The landscape of successful films is shifting, moving away from established intellectual property like superhero franchises and sequels towards original, independently produced movies, as evidenced by the unexpected box office triumphs of "Obsession" and "Backrooms." While overall cinema attendance has decreased from pre-pandemic levels, with UK, US, and Canada admissions dropping from 1.416 billion in 2019 to 914.1 million in 2025, the industry is seeing success in a new form. High-budget films achieving billion-dollar marks have dwindled, with only three in the last year compared to nine in 2019. Instead, smaller, original films like "Obsession," made for $750,000 and directed by 26-year-old YouTuber Curry Barker, have shown remarkable resilience and growth, unlike larger productions such as "The Mandalorian & Grogu." Similarly, "Backrooms," inspired by 20-year-old YouTuber Kane Parsons' web series, has become studio A24's highest-grossing film in the US, driven by word-of-mouth and innovative storytelling.