Neon CEO Tom Quinn said indie horror films are crushing it at the box office — and it has nothing to do with algorithms or TikTok trends.
Speaking at SXSW London, Quinn hailed the success of breakout hits Backrooms and Obsession, saying the films represent a shift in how younger generations engage with cinema. "There's a younger generation here that's willing to walk away from their phone," he said.
Quinn called the box office performance "incredible" for the industry and drew a direct comparison to the Blair Witch Project — a scrappy, unconventional film that became a cultural phenomenon.
For Quinn, these are not just wins for his company. They suggest that despite concerns about Gen Z being glued to screens, there is genuine appetite for immersive, communal cinema experiences. When a film connects, audiences show up.
The comments come as the indie distributor continues its winning streak. Between Backrooms and Obsession, Neon has tapped into something the major studios have been chasing for years: a way to get young people into theaters without established IP or massive marketing budgets.
Whether Quinn's outlook holds as a broader industry trend is unclear. For now, Neon appears to be the distributor that has cracked the code on Gen Z cinema.
