This weekend’s two biggest movies were both directed by YouTubers

This weekend has seen a remarkable surge in cinema, with two films directed by former YouTube stars topping the box office charts. Leading the pack is "Backrooms," a horror film adapted from Kane Parsons’ eerie YouTube series that showcases unsettling found footage of a mysterious office space, inspired by a thread from 4chan. Under Parsons' direction, the film has already raked in an impressive $38 million on its opening Friday and is projected to gross between $80 million and $90 million over the entire weekend. This marks a record for indie studio A24, which previously held the record with "Civil War," earning $25.7 million during its debut weekend. Following closely is "Obsession," which, despite a modest $8 million on Friday, is expected to pull in around $28.5 million by the end of the weekend. What’s truly remarkable is that "Obsession" has outperformed its initial release, earning more in its second weekend than its first, and is poised for a 19 percent increase in its third weekend. This is a rarity in the film industry, where most movies typically experience a drop of 50 to 70 percent in their second weekends. The Hollywood Reporter notes that "Obsession" is the first film since 1982 to show growth in both its second and third weekends. Both films are notable for their connection to YouTube, with "Obsession" directed by Curry Barker, who gained recognition for his found footage horror film "Milk & Serial" released on YouTube in 2024. Barker is already in the works for his next project, a remake of the classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." This wave of success follows the earlier triumph of "Iron Lung," a video game adaptation helmed by Mark Fischbach, known as Markiplier on YouTube, which grossed nearly $41 million earlier this year. In a recent New York Times article discussing the rise of YouTube creators in mainstream cinema, Mark DelVecchio, the general manager of Rutgers Cinema, highlighted that while many YouTubers attempt to transition to filmmaking, only a few succeed. He attributes the success of Parsons, Barker, and Fischbach to their longevity in the industry, noting that their extensive experience has fostered a loyal audience ready to support their cinematic endeavors. With their youthful age—Parsons at 20 and Barker at 26—these directors have established a strong foundation that could lead to even greater achievements in the future.