A low-budget horror film directed by 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons has topped the US box office, dethroning the latest Star Wars installment, "The Mandalorian and Grogu." Produced by independent studio A24 with a $10 million budget, "Backrooms" earned $81 million domestically and $118 million globally in its opening weekend.

The film's success is rooted in an internet phenomenon that began with a 2019 4chan post featuring a photo of an empty yellow office. The post coined the term "Backrooms" and described a surreal dimension accessed by "noclipping" out of reality, sparking a vast online mythology of creepypasta stories.

Parsons, who started his YouTube channel at age 9, gained fame during the COVID lockdowns by creating 3D animations using Blender. His video "The Backrooms (Found Footage)" has over 80 million views, and his 22-part web series built a dedicated fanbase.

The film's record-breaking debut marks the strongest opening for an original horror movie and the best for a first-time director of a non-franchise film. Industry observers note that Gen Z is reportedly tiring of recycled franchises, as evidenced by the 70% box office drop for the Star Wars film in its second weekend.

Another YouTuber, Curry Barker, also scored a hit with his horror film "Obsessions," earning $148 million worldwide on a budget under $1 million. Hollywood studios are allegedly struggling to adapt, with one studio head stating, "YouTube is blessing these filmmakers and we are struggling to catch up."

Source: www.dw.com