How low-budget movies are beating Hollywood's most expensive bets
Low-budget horror films directed by young internet creators are outperforming major studio blockbusters at the 2026 box office. Films like 'Obsession' and 'Backrooms' have achieved massive financial success, signaling a shift in audience preferences toward independent, digital-native storytelling.
Why it matters
The success of these films challenges the traditional Hollywood studio model and highlights the growing influence of YouTube-native creators on mainstream cinema.
Renate Reinsve in “Backrooms,” left, and Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston in “Obsession.” (Asterios Moutsokapas / A24; Focus Features) By Cerys Davies Staff Writer Follow June 20, 2026 3 AM PT 11 5 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here .
The article provides a business analysis of box office trends without ideological bias.
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