Warner Bros Motion Picture Co-Chair Michael De Luca outlined what's working at the box office right now in a conversation that has largely been absent from studio boardrooms.
Speaking at his Produced By panel this afternoon, De Luca praised the success of titles like Backrooms and Obsession.
De Luca credits the success of these films to the filmmakers themselves. "These filmmakers are in a dialogue with their audience," he explained, describing a direct connection between creator and viewer that traditional Hollywood has struggled to replicate.
The comment reflects a larger shift in the industry. YouTube creators and digital-native filmmakers are no longer working only online. They are translating their built-in fanbases and audience engagement into box office revenue.
While the Warner Bros boss did not discuss the pending Paramount Warner Bros Discovery merger, his remarks signal that the studio is tracking what resonates with audiences. It is less about marketing budgets and more about direct creator-to-fan connection.
When the heads of legacy studios champion YouTube filmmakers in public panels, the shift in the industry is evident.
