Steven Spielberg Praises ‘Obsession’, ‘Backrooms’ Box Office Success: “I Just Applaud Them”
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- Steven Spielberg praised the low‑budget horror films Obsession and Backrooms at a red‑carpet interview while promoting his upcoming movie Disclosure Day on June 12.
- Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, was made for under $1 million and has earned $151.3 million domestically, becoming Focus Features’ highest‑grossing stateside release.
- Backrooms, directed by 20‑year‑old Kane Parsons, was produced on a $9–10 million budget, opened with $81.4 million domestically and $118 million worldwide, giving A24 its record opening and first domestic $100 million‑plus horror film.
- A24 now holds the studio’s highest domestic horror gross, surpassing $100 million for the first time with Backrooms.
Why it matters: The box‑office windfall boosts Focus Features and A24, proving low‑budget horror can rival big‑budget franchises and encouraging studios to invest in similar cost‑effective projects for future releases.
