There’s been a lot of discussion lately about the future of movie theaters. For the past ten years or so, many experts have predicted that going to the cinema might not remain popular for much longer.
Although movie ticket sales haven’t fully recovered since the COVID-19 lockdowns, and some big-budget films have failed, recent trends suggest things are improving and challenge the pessimistic outlook.
Right now, horror movies seem to be leading the way in cinema. The genre has consistently proven to be very profitable over the last few years, and it’s also gaining recognition from major award shows, as seen with the Oscar wins for films like Weapons and Sinners this year.
Over the last month, two horror films have really stood out, suggesting this genre could be the key to revitalizing the movie industry. One is “Obsession,” a clever and visually appealing film from Curry Baker, featuring a fantastic performance by Inde Navarette. It started strong in theaters and continues to gain popularity, particularly with Gen Z audiences who are spreading the word.
The film was unusual in that it actually increased its earnings in its second week, and that trend continued into its third week – a feat not accomplished by a widely released movie since Steven Spielberg’s E.T. in 1982. It also surpassed Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu in box office revenue.
A24’s new horror film, Backrooms, is a huge success. Directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons and based on his popular YouTube series, the film opened in theaters last Friday, May 29th, and earned an impressive $118 million worldwide. That’s more than ten times its $10 million production cost, and it’s expected to continue performing well in the weeks ahead.
What really strikes me about these two movies is how much younger audiences, especially Gen Z, are loving them. It totally proves wrong those predictions that people have stopped going to the cinema! It’s not that people don’t want the cinema experience, it’s just that tastes are changing – and the fact that another recent film, The Mandalorian movie, didn’t do well really backs that up. It’s exciting to see what audiences are connecting with now.
It’s also important to note that both Baker and Parsons transitioned to filmmaking after gaining significant popularity on YouTube, a path recently proven successful by others, like the Philippou brothers, whose films Talk to Me and Bring Her Back were well-received by both critics and audiences.
Traditionally, directors gained experience through television or music videos. Now, there’s a new path to making feature films, and it’s expected to bring fresh perspectives from a wider range of filmmakers soon.
Throughout film history, we’ve repeatedly seen predictions of its demise turn into opportunities for innovation. Considering how popular projects like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ have become, it’s clear that cinema is entering a new and exciting phase.
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Backrooms and Obsession are both showing in UK cinemas.
Authors
Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering both theatrical releases and streaming titles. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed films of all kinds.
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2026-06-01 20:04