Hollywood is experiencing a new trend where filmmakers are emerging from YouTube, with horror films proving to be particularly successful. Kane Parsons, at 21 years old, directed A24's "Backrooms," which had an $81 million domestic opening weekend and a global gross of nearly $400 million, making it the highest-grossing debut in the studio's history. Parsons developed the film from a popular internet urban legend he adapted into a YouTube web series.
Another significant success is Curry Barker's "Obsession," which was made for $750,000 and has grossed $475 million worldwide. This film attracted a young audience, with 75% of viewers aged 18 to 34, and became a top streaming movie on Peacock. Both Parsons and Barker gained popularity through their YouTube content, and this trend extends to creators like Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach, whose indie horror film "Iron Lung" grossed $50 million.
This phenomenon highlights a shift in Hollywood's talent acquisition, with studios recognizing the audience-building capabilities of online creators. While some industry veterans see this as a "predictable sort of frenzy," others like critic BJ Colangelo note that these filmmakers are bringing original stories, contrasting with the industry's focus on existing intellectual property. Despite the rise of YouTube-native filmmakers, film schools are still seeing high demand, with many students continuing to enroll.
