The YouTubers taking over Hollywood: 6 directors to watch after 'Backrooms'

Newsweek · 🇺🇸 public United States · Jun 02, 2026 · 955 words · By Jack Beresford

Creator Economy Success Digital Disruption of Hollywood

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What to know about Creator Economy Success

Change is afoot in Hollywood thanks to a revolution being spearheaded by a cadre of up-and-coming filmmakers who cut their teeth in the most ruthless of online arenas: YouTube.

Claims checked 31

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Change is afoot in Hollywood thanks to a revolution being spearheaded by a cadre of up-and-coming filmmakers who cut their teeth in the most ruthless of online arenas: YouTube.

Why it matters

The box office numbers from this past weekend confirm it, with Backrooms, a sci-fi horror movie directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons raking in an astonishing $81 million in the U.S.

Common ground

Parsons made his name on YouTube as Kane Pixels, where his animated shorts garnered millions of views.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Creator Economy Success story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal are the comedy duo behind Good Mythical Morning?
How does this story connect Creator Economy Success with Digital Disruption of Hollywood over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/movies/the-youtubers-taking-over-hollywoo…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 31 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 21

verified Verified By Reference 4

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

verified

Claim 1: “Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal are the comedy duo behind Good Mythical Morning.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly states that Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal created and host the YouTube series Good Mythical Morning.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rhett James McLaughlin (born October 11, 1977) and Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal III (born June 1, 1978), collectively known as Rhett & Link, are an American comedy duo. Since 2012, they have created an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_&_Link

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rhett & Link's Buddy System (also known as Buddy System) is an American series produced exclusively for YouTube Premium, created by, written by and starring comedy duo Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_&_Link's_Buddy_System

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rhett and Link's Wonderhole is an American YouTube comedy web series created by and starring Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. Produced by Mythical Entertainment, the series marks a departure from the d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_&_Link's_Wonderhole

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Ball is now working on a follow-up, The Land of Nod, backed by A24”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 3: “Curry Barker, another YouTuber, whose theatrical debut, Obsession, has already made over $151 million off the back of a budget of around $1 million.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms Curry Barker directed a 2025 film titled 'Obsession', but none of the provided evidence mentions the budget ($1 million) or the gross earnings ($151 million).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Anything but Ghosts is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Curry Barker and written by Barker and Cooper Tomlinson. The film stars Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, Violet McGraw,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anything_but_Ghosts

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Curry Barker (born September 22, 1999) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, and YouTuber. He is known for the sketch comedy YouTube channel "that's a bad idea", which he co-created with Cooper T…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_Barker

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Obsession is a 2025 American supernatural horror film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. The film follows Bear (Michael Johnston), a music store employee who buys a supernatural toy that g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsession_(2025_film)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Made for just $15,000, the film became a viral hit, earning $2.1 million at the box office.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “the brothers are expanding their careers with a sequel, Talk 2 Me”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “they founded Mythical Entertainment, now producing multiple digital series.”

CORROBORATED

LinkedIn and other web search results confirm that Rhett and Link founded Mythical Entertainment.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Rhett James McLaughlin (born October 11, 1977) and Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal III (born June 1, 1978), collectively known as Rhett & Link, are an American ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_&_Link

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jan 29, 2025 ... Soros Fund Management led the investment, but it was the participation of Mythical Entertainment — the media company started by Rhett & Link, as ...
https://likeandsubscribenews.substack.com/p/sean-evans-hot-o…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2007, my lifelong best friend (Link Neal) and I founded a production company that has grown into Mythical Entertainment. We produce shows that have been ...
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhettmc

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Claim 7: “Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou are Australian filmmakers and YouTubers best known for their RackaRacka channel”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “Together, they created sketch comedy shorts under the banner That’s a Bad Idea”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 9: “Their original show Wonderhole has been well received and renewed”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Wikipedia confirms the existence of the show 'Wonderhole', the provided search results for this claim are dictionary definitions of the word 'show' and do not provide information regarding the show's reception or renewal status.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 5 days ago · show, manifest, evidence, evince, demonstrate mean to reveal outwardly or make apparent. show is the general term but sometimes implies that what is revealed must be gained by inference f…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/show

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — SHOW definition: 1. to make it possible for something to be seen: 2. to record or express a number or measurement…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/show

