YouTube Creators Drive 5 Million to Backrooms, Challenging Hollywood Gatekeepers
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · May 31
YouTube Creators Drive 5 Million to Backrooms, Challenging Hollywood Gatekeepers
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · May 31
Backrooms drew 5 million viewers in one weekend, becoming A24’s second-biggest film ever and outgrossing titles including Civil War, Lady Bird and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
That breakout came alongside other creator-led low-budget horror wins: Curry Barker’s Obsession packed theaters, while Markiplier’s Iron Lung had already set records and moved to exclusive YouTube rental and purchase on Sunday.
YouTube’s edge is the audience pipeline itself — creators arrive with millions of subscribers, brand-partnership funding options and a post-theatrical platform that can keep more revenue in creators’ hands.
The shift could compress release windows, shorten production timelines and weaken distributors, financiers and festivals as traditional gatekeepers, even if A24, Focus and other partners still help bring some projects to theaters.
With YouTube set to broadcast the Oscars in just over 30 months, the report argues creator-led hits are not a fad but an early sign of a broader power shift in film.
As YouTube creators conquer the box office, is the traditional Hollywood studio system facing its final curtain call?
Will generative AI empower the next wave of indie filmmakers or simply devalue the entire craft of cinematic art?
How "Backrooms" Earned $118M: The Rise of YouTube Horror and Hollywood’s New Blueprint
Overview
The film "Backrooms" became an unexpected box office hit, earning $81.4 million domestically and $118 million worldwide by May 31, 2026. This A24 production outperformed major studio releases, including "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," which saw a sharp drop to $25 million in its second weekend and finished third with a 70 percent decline from its opening. While "The Mandalorian and Grogu" reached a global gross of $171 million against a $165 million budget, Disney insiders also considered its broader impact on merchandise, parks, and Disney+. "Backrooms" signals a shift in Hollywood’s approach to production and distribution.