Steven Spielberg gives ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ his stamp of approval
Steven Spielberg is a surprisingly big fan of the two underdog movies currently sweeping the box office, Obsession and Backrooms.
The coveted filmmaker behind Jaws, ET, and Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, is gearing up to release his next project, Disclosure Day, slated for a June 12th cinematic release.
At a recent screening of the new movie, the three-time Oscar winner shared his amazement as Obsession and Backrooms, two horrors made by YouTubers, smashed competition out of the park at the box office.
As per Deadline, in a red carpet interview, Spielberg shared, “I’m so happy for them. I think it’s so fantastic.”
He added, “I think it’s great that they had basically very little money, especially Obsession had under $1 million, and the other film had maybe 10 or nine, and they’re doing so well, and I just applaud them.”
Spielberg did go on to admit that he hadn’t yet seen Backrooms: “I am going to see it when all this is over. But I have seen Obsession, and I loved it.”
Obsession, written and directed by Curry Barker, quickly took the crown as Focus Features’ highest-grossing stateside release, as it follows an awkward music clerk who makes a wish that his friend would love him more than anyone else in the world.
Taking a different approach to the genre, Backrooms is based on 20-year-old Kane Parsons’ YouTube series and has already broken several records for A24. It stars Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
In some ways, Spielberg is in the same boat as the two young filmmakers, as he’s already received rave reviews for his next release, Disclosure Day.
Although firm details on the plot remain scant ahead of its imminent release in cinemas, it is said to chart the mass unravelling of a government conspiracy as humanity must finally reckon with an alien invasion.
The star-studded cast includes Colman Domingo, Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and McKenna Bridger.
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