# These Movies Finally Got Gen Z Into Theaters

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-journal-547598/backrooms-turns-an-online-obsession-into-box-office-gold
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-journal-547598/backrooms-turns-an-online-obsession-into-box-office-gold.md
Podcast: [The Journal.](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-journal-547598)
Published: 2026-06-12T19:17:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/WSJ4913618520.mp3
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/WSJ4913618520.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-journal-547598/episodes/backrooms-turns-an-online-obsession-into-box-office-gold
Duration seconds: 1255

## Resource

Two scrappy horror films are taking Hollywood by surprise. “Backrooms” and “Obsession” have wildly exceeded expectations at the box office. Both spring from internet culture and have brought an unprecedented numbers of Gen Z-ers into theaters. WSJ's Ben Fritz explains what this new wave means for the movie business. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Why Hollywood Can't Find Good Scripts - Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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