Mark Duplass Hails Backrooms and Obsession Success as a Win for New Filmmakers

Mark Duplass has praised the surprise box office success of horror films Backrooms and Obsession, calling them a positive sign for the film industry.

In a video posted on X, Duplass said the two movies show that young creators can use affordable tools like iPhones and Blender, build audiences online, and eventually find success in theaters. He encouraged aspiring filmmakers to keep creating and sharing their work.

Backrooms director Kane Parsons, 20, and Obsession director Curry Barker, 26, both started on YouTube before making their feature films. Their movies have become major hits, outperforming several big-budget releases.

Backrooms, released by A24, recorded the company’s biggest opening weekend with $118 million worldwide. Obsession, made for less than $1 million, has earned $148 million globally and became Focus Features’ highest-grossing film in the U.S.

Industry figures including James Wan, Jason Blum, and Warner Bros. executive Michael De Luca also praised the films, saying they represent a new generation of filmmakers who developed their skills online and maintain close connections with their audiences.

Backrooms is based on the popular internet horror concept of endless empty rooms, while Obsession follows the consequences of a young man’s wish that his crush love him more than anyone else.