Two of the biggest box office titles are linked by a shared producer partnership: James Wan and Jason Blum, whose companies Atomic Monster and Blumhouse merged in 2024. The collaboration is behind the horror films Backrooms and Obsession, both of which are currently in theaters. The pair discussed the success of their shared production strategy on Saturday, May 30, at the Produced By conference hosted by the Producers Guild of America at Universal Studios.
Blum described the current moment in theatrical horror as reminiscent of the 1970s, when a new generation of filmmakers made edgy movies that drew audiences back to cinemas. He said younger moviegoers, especially those who grew up with streaming and mobile devices, are responding to films that give them a reason to leave home and see a movie on the big screen. Blum pointed to Obsession as a recent example of momentum at the box office, saying the film rose 20% from the previous weekend and had already climbed 30% the weekend before that.
Wan discussed the origins of Backrooms, which is opening this weekend and leading the box office. He said he is drawn to projects that contain a strong creative spark, even if they begin as something as simple as an online viral concept. According to Wan, the key is recognizing when a piece of content has a special quality and when its creator has the potential to build something larger.
He said that is what happened when Atomic Monster first encountered the viral Backrooms shorts several years ago. Wan recalled that the team immediately saw promise in the concept and wanted to speak with creator Kane Parsons, who was 16 years old at the time. Wan noted that their first Zoom meeting included Parsons’ father, reflecting the creator’s age and the early stage of the project. He praised Parsons as intelligent and highly talented, suggesting that the young filmmaker already showed the ability to turn a viral idea into something bigger for a wide audience.
The conference comments highlighted the growing influence of Wan and Blum’s combined production empire, which has become a major force in horror entertainment. Their approach blends internet-originated ideas, youthful creators and theatrical release strategies aimed at reenergizing moviegoing audiences. With Backrooms topping the box office and Obsession showing week-to-week gains, the partnership appears to be finding an audience at a time when theatrical horror is regaining attention.
