Overview
- A24’s Backrooms opened to an estimated $85 million–$88 million in North America and Focus Features’ Obsession cleared about $106 million, figures that executives pointed to as signs of strong creator-driven demand.
- Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chair Michael De Luca said YouTube-born directors like Kane Parsons and Curry Barker 'hone their craft online' and use subscriber feedback as iterative test screenings before theatrical release.
- De Luca argued that studios now rely on digital advertising and direct creator collaboration to reach engaged audiences, a shift he credited with improving marketing efficiency and opening turnout.
- At the Produced By panel De Luca also defended Warner’s label strategy for offering varied filmmaking outlets and warned that past choices — which he called a 'popcorn experiment' — cost the studio awards positioning with filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan.
- The comments were delivered on the Universal lot in a discussion moderated by producer Sara Murphy and signal a broader industry move to scout, develop and market films through creator pipelines rather than traditional gatekeeping.