A kid's YouTube nightmare just beat Hollywood's biggest stars at the box office.
The horror film 'Backrooms' earned $80 million in its first weekend, setting a new record for indie studio A24.
For years, Hollywood thought only big-name heroes could fill theaters. A viral internet video just proved them wrong by scaring millions of people into buying tickets.
WHAT HAPPENED
A new movie called 'Backrooms' just made history. It earned $80 million in its opening weekend. This is the biggest start ever for the studio A24.
The story started as a simple video on YouTube. Now, it is beating giant movies like 'Mandalorian and Grogu' at the box office.
At the same time, another small movie called 'Obsession' is also winning. It is the first film in 40 years to grow its crowd three weeks in a row.
What the evidence shows
- 'Backrooms' earned $80 million in three days.
- This is the biggest opening ever for A24.
- 'Obsession' grew its crowd in weeks two and three.
- Both films are beating the new 'Star Wars' movie.
- The story began as 'creepypasta' lore on the internet.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Why are we suddenly more interested in stories from YouTube than from big movie studios? It seems like the gatekeepers in Hollywood are losing their power to tell us what is cool.
Is the era of the "Movie Star" over? If a video about a yellow hallway can make $80 million, maybe we do not need famous actors to have a hit.
THE OTHER SIDE
Big studios might say this is just a lucky trend. They argue that giant brands are still the only way to make money for a long time. They think the hype for internet stories will die out fast.
This argument looks weak because the numbers show that people are tired of the same old sequels.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Expect to see more YouTubers getting big movie deals. This means the next big hit might come from a kid in a bedroom instead of a boss in an office.
Smaller films are proving they can win if they have a fresh idea. This could change what we see at the local theater for years to come.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Will 'Backrooms' stay popular next week?
- Can other YouTube creators repeat this success?
- How will Disney change its plans to compete?
SOURCE NOTE: Information from The Hollywood Reporter. All charges are allegations - The creators are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Transparency notes
Published: May 30, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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