The path from making videos in a bedroom to directing major Hollywood films has become more real than ever. A new generation of filmmakers who started on YouTube are now releasing their first feature films. Some of the biggest horror movies of 2025 and 2026 come from creators who learned their craft making sketches and short films for the internet. Curry Barker, Kane Parsons, Markiplier, Chris Stuckmann, the Philippou brothers, and David F. Sandberg have all made the jump from computer screens to cinema screens.
Curry Barker Turns a $750K Horror Hit Into a $161 Million Success
Curry Barker made a name for himself on YouTube with his channel ‘that’s a bad idea’, where he created short comedy sketches with his partner Cooper Tomlinson. The duo also directed an hour-long found-footage horror film called Milk and Serial, which currently has over 2.9 million views on YouTube. Now Barker has written, directed, and edited his first theatrical feature Obsession, which has become one of the biggest box office stories of 2026.
The film follows Bear (played by Michael Johnston), a lonely music store employee who buys a supernatural toy called the One Wish Willow. He wishes for his childhood friend Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette) to love him more than anyone else. The wish comes true in a terrifying way, turning Nikki’s affection into an obsessive and violent fixation. The film explores male entitlement and breaks down the “nice guy” character type in brutal fashion.
Made on a budget of just $750,000, Obsession has already grossed over $161 million worldwide, representing a profit of more than 10,000%. Barker is already working on his next horror feature called Anything But Ghosts, which will exist in the same universe as Obsession. The new film follows two con artists who pretend to be paranormal investigators but end up facing a real supernatural threat. The cast includes Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw.
“Over 100M at the box office?! So surreal and it’s all because of you guys. Thank you to everyone who has come out to watch the film,” Barker wrote on Instagram, while also hiding an Easter egg in a series of polaroid photos that tell a hidden story about the characters’ relationships.
Kane Parsons Goes From Backrooms Creator to A24’s Youngest Director
Kane Parsons, known online as Kane Pixels, started making videos about the Backrooms when he was just 16 years old. The Backrooms started as an internet horror idea based on a single picture of an empty, endless-looking room. Parsons built a whole cinematic found-footage series around that one image, creating a detailed story that became one of the internet’s most recognized horror creations.
Now at 20 years old, Parsons has become the youngest director ever to work with A24. His first feature film Backrooms is scheduled to hit theaters on May 29, 2026. The movie stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell. The 105-minute science fiction horror film will bring Parsons’ unique vision of endless yellow rooms and lurking creatures to the big screen.
Markiplier Self-Finances Iron Lung and Scores a Box Office Win
Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, took a huge risk with his first movie. He wrote, self-financed, directed, and starred in Iron Lung, based on the 2022 indie game of the same name. The movie follows a convict who is sent to explore an ocean of blood on a desolate moon after his body parts are sold. Jacksepticeye, another popular YouTuber, and Troy Baker (famous for playing Joel in The Last of Us) also appear in the film.
Iron Lung released in theaters on January 30, 2026, with a production budget of $3 million. The movie opened with $18.1 million in its first weekend and went on to earn $40.4 million domestically and $50 million worldwide. After its successful theatrical run, the film became available to rent or buy on YouTube Movies starting May 31, 2026.
Chris Stuckmann’s Shelby Oaks Becomes Kickstarter’s Most-Funded Horror Film
Chris Stuckmann started as a film critic on YouTube, reviewing movies for years and building a loyal audience. He then decided to make his own movie. Shelby Oaks follows Mia (played by Camille Sullivan) as she desperately searches for her sister Riley (played by Sarah Durn), who disappeared while making the last episode of her paranormal investigation series called “Paranormal Paranoids”.
Stuckmann launched a Kickstarter campaign in March 2022 to fund the film. The campaign raised $1.39 million from more than 14,700 backers, becoming the most-funded horror film project in Kickstarter history. The movie had its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2024. Mike Flanagan, the famous horror director behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, came on board as an executive producer during post-production.
Shelby Oaks was released theatrically by Neon on October 24, 2025, playing in 1,830 theaters across the United States. The film grossed $2.4 million in its opening weekend and went on to earn $4.5 million domestically and $8.1 million worldwide. Stuckmann, now 38, is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Critics Choice Association.
The Philippou Brothers Make Talk to Me and Bring Her Back
Australian twin brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, known online as RackaRacka, built their YouTube channel by making short horror-comedy sketches filled with slapstick violence, pop culture parodies, and homemade special effects. Their most famous creation is the “FBI open up!” meme that went viral in 2016. But their biggest success came when they moved into feature films.
Their first movie Talk to Me came out in 2022 and became a huge hit. The story follows a group of teens who play a dangerous game with a cursed mummy hand that lets them talk to spirits. The movie was praised as a smart metaphor for peer pressure, addiction, and grief. Made on a small budget, the film earned critical acclaim and strong box office numbers.
The brothers followed up with Bring Her Back, which released in theaters on May 30, 2025. The movie stars Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, and Sora Wong. It follows two orphaned step-siblings who end up in the middle of a dark ritual at their new foster mother’s home. The film is darker than Talk to Me, with fewer jokes and more intense horror. Sora Wong, who got her first acting role in the film, did her own stunts, including a drowning scene that young star Billy Barratt insisted on filming multiple times to get it right.
David F. Sandberg Goes From Apartment Shorts to Directing Shazam
David F. Sandberg, a Swedish filmmaker, started by making no-budget horror shorts in his apartment with his wife Lotta Losten while struggling with unemployment. He uploaded these films to his YouTube channel called ponysmasher. In 2013, he released a 2-minute horror short called Lights Out. The short went viral, catching the attention of Hollywood producers almost immediately.
Sandberg was hired to direct a full-length version of Lights Out, which came out in 2016 and grossed nearly $150 million on a $5 million budget. He then directed Annabelle: Creation in 2017, part of The Conjuring universe.
Also Read:
His biggest break came when Warner Bros. hired him to direct Shazam! (2019) and its sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods for the DC Extended Universe. Sandberg still remains active on his YouTube channel, where he shares behind-the-scenes insights and clears up common myths about big-budget filmmaking.
Also Read: Amy Adams’ Daughter Aviana, 15, Sparks Scarlett Johansson Lookalike Frenzy at ‘Cape Fear’ Premiere
Keep up with the latest entertainment news and filmmaker spotlights by visiting VvipTimes for more stories about creators making it big in Hollywood.
