Aaron Bartuska

director of FOR ROGER, aspiring camp crystal lake counselor, and m. night shyamalan enthusiast. (he/him)

[Aaron Bartuska @aaronbartusk]

My new review of Mariusz Wilczyński's Kill It And Leave This Town is up on Video Librarian. This film serves as an exemplary personal work showcasing the ways in which artists can find solace and relief in their creations.
https://t.co/IgQBTpP13Z

[Paul Muad’Dib @trygraptor]

no it’s okay sir i know this 70mm showtime of The Odyssey is sold out, i just have to deliver this very large horse-shaped package to someone inside

[Mark Asch @MarkAschParody]

shot bolt upright at 5am with a vision of Conan wandering through the Backrooms in the Oscars cold open

[Jim Cummings @jimmycthatsme]

It is finally happening.
An indie film can make $100M at the box office without celebrities.
The times they are a changin'.
Make your movie.

[John Squires 🎃 @FreddyInSpace]

"Biggest opening ever for an original horror property."

The New Generation has arrived.

[Exhibitor Relations Co. @ERCboxoffice]

The blockbuster summer movie as we know it is dead. RIP IP. The most talked about movies of the summer are two low budget indie films—OBSESSION and BACKROOMS.

Not sequels. Not spinoffs. Not reboots. OGs.

Movies are back, baby. This is the way.

[John Squires 🎃 @FreddyInSpace]

So OBSESSION is about to make MORE in its third weekend than it did in its first weekend or its second weekend. While facing massive direct horror competition from BACKROOMS. This kind of thing just doesn't happen. MAY 2026 has truly become a historic month for the horror genre.

[Jason Blum @jason_blum]

Blumhouse-Atomic Monster has the #1 and #2 movies in the country this weekend, both made for almost no money. Theaters are packed. What a time to be making scary movies.

[Jim Cummings @jimmycthatsme]

Hollywood is starting to change their system of talent selection. They are now making big bets on successful internet filmmakers. This is amazing news because the alternative was so political and cheesy and failing. It is a new dawn and I am so stoked about it.

[John Squires 🎃 @FreddyInSpace]

The big secret is that you need to make good horror movies that audiences will actually want to see, talk about, spread the word about, and go see again. It's not easy. Not easy at all. But that's the ONLY lesson to learn from the success of movies like Obsession and Backrooms.

[Brad @ Dread Central @DreadCentral]

I went to see ‘BACKROOMS’ last night and saw something I haven't seen in years:

Teenagers standing in line for a movie.

Not with their parents. Not as families. Just groups of kids choosing to spend their night at a theater.

That's what makes ‘BACKROOMS’ so fascinating. Kane Parsons, Curry Barker, and creators like Markiplier aren't just making movies. They're bringing a new generation back to theaters.

Read more: [https://t.co/92Wiu4Ia2E]

[Bobby Wagner @bwags]

Ahead of Disclosure Day: Spielberg's full filmography and where they're streaming (if relevant). Plus, two scaled back lists of his movies if you don't have time to do a full rewatch

[Sethy @Brizksie]

Good morning OBSESSION nation it's Backrooms release day!!!

[xan loves OBSESSION @ColonelCochise]

a 26 year old directors theatrical debut horror film just surpassed a fucking star wars movie at the domestic box office and retook the #1 spot do you guys realize how insane this is

[Zack Stentz @MuseZack]

This feels like a genuine cultural moment in moviegoing, watching Zoomers who honed their craft doing Youtube shorts breaking into features the way the MTV directors did in the '80s and Sundance kids did in the '90s.

[Nate Richard @NateKnowsMovies]

Spielberg was 26-27 when he made Jaws

Raimi was 21 when he made Evil Dead

PTA was 26 when he made Boogie Nights

Chazelle was 29 when he made Whiplash

Cameron was 29 when he made Terminator

Welles was 25 when he made Citizen Kane

Singleton was 23 when he made Boyz n the Hood

[Film Updates @FilmUpdates]

‘BACKROOMS’ is eyeing a $40M–$50M domestic opening weekend.

At 20, Kane Parsons is set to become the youngest filmmaker ever to top the box office.

[Evan @EvanJSantiago]

We are now living in a reality where, on a holiday, at one of the most popular theaters in the nation, people would rather see a low budget horror like Obsession than the new Star Wars movie - even if it’s in a premium format.

[Marshall Shaffer @media_marshall]

I think it is very likely, if not probable at this point, that BACKROOMS will open above the second frame of THE MANDOLORIAN AND GROGU and send shockwaves across Hollywood boardrooms around what people *actually* want to see right now.

[eric is dead @leonVSevildead]

Imagine how much more sustainable the movie industry would be if we didn’t rely on massive blockbusters.

[Jason Blum @jason_blum]

A- CinemaScore for OBSESSION. Same as WEAPONS. Only the 6th horror movie since 2019 to get an A- or higher

CONGRATS TEAM!!! Go see it.