Blab Entertainment
2026 Horror Weekend Box-Office: Scary Movie 6, Backrooms, Obsession, Masters of the Universe and Power Ballad Deliver Mixed Results
When the summer horror slate rolled into theaters this weekend, the box‑office told a story of stark contrasts. Five titles—Paramount’s high‑budget "Scary Movie 6," A24’s cult‑hit "Backrooms," Focus Features’ low‑budget thriller "Obsession," Amazon MGM’s nostalgic adventure "Masters of the Universe," and Paul Rudd’s musical comedy "Power Ballad"—collectively pulled in just over $100 million in domestic receipts, a figure that reflects both the genre’s resilience and the volatility of big‑budget expectations.
"Scary Movie 6" opened on June 5 under Paramount Pictures and was directed by Michael Tiddes with a screenplay by the Wayans brothers. The film’s production cost was estimated at $200 million, a figure that matched the franchise’s legacy of high spending. Deadline reports that the picture earned $54.5 million domestically and $50.5 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $105 million. Critics largely panned the film, yet the return of the Wayans family and Anna Faris drew a sizable audience, underscoring the pull of familiar names even when the creative direction shifts.
A24’s "Backrooms" premiered on May 29 and, with a modest $10 million budget, has become the studio’s highest‑grossing release to date. Directed and co‑scored by 20‑year‑old Kane Parsons, the film has earned $195.9 million worldwide, with $134 million coming from domestic markets and $61.9 million from foreign territories. The success has positioned Parsons as the youngest filmmaker to top the American box‑office charts, a milestone that highlights the growing appetite for fresh, low‑budget horror that delivers high returns.
"Obsession," a supernatural psychological thriller from Focus Features, opened on May 15. Written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker, the film was produced on a reported $1 million budget. Deadline reports that "Obsession" has grossed $224.8 million worldwide, making it Focus Features’ highest‑grossing film ever and the ninth‑highest‑grossing movie of 2026. The picture’s performance has drawn attention to the studio’s growing appetite for low‑budget genre fare and its ability to generate outsized profits from modest outlays.
Amazon MGM’s "Masters of the Universe," released on June 5 and directed by Travis Knight, was produced on an estimated $200 million budget. The film earned $29 million domestically and $25 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $54 million. The opening fell short of the studio’s expectations and has prompted questions about the viability of high‑budget adaptations of nostalgic franchises, especially when the market is saturated with competing spectacle offerings.
"Power Ballad," a musical comedy starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, opened in more than 1,200 theaters on June 5. The picture has yet to report significant box‑office numbers, and Variety notes that it has received limited promotion. With its early performance remaining uncertain, the film’s trajectory will hinge on marketing push and audience reception.
Taken together, the horror weekend demonstrates that low‑budget genre films can outpace high‑budget blockbusters. "Backrooms" and "Obsession" each surpassed $200 million worldwide, while "Scary Movie 6" and "Masters of the Universe" fell short of their budgets. The weekend also highlighted the continued relevance of nostalgia‑based properties and the importance of strategic marketing for new releases.
Industry observers will be watching how upcoming titles perform as the summer box‑office season progresses. The second season of the streaming series "The Backrooms" is slated for release next month, and the theatrical debut of the animated feature "The Last Unicorn" is scheduled for early July. Both projects represent attempts to capitalize on the horror and fantasy genres that have proven profitable in recent years.
In summary, the 2026 horror weekend underscores a broader industry trend: while big‑budget spectacles still command attention, the market increasingly rewards lean, innovative storytelling. As studios recalibrate their strategies around cost efficiency and audience engagement, the next wave of releases will likely prioritize the same blend of fresh vision and proven formulas that propelled "Backrooms" and "Obsession" to box‑office prominence.
"Scary Movie 6" opened on June 5 under Paramount Pictures and was directed by Michael Tiddes with a screenplay by the Wayans brothers. The film’s production cost was estimated at $200 million, a figure that matched the franchise’s legacy of high spending. Deadline reports that the picture earned $54.5 million domestically and $50.5 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $105 million. Critics largely panned the film, yet the return of the Wayans family and Anna Faris drew a sizable audience, underscoring the pull of familiar names even when the creative direction shifts.
A24’s "Backrooms" premiered on May 29 and, with a modest $10 million budget, has become the studio’s highest‑grossing release to date. Directed and co‑scored by 20‑year‑old Kane Parsons, the film has earned $195.9 million worldwide, with $134 million coming from domestic markets and $61.9 million from foreign territories. The success has positioned Parsons as the youngest filmmaker to top the American box‑office charts, a milestone that highlights the growing appetite for fresh, low‑budget horror that delivers high returns.
"Obsession," a supernatural psychological thriller from Focus Features, opened on May 15. Written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker, the film was produced on a reported $1 million budget. Deadline reports that "Obsession" has grossed $224.8 million worldwide, making it Focus Features’ highest‑grossing film ever and the ninth‑highest‑grossing movie of 2026. The picture’s performance has drawn attention to the studio’s growing appetite for low‑budget genre fare and its ability to generate outsized profits from modest outlays.
Amazon MGM’s "Masters of the Universe," released on June 5 and directed by Travis Knight, was produced on an estimated $200 million budget. The film earned $29 million domestically and $25 million overseas, for a worldwide total of $54 million. The opening fell short of the studio’s expectations and has prompted questions about the viability of high‑budget adaptations of nostalgic franchises, especially when the market is saturated with competing spectacle offerings.
"Power Ballad," a musical comedy starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, opened in more than 1,200 theaters on June 5. The picture has yet to report significant box‑office numbers, and Variety notes that it has received limited promotion. With its early performance remaining uncertain, the film’s trajectory will hinge on marketing push and audience reception.
Taken together, the horror weekend demonstrates that low‑budget genre films can outpace high‑budget blockbusters. "Backrooms" and "Obsession" each surpassed $200 million worldwide, while "Scary Movie 6" and "Masters of the Universe" fell short of their budgets. The weekend also highlighted the continued relevance of nostalgia‑based properties and the importance of strategic marketing for new releases.
Industry observers will be watching how upcoming titles perform as the summer box‑office season progresses. The second season of the streaming series "The Backrooms" is slated for release next month, and the theatrical debut of the animated feature "The Last Unicorn" is scheduled for early July. Both projects represent attempts to capitalize on the horror and fantasy genres that have proven profitable in recent years.
In summary, the 2026 horror weekend underscores a broader industry trend: while big‑budget spectacles still command attention, the market increasingly rewards lean, innovative storytelling. As studios recalibrate their strategies around cost efficiency and audience engagement, the next wave of releases will likely prioritize the same blend of fresh vision and proven formulas that propelled "Backrooms" and "Obsession" to box‑office prominence.
