Which the secret behind the most projects horror creatives What are causing a sensation in the Hollywood film industry today?
They all have something in common: They are born from a generation of filmmakers that they had your first opportunity on the Internetspecifically, as YouTubersnow become directors.
There are those who attribute it to the success it is currently having Curry Barkerwith the acclaimed psychological horror thriller ObsessionHowever, this is a trend that started a few years ago.
Here we tell you.
DANNY Y MICHAEL PHILIPPOU (TALK TO ME, BRING HER BACK)
It all started in 2023, with the film debut of the twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippoubest known among film buffs for their YouTube channel, Rack Rack.
The Philippou brothers appeared on the scene with the horror project Talk to Mewhich after celebrating its premiere at Sundance 2023, was acquired by A24for distribution in the United States in July of that same year.
The Australian production, written and directed by the Philippou, follows a group of teenagers who commune with spirits as a party activity, using the hand of a corpse. Mia (Sophie Wilde), seeks to connect with the supernatural after the death of his mother, but as expected, a seance gone wrong has terrifying consequences for the group.
Its practical effects along with convincing performances made it one of the favorites of the genre in 2023.
Produced with a micro budget of $4.5 million dollarsa Smart marketing strategy and effective word of mouth played a fundamental part in the total success of Talk to Me at the box office.
The film grossed $48.2 million dollars at the domestic box office, $43.9 million dollars internationally, for a global total of $92.2 million dollarsbecoming one of the most profitable and highest-grossing original horror films for studio A24. It made more than 20 times its budget at the box office.
In 2025the brothers Phlippou repeated their success with another original horror project, Bring Her Backin which they once again partnered with A24. The plot centers on a brother and sister who discover a terrifying ritual in the secluded home of their new adoptive mother (played by Sally Hawkins).
Where to see: both available on HBO Max.
CHRIS STUCKMANN (SHELBY OAKS)
In 2025 it was the YouTuber's turn Chris Stuckmannknown on the platform for making film reviews.
Stuckmann tried his hand at making his debut as a feature film writer and director with the indie horror Shelby Oaksacquired by NEON for distribution in the United States.
Stuckmann's debut film delves into the chilling journey of a woman searching for her sister, a paranormal investigator, who disappeared a decade earlier.
Shelby Oakswhich presents a cross between found footage and documentary in a traditional narrativeexplores a story about missing paranormal investigators, the dark legacy they uncovered, and the profound consequences of their investigation.
Curiously, Stuckmann had the opportunity to make Shelby Oaks with the help of his film community on YouTube, after starting a Kickstarter campaign in 2022 to obtain financing, managing to collect an amount of $1.4 million dollars in less than a month, making it the most funded horror movie in Kickstarter history.
The support of the online horror film community, including the executive producer, was also essential. Mike FlanaganStuckmann's mentor for years, and Aaron B. Koontz.
After screenings at Fantasia Fest and FrightFest in 2024, NEON injected the project with “undisclosed amount of supplemental financing” estimated at almost double its original budget – $2.8 million dollars – which allowed Stuckmann “intensify the violence and gore” with the completion of three-day reshoots. More information here.
This is the only example on the list that was not lucky. Unfortunately, to Shelby Oaksit didn't go well. It had a global box office of $8.1 million, with a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences, who often called it a film with a good first act, and nothing more.
Where to see: Prime Video.
MICHAEL SHANKS (TOGETHER)
Michael Shanks had the opportunity to make the leap from YouTube to cinema in 2025, with the body horror Togetheracquired by NEONafter its world premiere at Sundance the same year.
Shanks debuted as a feature film writer and director, after many years working as a visual effects artist. The Australian filmmaker became known for his comedy sketches and shorts on his YouTube channel, timtimfed.
The plot of the titled in Latin America as Together: Together until deathfollow Alison Brie y Dave Franco like a codependent couple moving to a remote country location to get even closer. And they achieve it, at a nightmarish physical level, thanks to a supernatural force.
The film exhibits a twisted dynamic in their relationship within an epic and unforgettable horror, applauded for its visceral effects, something we could attribute to the fact that Shanks' experience in that department was going to benefit a careful final product in that area.
Together had a global box office of $34.7 million, against an approximate budget of $17 million. With a good review, and a good response from the audience, this could become a streaming viewing success.
Where to see: Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+.
CURRY BARKER (OBSESSION)
If you don't usually follow the horror scene on YouTube, but have been paying attention to what's happening at the box office or in theaters currently, the name Curry Barker It will sound familiar to you.
Barker, a YouTuber well known as part of the That's a Bad Idea channel, is taking the film world by storm with the release of Obsessionwhich is revolutionizing the box office throughout the world, quickly establishing itself as the horror sensation of 2026.
Barker debuted behind the lens of a feature film with found footage Milk & Serial (2024). A couple of years later, and at just 26 years of age, he is embarking on the adventure that will change his life and career forever: Obsession.
Written and directed by Barker, Obsession revolves around a hopeless romantic who breaks the mysterious “Wish of a Wish” to win the heart of the girl he likes. He soon gets exactly what he asked for, but discovers that his wishes will come at a sinister cost.
As soon as Obsession It arrived in theaters on May 14the boom was massive. The audience and critics have been full of praise its effective terrorand the exceptional way in which Barker builds a chilling world, in which, once we immerse ourselves, we find abundant details to dissect.
the movie It's a total box office phenomenon.. With a micro budget of $750,000 dollars, It has currently collected more than 90 times its production cost in the box office (global box office today: $95.8 million) and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. It is already on its way to make history as one of the most profitable launches, not only from 2026sino of all time.
On IMDb, it currently has a rating of 8.2/10, while on Letterboxd, the rating is 4.2/5, placing it at the number 15 on the list of the highest rated horror moviess of all time in the popular movie app.
Focus Features is your distributor, and Blumhouse one of its producers.
Here we make a brief analysis with the key points of Obsession's success.
Where to see: now in theaters.
KANE PARSONS (BACKROOMS)
This Friday it hits theaters Backroomsthe film adaptation of the Internet's viral creepypasta horror phenomenon, The Backroomscreated by Kane Parsonswho, by the way, debuts as a feature film director, and at only 20 years old, becomes the youngest project director of A24.
The film adapts the found footage horror universe that Parsons popularized in su canal de YouTube, Kane Pixelswhich in turn was inspired by a 4chan creepypasta originating in 2019. Its anthology series premiered in 2022 on YouTube, accumulating 200 million views, and focuses on the story of a therapist who searches for her patient, who mysteriously disappeared in a dimension beyond reality..
This same story is the one that is portrayed on the big screen, with a cast made up of Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Life of Chuck) like the patient, Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) as your therapist, and Lukita Maxwell (Shrinking) y Find Bennett (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) as employees of the furniture store owned by Ejiofor's character.
Box office analysis they project that Backrooms make history this weekendwith ticket sales reaching unprecedented levels for A24which points to a probable debut of massive figures in the United States, around $40 to $50 million dollars.
In Who3 We will closely follow the entire journey Backrooms in cinemas. Meanwhile, we share with you the review we gave to Backrooms here.
Where to see: now in theaters.
Source: https://cine3.com/de-youtube-a-hollywood-nueva-generacion-cineastas/
