YouTube Exec Predicts More YouTubers Will Follow Obsession and Backrooms to Oscar Contention

Pedro Pina says viral creators are defining culture and shaping the future of cinema, with more box office success stories and awards recognition on the horizon.

By Jeanpierre Florent · FirstDrop News TeamSep 29, 20265 min read

Photo: The Hollywood Reporter — Photo Credit: The Hollywood Reporter

YouTube is betting big on more viral creators making the jump from online videos to theatrical box office hits, and the platform's European vice president thinks the next wave will land at the Oscars. Pedro Pina, YouTube's VP for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, pointed to Curry Barker's Obsession and Kane Parsons' Backrooms as proof that Gen Z creators can dominate cinemas, not just streaming algorithms.

Pina made the prediction during a keynote appearance at the sixth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid on Tuesday. His talk, titled YouTube: The Strategic Ally of the Audiovisual System, laid out the platform's vision for partnering with the entertainment industry rather than competing against it.

Both Obsession and Backrooms started as viral YouTube projects before their creators turned them into full theatrical releases. The two horror films became massive box office successes this year, validating the concept that YouTubers can build audiences powerful enough to translate into ticket sales.

Creators Defining Culture

Pina emphasized that YouTube creators are shaping mainstream culture in ways that extend far beyond the platform itself. He described the cultural impact as phenomenal, with creators building followings that can sustain major entertainment releases.

The cinema impact has been especially visible this year. Obsession and Backrooms both started with YouTubers who decided to enter the box office business, and both became tremendous successes in 2026. Pina expects to see more examples like these at the Emmys and Oscars in the coming years.

That prediction carries weight given the awards conversation already swirling around Obsession. The horror film is currently jockeying for a spot in the Best Picture race, competing for what would be the tenth and final nomination slot. The fact that a YouTube creator's first theatrical feature is even in that conversation marks a major shift in how the industry views online talent.

YouTube Positioning Itself as Partner

Pina also spent time explaining YouTube's recent focus on positioning itself as a strategic partner to traditional media and entertainment companies. The platform has been working to change perceptions and educate the industry on how its model actually works.

The objective of appearing at events like Iberseries & Platino Industria is to show up and explain how YouTube's model functions. Pina admitted that the majority of people in the industry unfortunately don't understand it as much, and he took full responsibility for that knowledge gap.

YouTube never spent enough time explaining to the industry how it works and how companies can monetize content on the platform. That lack of communication created fear among traditional players who didn't understand how the platform works, how their content could be protected, how it could reach new audiences, and why it works to monetize.

The platform started a deliberate journey to change that perception roughly three years ago. By breaking down information, providing examples, and showing the way forward, YouTube has seen more and more traditional players starting to take notice.

Traditional Players Uploading More Content

The education effort appears to be working. Pina noted that the amount of content uploaded by traditional players is increasing now, a sign that established media companies are starting to see YouTube as an ally rather than a threat.

That shift mirrors the broader trend of online creators moving in the opposite direction, taking their YouTube audiences with them into traditional theatrical releases. The two movements suggest a future where the lines between online video platforms and traditional entertainment continue to blur.

Obsession's Box Office Success

Obsession's theatrical run nearly didn't happen. The film came close to dropping on Netflix instead of coming to theaters, a decision that would have made it just another streaming release rather than the cultural phenomenon it became.

The choice to go theatrical paid off dramatically. Obsession's box office performance proved that a YouTube creator with a built-in audience could compete with established filmmakers on the biggest stage. The film's success also demonstrated that horror fans will show up for fresh voices and original concepts, even when those voices come from outside the traditional studio system.

Barker's jump from YouTube to theaters mirrors Kane Parsons' path with Backrooms. Both creators built passionate followings online before translating their visions into feature films that connected with audiences beyond their existing fan bases.

What Comes Next

Pina's prediction that more YouTubers will follow Obsession and Backrooms to box office success and awards recognition sets expectations for the next few years. If he's right, the entertainment industry will need to adjust to a new pipeline of talent that builds audiences first and makes movies second.

That shift could reshape how studios discover and develop talent. Rather than betting on unknown filmmakers with a strong script or a compelling pitch, studios might increasingly look to creators who have already proven they can capture and hold an audience's attention.

The model also changes the risk calculus for theatrical releases. A creator with millions of YouTube subscribers brings a guaranteed audience to opening weekend, reducing the uncertainty that typically surrounds new filmmakers and original concepts.

For YouTube, the success of Obsession and Backrooms validates the platform's strategy of nurturing creative talent and helping them expand into other media. If more creators can replicate that success, YouTube's role as a launching pad for major entertainment careers will only grow stronger.

The horror genre seems especially ripe for this kind of crossover. Horror fans have always been early adopters of new platforms and quick to embrace fresh voices. YouTube's visual storytelling format translates naturally to horror filmmaking, giving creators a way to build their skills and test concepts before making the leap to features.

Whether Pina's prediction about Emmys and Oscars recognition comes true remains to be seen. But with Obsession already in the Best Picture conversation and both films proving that YouTube creators can deliver box office results, the industry is clearly paying attention.

Written by Jeanpierre Florent, part of the FirstDrop News Team

Jeanpierre is the Southern California based creator behind JPLAND21, a theme park community of more than one million subscribers across YouTube and Instagram. Our reporting is grounded in regular firsthand park visits. More about us