The Shocking Success of ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ Should Be a Memo to Hollywood: You Need What’s Outside the Box
The recent success of the horror films 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession' highlights a shift in Hollywood towards more innovative storytelling. Both films have defied traditional box office expectations, suggesting a growing audience for unconventional narratives. This trend indicates that Hollywood may benefit from embracing creativity and originality in filmmaking.
- ▪'Backrooms' is projected to earn $85 million this weekend, a remarkable figure for an experimental horror film.
- ▪'Obsession' saw an increase in box office earnings from $17 million to $24 million in its second weekend.
- ▪The success of these films suggests that filmmakers with strong online followings can attract significant audiences.
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Home Film Columns May 30, 2026 11:04am PT The Shocking Success of ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ Should Be a Memo to Hollywood: You Need What’s Outside the Box By Owen Gleiberman Plus Icon Owen Gleiberman Chief Film Critic @OwenGleiberman Latest ‘Atonement’ Review: Boyd Holbrook and Hiam Abbass in a Different Kind of War Movie — an Affecting Drama of Survivor Anguish and Combat Guilt 1 day ago ‘Backrooms’ Review: Experimental Horror Comes Out of the Margins in Kane Parsons’ YouTube-Gone-A24 Head Trip 3 days ago Best of Cannes 2026: 20 Critics’ Picks From This Year’s Festival 1 week ago See All ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection “Thinking outside the box” is a phrase that tends to be used by those who are stuck inside the box.
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