‘Backrooms’ low‑budget horror film outguns Star Wars spin‑off at US box office

Producer Jason Blum said the surprise success of the horror films *Backrooms: A Non‑Place* and *Obsession* offers hope for cinema, describing them as “bold, strange and completely crazy” that connect with a new generation. The movies were highlighted at the Produced By Conference in California.

The 20‑year‑old filmmaker Kane Parsons directed *Backrooms* on a $10 million budget; it earned $81.5 million in the United States and $118 million globally in its first weekend, overtaking Disney’s high‑budget Star Wars spin‑off *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, which cost $165 million. Another indie horror, *Obsession* by 26‑year‑old Curry Barker, was made for $750 000 and generated $105 million worldwide. The performances illustrate a shift toward low‑budget, creator‑driven horror as a profitable model for the industry.