Entertainment Summer movie season is normally a battle of Hollywood heavyweights — but this year, two of the hottest tickets at the box office come from young YouTubers who brought their built-in audiences with them to the big screen. Industry watchers say their success could influence what projects get made in the future. ‘I think the lesson is to stop underestimating the audience,’ says Canadian Backrooms producer Sarah Taher · CBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago Listen to this article Estimated 6 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Chiwetel Ejiofor appears in a scene from the hit horror movie Backrooms. The film’s director, 20-year-old Kane Parsons, is part of a younger generation of filmmakers cutting their teeth on YouTube and bringing their built-in Gen Z audiences with them to the big screen. (A24/The Associated Press) Summer movie season is normally a battle of Hollywood heavyweights — but this year, two of the hottest tickets at the box office come from filmmakers who’ve never had movies in theatres before.
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