This weekend’s two biggest movies were both directed by YouTubers
techcrunch.com Jun 1, 2026

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

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Two YouTube personalities, Kane Parsons and Curry Barker, have achieved significant success with their directorial debuts in the horror genre. Parsons' film "Backrooms" is estimated to earn $81 million at the domestic box office, setting a new record for indie studio A24. Barker's film "Obsession" is also performing well, with a unique growth pattern, increasing its earnings by 10 percent in its third weekend. Both films have surpassed the weekend earnings of the new Star Wars film, "The Mandalorian and Grogu." The success of these films highlights the emerging trend of YouTubers transitioning to mainstream filmmaking. Parsons and Barker join Mark Fischbach, who also made a successful transition with his film "Iron Lung." Their longevity and loyal audience have contributed to their success.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The growth of "Obsession" in its second and third weekends defies typical box office trends, showcasing the strong word-of-mouth and loyal fan base behind Barker's film.
  • · The success of these YouTubers-turned-filmmakers demonstrates the value of building a loyal audience through consistent content creation.