- Spielberg praised both directors and said he "loved" Obsession — noting he was also in his 20s when Jaws became the first summer blockbuster.
- Young audiences know Spielberg's films. Most just discovered them through their parents, not an algorithm.
- What Gen Z actually wants, according to those interviewed: a director who replies on Instagram, a cast of unknowns, a story that feels like someone cared more about the script than the visual effects budget.
- Marvel fatigue is real. CGI overload is real. Barker and Parsons arrived at exactly the right moment.
Gen Z doesn't want Spielberg. It wants the 21-year-old from YouTube.
Summary: This summer’s biggest box-office stories are said to belong to two young YouTube directors, Curry Barker and Kane Parsons, rather than established names like Nolan or Spielberg. Barker’s $750,000 film Obsession reportedly grossed over $334 million globally in six weekends, becoming Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever and the first since E.T. to see its second and third weekends rise. Parsons’ Backrooms reportedly opened to $81.4 million and has earned $276.9 million worldwide, making it the biggest opening in A24 history and making Parsons the youngest filmmaker to top the domestic box office. The article says Spielberg praised both directors, and suggests Gen Z prefers internet-native directors, unknown casts, and story-driven films over heavy CGI, with the key question being whether these films will lead studios to greenlight more low-budget originals.
Details:
This summer didn't belong to Nolan or Spielberg. It belonged to two YouTube directors nobody had heard of a year ago.
Curry Barker, 26, released Obsession on a $750,000 budget. It has grossed over $334M globally in six weekends — Focus Features' highest-grossing film ever, and the first movie since Spielberg's own E.T. to see its second and third weekends rise instead of fall.
Kane Parsons, 21, followed with Backrooms — $10M budget, $81.4M opening weekend, $276.9M global haul. The biggest opening in A24 history. Parsons is now the youngest filmmaker ever to top the domestic box office.