Kari Barker: Passion (2026)

An ambitious horror debut from sketch-comedian turned director, Currie Barker, Obsession has made huge strides in internet conversations for its exploration of male empowerment and its brutal dismantling of the ‘good guy’ ideal. Before breaking into Hollywood, Barker built an audience on his YouTube channel called ‘That’s a Bad Idea’ with his partner, Cooper Tomlinson (who stars in Obsession). The duo created short comedy sketches and also directed an hour-long found-footage horror film titled ‘Milk and Cereal’, which currently has over 2.9 million views on YouTube.

Ken Parsons: Backroom (2026)

Ken Parsons, better known by his YouTube channel Ken Pixels, is widely considered a pioneer of backroom lore. Backroom began as an Internet horror concept inspired by a single image of an empty, seemingly endless room. At just 16 years old, Parsons turned a photograph into a cinematic found-footage series, and created an elaborate story around it, which captivated millions and became one of the Internet’s most recognizable horror phenomena. He is now the youngest director to work with A24 at just 20 years old.

Markiplier: Iron Lung (2026)

YouTube gaming legend, Mark Fishbach, better known by his iconic channel Markiplier, directed Iron Lung which was released in January this year. Based on the 2022 indie game of the same name, Mark self-wrote, self-financed, directed, and even starred in the project due to his deep passion for the game’s atmospheric lore and distinct storytelling. The film also stars popular YouTuber Jacksepticeye and video game voice actor Troy Baker (known for voicing Joel in The Last of Us). Iron Lung became a huge success at the box office and after its theatrical release, it had an official digital release. It is now available to rent or purchase on YouTube Movies.

Chris Stuckman: Shelby Oaks (2024)

Starting out as a film critic on YouTube, Chris Stuckman wrote and directed ‘Shelby Oaks’, which was released in 2024. The film was a major success as a crowdfunded passion project, becoming the most funded horror film on Kickstarter with over $1.39 million. ₹12.45 crore), but a financial disappointment at the wider box office. The film grossed $4.5 million in its domestic theatrical run. Stuckman began his career in the early days of YouTube by reviewing films, both classics and new releases. The 38-year-old is an official Rotten Tomatoes approved critic and a member of the Critics’ Choice Association.

Filippo Brothers: Talk to Me (2022)

Danny and Michael Filippo, twin Australian filmmakers known online as Racaraka, directed the highly acclaimed 2022 horror film ‘Talk to Me’, followed by the 2025 film ‘Bring Her Back’. Made on a low budget, ‘Talk to Me’ is widely praised as an allegory of the overwhelming, isolating nature of teenage peer pressure, addiction and grief. The brothers began by creating short horror-comedy sketches on YouTube that featured slapstick violence, pop-culture parodies, and homemade special effects, most of which received over a million views.

Interestingly, he was the brain behind the famous ‘FBI Open Up’! Memes that went viral in 2016

David F Sandberg

Swedish filmmaker, David F. Sandberg went from making no-budget horror shorts in his apartment on YouTube to directing big Hollywood blockbusters like Annabelle: Creation (2017), Lights Out (2016), and even DC’s Shazam! (2019). Sandberg lived in Sweden and struggled with unemployment, often creating stop-motion animations and short films with his wife Lotta Losten to pass the time and uploading them to YouTube on their channel called ‘Ponysmasher’. In 2013, he released a 2-minute horror short film titled Lights Out. It went viral on YouTube and immediately caught the attention of Hollywood producers.

(Compiled by Omisha Pingua)