US box office sees indie horror films outpace franchise blockbusters

Steven Spielberg’s new science‑fiction film Disclosure Day is projected to earn between $43 million and $44 million in its opening weekend, a strong showing for an original title without an existing franchise. By contrast, the reboot Masters of the Universe is expected to suffer a steep drop of around 70 percent for its second weekend, and even the horror‑comedy Scary Movie is only holding modest audience interest.

Indie horror movies are overriding the performance of the major franchises. Obsession, made on a $1 million budget, opened with more than $17 million, while Backrooms generated an $81 million debut. Both films are directed by members of Gen Z who built followings on YouTube, and they are attracting younger audiences – 85 % of Backrooms viewers and 75 % of Obsession viewers are under 35. Their success is eclipsing recent releases such as the latest Star Wars entry and the Masters of the Universe reboot.