At the Produced By Conference on the Universal Studios lot Saturday, Jason Blum and James Wan discussed the box office success of Obsession and Backrooms, calling the films a new kind of movie made by non-traditional directors that are revitalizing theatrical exhibition. Blum described a 'lethargic feeling' around theaters since COVID and credited these films with restoring relevance. The pair also outlined their vision for the combined Blumhouse-Atomic Monster as a 'Disney of Horror' focused on low-budget, high-concept horror.
at the produced by conference saturday, blum and wan said obsession and backrooms are saving theaters post-covid. they called them a new kind of movie from non-traditional directors and pitched blumhouse-atomic monster as the 'disney of horror.'
The comments underscore a broader narrative that low-budget horror films are driving theatrical recovery, challenging the notion that only blockbusters can lure audiences. Blum and Wan's positioning of their combined studio as a horror-focused mini-major signals a strategic shift in how genre films are produced and marketed. Their emphasis on non-traditional directors also points to an industry trend of tapping internet-native talent for mainstream releases.
blum and wan are basically saying horror is the new superhero genre for theaters. their 'disney of horror' pitch means we'll see more low-budget, high-concept horror from non-traditional filmmakers. it's a bet that internet-born stories can save the big screen.
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