After getting noticed with the self-produced thriller Milk & Serial, Curry Barker confirms with Obsession the capacity of web videographers to cross the borders of Hollywood and to seduce both distributors and the public.
Tl;dr
- Original horror cinema has enjoyed strong success at the box office since the pandemic, driven more by new creations than by franchises.
- Creators from YouTube and the web, like Curry Barker with Obsession, are now making a name for themselves in Hollywood after developing viral or very low-budget projects.
- This dynamic is confirmed with several recent successes and could have a lasting influence on mainstream cinema by expanding talents and production methods.
The rise of original horror cinema at the box office
Since the reopening of theaters after the Covid-19 pandemic, one observation has become clear: the horror genre has been a locomotive for the box office. Far from simple recycled franchises, it is the original proposals that manage to attract a large audience. The phenomenon is not new, but today it is taking on an unprecedented scale. The recent case ofObsessionsigned by the director Curry Barkerprovides additional proof and raises a question: how do these new talents disrupt the codes ofHollywood ?
YouTube: a unique breeding ground for Hollywood
L’histoire derrière Obsession perfectly illustrates this mutation. Until recently, the Hollywood community observed creators from platforms like YouTube with suspicion, even disdain. However, it is clear that some are now forging real cinema careers there. So, before taking over the screens with his new film, Curry Barker became known thanks to Milk & Seriala self-produced thriller for less than a thousand dollars and uploaded to YouTube. The enthusiasm aroused opened the way to the production ofObsessionnow critically acclaimed.
New figures and unexpected successes
Le succès commercial d’Obsessiondistributed even Focus Features et Blumhousetestifies to this shift. With 16.1 million dollars collected during its first weekend in the United States, more than expected, the film climbed to third place in the weekly ranking, behind Michael et The devil wears Prada 2. But this is not an isolated case. Other recent examples confirm this dynamic:
- Kane Parsons, with Backrooms, adapts a viral concept into a feature film at A24.
- Markiplier, star videographer, creates a surprise with Iron Lung, raising $50 million for only three million invested.
- Chris Stuckmann, via Shelby Oaks, writes his name into crowdfunding history.
Avenues open for the future of mainstream cinema?
It’s now difficult to ignore the growing impact of web creators on the entertainment industry. Their unique narrative universes and their ability to mobilize a community ended up winning over traditional producers and distributors. Beyond the horror genre, this phenomenon is even starting to extend to other audiovisual categories, carried by personalities like Ms. Rachel. One thing seems certain: mainstream cinema could well be enriched in the long term thanks to these talents coming from digital… And Obsessioncurrently in theaters, brilliantly embodies this new wave which shakes up established boundaries.
