Mark Duplass is hailing the surprise box office success of the horror films Backrooms and Obsession as a hopeful sign for an industry searching for new ways to connect with audiences. In a video posted to X, the Emmy-winning actor said the films represent “a glimmer of hope” for filmmakers and studios, noting that while the business remains complicated, the performance of the two titles is encouraging. He said the projects show that creators can build audiences online, make films with accessible tools, and eventually attract the attention of major buyers and distributors.
Duplass pointed to the rise of low-cost, creator-driven filmmaking as evidence that the path to the big screen is changing. He said filmmakers should continue “woodshedding” with friends, using available tools such as iPhones and Blender, and then release their work once it is strong enough. Both Backrooms director Kane Parsons, 20, and Obsession filmmaker Curry Barker, 26, began on YouTube and used accessible technology to develop their projects. Blender, the free open-source 3D software used in their work, also helped power the 2024 Oscar-winning animated film Flow.
The success of the films has been notable. Backrooms has become A24’s biggest opening weekend ever and made Parsons the distributor’s youngest filmmaker. The movie has earned $118 million worldwide. Obsession, now in its third release week, has become Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie in the United States and one of its top global earners, with $104.7 million domestically and $148 million worldwide. Made for less than $1 million, the film also saw a 39% increase in box office revenue in its second weekend, a rare result for a horror title.
Together, the films currently hold the top two spots at the box office, outperforming major studio releases including Disney’s Mandalorian and Grogu and Lionsgate’s Michael. Their success has fueled broader discussion in Hollywood about the continued strength of horror as a theatrical genre and the growing influence of young filmmakers who develop an audience online before moving into feature films.
Duplass previously defended Parsons against rumors that Backrooms had been “ghost-directed” by a more experienced filmmaker. Parsons responded with a joke, mocking the idea that a mysterious veteran filmmaker is secretly directing most movies in North America and Europe. The exchange highlighted the attention and skepticism surrounding young creators breaking through in Hollywood.
The momentum behind Backrooms and Obsession has also drawn praise from top industry figures. Producer James Wan and Jason Blum both addressed the films’ success at the Produced by Conference, with Blum calling the moment “really exciting” and comparing it to the 1970s, when a new generation of filmmakers made edgy movies that connected strongly with audiences. Warner Bros. co-chair Michael De Luca also praised the filmmakers for engaging directly with viewers and building their craft online over several years.
