Key facts
- 'Backrooms' debuted with $81.5 million at the box office.
- 'Backrooms' was produced on a $10 million budget.
- 'Obsession' earned $26.4 million domestically and over $150 million worldwide.
- 'Obsession' was produced on a budget under $1 million.
- Both 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession' outperformed 'The Mandalorian and Grogu.'
- 'Backrooms' topped the UK and Ireland box office with £4.2 million ($5.7 million).
- 'Backrooms' set a new A24 opening weekend record in the UK and Ireland.
- 'Scary Movie' was projected to earn $45 million to $50 million in its opening weekend.
- 'Scary Movie' grossed $7.7 million in previews.
- 'Masters of the Universe' opened with $11.754 million on Friday.
- 'Masters of the Universe' targeted a $33 million debut.
- The animated YouTube series finale 'Amazing Digital Circus' reached the number one spot at the box office.
Two low-budget horror films, 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession,' produced by former YouTube creators, have achieved remarkable box office success, significantly outperforming expectations. 'Backrooms,' directed by Kane Parsons, debuted with $81.5 million on a $10 million budget, while 'Obsession,' directed by Curry Barker, earned $26.4 million domestically and over $150 million worldwide on a budget under $1 million. Both films surpassed the box office performance of Disney's latest 'Star Wars' installment, 'The Mandalorian and Grogu.'
'Backrooms' also secured the top spot at the U.K. and Ireland box office, generating £4.2 million ($5.7 million) and establishing a new record for A24's largest opening weekend in that territory. In the U.S., 'Backrooms' competed for the No. 1 spot with Paramount and Miramax's 'Scary Movie,' which was projected to earn between $45 million and $50 million in its opening weekend, with 'Scary Movie' itself grossing $7.7 million in previews. 'Masters of the Universe' targeted a $33 million debut, opening with $11.754 million on its first Friday.
The theatrical finale of the animated YouTube series 'Amazing Digital Circus' also reached the number one spot at the box office, outperforming 'Obsession' and underscoring a growing trend of online content creators successfully transitioning to traditional media platforms. Neon CEO Tom Quinn, while discussing his company's success, described their work as 'cinema,' distinguishing it from typical YouTube content, despite Neon's seventh consecutive Palme d'Or win at Cannes.
The plot of 'Obsession' centers on Bear, a music store employee, and his feelings for his co-worker, Nikki.