Backrooms, Obsession Upend 2026 Box Office as $750,000 Horror Beats Franchise Films
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Backrooms, Obsession Upend 2026 Box Office as $750,000 Horror Beats Franchise Films
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Summary
“Backrooms” and “Obsession” have emerged as top-five summer hits, overtaking bigger studio releases including “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” and “Masters of the Universe.”
“Obsession,” made for $750,000, stayed in the domestic top five for five straight weekends and sold more tickets in both its second and third weekends than in its debut.
That run stands out because second-weekend sales typically collapse: the median opening-to-second-weekend change worsened from a 28% drop in the 1990s to about 54% in the 2020s.
“Backrooms,” made for $10 million, has held a top-five spot for three weekends and became A24’s highest-grossing film within its first week, with opening-week sales comparable to “Project Hail Mary” and “Michael.”
The two original horror films, directed by creators in their 20s from YouTube and TikTok, suggest social-media-native filmmakers can now challenge franchise blockbusters in the summer corridor.
Why is Gen Z trading blockbuster fatigue for the raw stories of YouTube-bred filmmakers?
With YouTube creators topping the box office, is Hollywood's traditional star-making system becoming obsolete?
"Obsession" Shatters Box Office Records: The $286 Million Indie Horror That’s Reshaping Hollywood
Overview
As of June 16, 2026, the horror film 'Obsession' has achieved an unprecedented box office run, shattering expectations and surpassing the performance of 'Blair Witch Project.' This success is driven by extraordinary word-of-mouth and strong audience support, leading to a rare box office pattern where third weekend earnings could nearly double the opening weekend. 'Obsession' set a new film festival record and its growing popularity highlights a shift in audience preferences, especially among younger viewers. The film’s triumph is part of a broader trend, showing that original horror stories can outperform established franchises and reshape industry expectations.