Steven Spielberg Shares Advice for Rising Backrooms and Obsession Directors as They Begin Their Careers
Steven Spielberg, who became a major Hollywood force at age 28 after the release of Jaws, recently offered advice to two young horror filmmakers whose careers are rising quickly: Kane Parsons, director of A24’s Backrooms, and Curry Barker, whose film Obsession has emerged as one of the breakout horror titles of 2026. Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Spielberg warned them not to let early success become a trap. He said that a major hit can bring respect from studios and executives, but it does not guarantee future results. In his view, every new film begins from zero.
Spielberg’s comments carry extra weight because his own career followed a similar pattern of early breakout success. Jaws made him one of the most important filmmakers in the industry, and his later work helped define modern blockbuster cinema with films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan. But despite that legacy, Spielberg said he still approaches each project with the same uncertainty and pressure that younger directors feel. He explained that he learned, sometimes the hard way, that even after decades in the business, every new movie requires starting over.
He said that if a filmmaker makes 20 or 30 movies over the course of a career, they may realize by the second or third film that each project is essentially a fresh beginning. That mindset, he suggested, is what keeps a director grounded and focused. Rather than assuming past wins will carry forward automatically, he believes filmmakers must earn success again with each new release.
Spielberg also reflected on his own experience while making his newest sci-fi alien thriller, Disclosure Day, saying that he absolutely felt like he was starting from the beginning on that film too. For him, the creative process never becomes routine, even after half a century of making major motion pictures. He said he feels that same restart sensation on every film, which may help explain how he has remained relevant and successful for so long.
His advice is especially relevant for Parsons and Barker, who have both moved rapidly from promising young talent to widely discussed genre directors. Parsons went from making viral found-footage shorts on YouTube to directing a feature adaptation of Backrooms, while Barker turned Obsession into a horror hit that has captured audience attention. Spielberg’s message to them was clear: success matters, but humility matters more.
The larger lesson from Spielberg’s remarks is that achievement in filmmaking is not a final destination. A hit can open doors, build trust, and create momentum, but it does not remove the challenge of the next project. According to Spielberg, the real secret to longevity is accepting that every film is a new test. Even one of cinema’s most decorated directors still feels like a beginner every time he steps onto a set, and that attitude, he suggests, is exactly what keeps the work alive.
