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

Backrooms, directed by YouTube creator Kane Parsons, topped the box office with a projected $80 million to $90 million domestic opening, setting a new record for A24. Curry Barker’s Obsession took second place and is projected to grow for a second straight weekend, an extremely rare feat for a wide release.

The results show that creator-led horror can now translate online fandom and low-budget storytelling into major theatrical momentum. Studios may increasingly scout YouTube and other platforms for directors with built-in audiences, especially in genres where distinctive concepts and word of mouth matter more than traditional star power.

The YouTube-to-prestige-horror pipeline is looking very strong.