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 14, 2026 · Some common synonyms of show are display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, and parade. While all these words mean "to present so as to invite notice or attention," show implies no more than ena…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show

schedule

Claim 10: “He has also moved into long-form entertainment with projects such as Beast Games, a large-scale competition series.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 11: “Backrooms, a sci-fi horror movie directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons raking in an astonishing $81 million in the U.S. alone over its opening weekend.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms a 'Backrooms' film directed by Kane Parsons is scheduled for 2026, there is no evidence in the provided search results regarding a specific opening weekend gross of $81 million. The provided web search results for IMDb and JustWatch are generic landing pages and do not contain the specific financial data.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Backrooms is a 2026 American science fiction psychological horror film directed and co-scored by Kane Parsons in his feature-length directorial debut, and written by Will Soodik. It is a theatrical ad…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backrooms_(film)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kane Parsons (born June 18, 2005), also known as Kane Pixels, is an American YouTuber, composer, filmmaker, visual effects artist, and actor. In January 2022, Parsons began publishing the viral web se…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kane_Parsons

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 12: “He made the leap into filmmaking with Iron Lung (2026), which he wrote, directed, starred in, and financed.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 13: “In 2017, Canadian filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball launched the YouTube channel Bitesized Nightmare”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 14: “Kane Parsons, known online as Kane Pixels, is a filmmaker who began on YouTube creating visual effects-driven shorts”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 15: “They followed it with Bring Her Back”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 16: “Parsons made his name on YouTube as Kane Pixels, where his animated shorts garnered millions of views.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and IMDb both confirm that Kane Parsons is known as Kane Pixels and that his Backrooms web series has garnered millions of views (specifically mentioned as 190 million views across 22 videos in one source).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Backrooms is a science fiction analog horror web series created by Kane Parsons, based on the "Backrooms" creepypasta. Presented largely as found footage, the series follows a fictional organization c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backrooms_(web_series)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Oldest View is a mystery thriller web series created by American YouTuber and filmmaker Kane Parsons. Production on the series began in January 2023, shortly after Parsons's Backrooms web series e…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oldest_View

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 17: “Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) built his YouTube following through energetic gaming videos”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 18: “MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is one of YouTube’s most successful creators”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results for this claim.

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Claim 19: “They have also found success with podcasts like Ear Biscuits and books including The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and book-related web results, confirm the production of the podcast 'Ear Biscuits' and the novel 'The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ... podcast Ear Biscuits, and their novel The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek. Rhett & Link. McLaughlin (left) and Neal (right) in 2020. Born. Rhett James McLaughlin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhett_&_Link

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nov 18, 2019 · Their catalog also includes music videos, the web television series Buddy System, their award winning podcast EarBiscuits, comedy/musical tours, ...
https://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/the-lost-causes-of-bleak…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nov 1, 2020 · “The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek” by Rhett McLaughlin, Link Neal and Lance Rubin. New York: Crown, 2019. 326 pages, $26 (hardcover). Good books ...
https://authorfallonwilloughby.wordpress.com/2020/11/01/the-…

schedule

Claim 20: “expand into ambitious interactive projects like A Heist with Markiplier and In Space with Markiplier.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 21: “the film [Iron Lung] was well received by fans and grossed over $50 million on a modest budget”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 22: “Barker is developing a follow-up with Tomlinson titled Anything But Ghosts”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 23: “He found major success with his Backrooms series, especially The Backrooms (Found Footage), which drew more than 80 million views, while the wider series amassed hundreds of millions.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 24: “The concept was inspired by a viral 2019 creepypasta about eerie “liminal spaces,””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 25: “inspired his breakout feature, Skinamarink, about two children who wake to find their father missing and their home unsettlingly altered.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 26: “Barker first turned to YouTube at 18 while studying at the New York Film Academy, where he met collaborator Cooper Tomlinson.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 27: “In 2023, he gained wider recognition with the horror short The Chair, which drew more than 5.5 million views.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 28: “Friends since childhood in North Carolina, they built their careers online through sketches, music, and viral videos before launching their daily talk show in 2012.”

CORROBORATED

Both Wikipedia and a web search result ('Why Rhett and Link Made a TV Show') confirm that they launched their morning talk show, GMM, in 2012.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 29: “They transitioned into film with Talk to Me (2023), a low-budget horror that became a critical and commercial hit”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 30: “ventures like MrBeast Burger and Feastables have expanded his brand beyond digital media.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results for this claim.

schedule

Claim 31: “He later expanded it into a feature film, Backrooms (2026)”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.