When the film industry reflects on 2026, two independent horror titles stand out as top performers.
The films “Backrooms” and “Obsession” captured audiences with their modest budgets, inventive storytelling, and appeal to Gen Z viewers. Although they did not top the box‑office charts—their highest‑grossing peers being “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and, potentially, “Avengers: Doomsday” once final tallies are released—both movies have cemented their directors as newcomers to watch in the industry.
Both releases also demonstrated how Internet‑driven concepts can translate successfully to the big screen while maintaining financial prudence. That balance, in our view, is the most valuable takeaway for studios.
“Obsession” continues to perform strongly in theaters and has now transitioned to VOD platforms, where it ranks as the top‑selling title on Prime Video. In contrast, “Backrooms” has yet to move from theaters to VOD, leaving new viewers eager for the experience.
The studio behind the film, A 24, added 16 minutes of new footage to the original theatrical cut, renaming the update “Backrooms: Everything Must Go.” The new scenes offer an additional hook for audiences who missed the original mystery and are poised to attract both returning and fresh viewers.
“Backrooms” has already grossed nearly $350 million worldwide, and the updated version is expected to contribute further to that figure. The theatrical release saw a modest 24 percent drop over the weekend, placing_sb seventh overall.
Opening on May 29, the film illustrates a savvy marketing strategy that could signal the beginning of a new horror franchise. The story itself originated not from traditional cinema but from discussions on 4Chan and Reddit, adding an unusual provenance to its success.
