.
- These films exemplify a potential Gen Z horror renaissance driven by young talent, digital platforms, and grassroots fan engagement, offering an alternative to franchise-heavy blockbuster films.
- The success of these movies suggests a shift in moviegoing trends, with younger audiences leveraging their collective influence to support innovative, creator-driven projects outside traditional studio systems.
