06/17/2026
The movie business just had its first billion-dollar month of May since 2019.
That's great news, but what I find even more interesting is who's helping drive it.
For years, we heard that YouTube and internet culture would be the death of cinema. Instead, we're witnessing a massive resurgence with young moviegoers and a new generation of digital creators showing a real reverence for the big screen.
A24's Backrooms, born from a viral YouTube series, saw 86% of its opening weekend audience come in under the age of 35.
Meanwhile, Obsession, made on a $750,000 budget by a 26-year-old director, has already generated $188 million domestically and counting.
Young audiences aren't abandoning the theatre. They're flocking to it.
A few months ago, we saw younger kids driving attendance for films made specifically for them. Now we're seeing young adults show up for content they've discovered on YouTube and TikTok that's been adapted for the big screen.
And just look at what happens when the industry provides them with movies made for them.
If you're trying to reach younger consumers, this is a trend worth paying attention to.
With a packed summer movie slate ahead, it's going to be fun to see what happens next.