Story perspectives

YouTuber-Directed “Obsession” Nets $22 M, Youth Buzz Fuels Rise

5/26/2026

Summary

Obsession Soars

Obsession earned $22 million in its second U.S. weekend, a 30 percent rise that placed it second behind The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The film earned $58.5 million in North America and $74 million worldwide and holds a 94-percent Rotten Tomatoes score, an A-minus CinemaScore, and a 95-percent audience rating.
Directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker, the production stars Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston.
Strong word-of-mouth, reflected by a 75 percent 18-25 audience, drove the boost.

Summary

A24 Releases

A24 will release Kane Parsons’s *Backrooms* on May 29, a film made for under $10 million that could break the studio’s debut-record.
The YouTube horror wave features Curry Barker, who rose from short videos, and Markiplier’s *Iron Lung*, which earned over $50 million worldwide.
Analysts say the YouTube-driven low-budget model, exemplified by *Obsession* made for $750,000 and earning a 95 percent “Certified Fresh” rating, could yield a 100-fold return and is reshaping horror production and distribution.

History

Historical Context

In 1999 the low-budget found-footage horror film *The Blair Witch Project*, written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, premiered at Sundance and was bought by Artisan Entertainment for $1.1 million. Its viral website drew 160 million hits and the movie earned $248.6 million worldwide—over 4,000 times its $60,000 budget—sparking a wave of cheap internet-driven horror that still shapes indie releases today.

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Obsession Soars

Obsession earned $22 million in its second U.S. weekend, a 30 percent rise that placed it second behind The Mandalorian and Grogu.
The film earned $58.5 million in North America and $74 million worldwide and holds a 94-percent Rotten Tomatoes score, an A-minus CinemaScore, and a 95-percent audience rating.
Directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker, the production stars Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston.
Strong word-of-mouth, reflected by a 75 percent 18-25 audience, drove the boost.

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