Low-budget horror films achieve massive global box office success

Low-budget horror films, specifically “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” have achieved significant commercial success in 2026, collectively earning over $900 million globally. “Obsession” was produced for less than $1 million and recouped its budget over 500 times through domestic and international sales.

Industry experts at the San Sebastian Film Festival’s Creative Investors’ Conference cautioned against viewing these successes as a permanent shift in industry direction. Analysts described the films as “black swan events” and “anomalies” that were highly unlikely to occur. While the hits have sparked interest in finding the next low-budget phenomenon, financiers warned that these surprises should not overshadow traditional industry sensibilities or lead studios to focus exclusively on specific genres or tropes.