tech
To YouTube and beyond: how online gen Z directors stormed Hollywood
Record-breaking box office for Backrooms and Obsession has opened the door for twentysomething YouTube creators as the industry rethinks what audiences want
TL;DR
- YouTube-trained directors like Kane Parsons ('Backrooms'), Curry Barker ('Obsession'), and Markiplier ('Iron Lung') are achieving significant box office success in 2026.
- Horror genre appears to be a common entry point for these new filmmakers, possibly due to marketability and youth audience appeal.
- The success of these films challenges the notion that younger audiences lack the patience for traditional feature-length movies.
- YouTube is emerging as a new platform for filmmakers, analogous to MTV's role in the 1980s and 90s for music video directors.
- While YouTube offers accessibility, concerns exist about a potential bias towards creators with existing means and time, and the focus on click-attracting content over filmmaking fundamentals.