Steven Spielberg advised two young horror directors who have recently made a big splash at the box office not to become complacent after their success. The renowned director emphasized that every new film is a fresh start.
When asked during a recent program what advice he would give to 26-year-old Obsession director Curry Barker and 20-year-old Backrooms director Kane Parsons, Spielberg spoke candidly.
Spielberg said, "Don't get hung up on success," explaining that even after a major breakthrough, everything for the next film is built from scratch. He shared that this was a lesson he learned through his own experience.
The veteran filmmaker noted that while a hit film earns a director respect within the industry, it does not guarantee lasting advantages for the next project. According to him, each new project marks a threshold where the career essentially restarts.
Spielberg expressed that even if a director has the chance to make 20 or 30 films in their career, the feeling of starting over strongly resurfaces by the second or third film. Therefore, he warned young directors not to turn success into a permanent comfort zone.
Spielberg’s remarks coincided with the commercial success of two recent standout productions. Obsession grossed $238.7 million worldwide after its release on May 15, achieving a major breakthrough despite its low budget.
The film, made on a $750,000 budget, became one of the highest-grossing acquisitions originating from the Toronto International Film Festival. It also became Focus Features’ biggest film to date and earned a 94% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Backrooms earned $220.6 million worldwide following its release on May 29. Made with a $10 million budget, the film became A24’s highest-grossing production ever in North America.
Backrooms also received an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Spielberg’s praise highlighted how strongly the rise of these two young talents has resonated in Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Curry Barker responded publicly, expressing his happiness about Spielberg’s words. Barker said he could hardly believe the compliment and openly showed his satisfaction with Obsession.
